Shred the gnar as a ski resort intern abroad and you will have the luxury of enjoying the gorgeous snow covered Swiss Alps from the comfort of the indoor fireplace (maybe?). In countries like Switzerland, Canada, and China, skiing and winter sports culture are as huge as their mountains; therefore, the need for ski resort interns with an interest in hospitality is high. Who said interning abroad didn’t come with any perks? You could even become a certified ski or snowboard instructor during your ski resort internship abroad, meaning you’ll get paid to do what you love and you’ll rack up plenty of free lift passes.
Why Intern Abroad at a Ski Resort
Did you know that work doesn’t exactly feel like work when you’re doing what you love, and enjoying a mountain covered in fresh pow? If you prefer big comfy sweaters to flip flops, like frolicking in the snow more than the waves, and can’t help but breathe in fresh mountain air at every chance you get, then ski resort internships abroad will fit you like a winter glove.
Even though there are many different types of ski resort internships, with some focused on hospitality and others on instructing, each will provide you with greater benefits and experiences than if you were to intern domestically. Despite that you’ll be interning at a ski resort in just one specific country, you will likely encounter ski and snowboard lovers from all over the globe. This will give you the advantage of working with many different cultures and individuals, providing you with a more international perspective and a more well rounded cultural experience that would not be possible at home.
The field of hospitality, in general, is a competitive field, and employers tend to favor those with experience abroad. Why? Because most of the people that occupy resorts are foreign and from all over the world. Ski resort internships abroad will help you gain skills in communication, guest services, management, and even tolerance to extremely cold weather (so much so that Jack Frost would be proud).
Locations
Ski resort internships abroad tend to be located in countries with, you guessed it, the most popular ski resorts in the world and the most famous mountains, such as the Swiss Alps, Mount Robson, and Mount Hua. Grasp any opportunity to intern abroad at ski resorts near one of the latter mountains, or you could even try to experience all three!
If you’re one of those people that learned how to ski and snowboard before you learned how to walk, then becoming a qualified ski or snowboard instructor in Switzerland might be your forte. Home to over 200 mountains and delicious creamy and rich chocolate, Switzerland is a true winter wonderland. Home to outdoor adventure, there are plenty of chances to hike, venture, or hermit away from civilization during cross country ski trip.
Managing a ski resort in itself is a really cool concept, but managing a ski resort in Canada equals major bragging rights. Plant yourself right in the middle of Vancouver to not only grow in the field of hospitality management, but to also enjoy the high quality of life in the third best and cleanest city in the world. There are three ski hills all within short driving distance of Vancouver: Grouse Mountain, Cypress Mountain, and Mount Seymour. So, grab your winter gear, extra marshmallows, and hail a ride, because mountain hopping will be the thing to do on a chilly winter day.
During ski resort internships in China, you’ll be able to enjoy a cup of hot green tea while overlooking the rad snow-capped mountains of Mount Tai, Emei, and Hua. After a long day of hittin’ the slopes, and when all you want to do is strip off the ten extra pounds of puffy snow clothes you’ve been wearing, you can enjoy a dip in the hot springs to relax your muscles and soul. And don’t forget to feed your growling stomach, because by the time you’re done shredding the gnar, it’ll be begging you to feed it some traditional Chinese food, like dumplings, fried Mahi, and stinky tofu.
Ski Resort Internships Abroad
Improve your skiing and snowboarding skills and reach Olympic level (or at least try), and receive free lift tickets along the way. Becoming a qualified ski and snowboard instructor will open the door to many ski resort internships and job opportunities, not only at the resort you intern in, but in ski resorts all over the globe. Most ski resort internships abroad entail all-inclusive training packages, including exam fees, training costs, lift passes, accommodation, and a job offer; basically a starter pack to a life full of doing what you love, and a lot of snow! The best part is, even if you weren’t born with skis on your feet, some ski resort internships do not require any qualifications and will provide you with the full training you need in order to become a certified instructor.
The hospitality industry delivers a wide range of internships at ski resorts abroad, especially during peak summer and winter seasons. Ski resort internships abroad will expose you to different realms such as guest services, management, event planning, cooking, and instructing. Working in the kitchen or in guest services is a great way to dip your feet into the field of hospitality, without having to take the full plunge. If you have a passion for food and cooking, or if you’re just looking for an excuse to hit the mountains in your off-hours, working in kitchens at ski resorts will enhance your cooking skills, test your ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and you’ll still be getting the hook-ups for a day out on the lifts. Ski resort internships abroad focused on guest services will ultimately improve your people and communication skills and expose you to cultures from all around the world, neither of which can hurt a career in almost any field; these are skills and experiences that employers highly value, because they foster an open mind, greater problem solving skills, and intercultural understanding. As a guest service member, you will also have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of running a resort business, which can be a great intro to resort management.
Benefits & Challenges
Living next to massive, towering, snow covered mountains, exploring cute and quaint mountain towns, and hiking and adventuring during your free time sounds like the perfect winter getaway. However, you are bound to face irritated guests or other challenges during a ski resort internship abroad. In these situations, you’ll have to remember to be patient, bring out your best problem solving skills, smile brightly, and fake it ‘til you make it. Even though it may seem as if the guest is at fault, the golden rule in hospitality is: the guest is always right. Now, repeat that 10 times in your head, practice writing it down, tattoo it onto your arm, and you’ll do just fine.
Despite the fact that you’ll be working under the title of “intern” rather than employee (although some are one in the same), most ski resort internships are paid and come with accommodation. These are two huge, very uncommon, benefits, especially when you are doing what you love and making some extra spending cash or traveling along the way too.
Take advantage of any opportunity to intern abroad at ski resorts and showcase your best talents and skills, because your supervisors, also known as your golden ticket to a future job cough cough, will definitely be watching and noticing your hard work. Take your international internship experience to the next level, grasp skills that will set you apart from your competitors, and intern abroad at some of the most incredible ski resorts in the world.
Why waste yet another few months on Netflix and chill when you could be interacting with different cultures, whizzing up and down foreign alps, and getting paid for all of the above? Take a risk, hop on, and hang tight as the ski lift will not only take you up the mountain, but will take you to new heights in your career.
