As an American, how do I find a job at a Swiss ski resort?

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Started by Klight in Switzerland 03-Jan-2013 - 7 Replies

Klight posted Jan-2013

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone had any information on getting a job at a Swiss ski resort. I'm an American and I am hoping to work there as something simple like a lift operator.
Do you have to have a Swiss work permit?
Where do I go to find a job? I've been looking at the resort's websites and they don't really have info on jobs.
What is the best resort to work at?

Thanks!

Lilywhite
reply to 'As an American, how do I find a job at a Swiss ski resort?' posted Jan-2013

Hi!

I would start by googling "natives" or similar for employment info abroad, do you have a second language?
Good luck.

NoHelmet
reply to 'As an American, how do I find a job at a Swiss ski resort?' posted Jan-2013

Hi,

Your chance to get a work permit is zero, those jobs go to the farm workers who would otherwise be unemployed during winter time !

Klight
reply to 'As an American, how do I find a job at a Swiss ski resort?' posted Jan-2013

I'm studying German at University right now, by the time I graduate I should be fluent.

Lilywhite
reply to 'As an American, how do I find a job at a Swiss ski resort?' posted Jan-2013

I have not been aware of many Swiss ski jobs unless with TO's or chalet companies. As you have German perhaps a German ski area might be worth looking into?

Msej449
reply to 'As an American, how do I find a job at a Swiss ski resort?' posted Jan-2013

I assume you know that the southern Swiss area and Geneva are French-speaking and the German spoken in the North is quite a bit different in vocabulary and grammar? My understanding is that the schweizerdeutsch population makes a point of not speaking High German, although they would speak it to someone who was from Germany. If you're trying to get colloquial German exposure, you might do better to look at opportunities in Germany itself, or perhaps Austria?

LOTA
reply to 'As an American, how do I find a job at a Swiss ski resort?' posted Jan-2013

In answer to your question: with enormous difficulty. I investigated this a few seasons back - and found many, many obstacles to non-Swiss, even as an EU national. It will be even harder for an American, I fear.

Verbier_ski_bum
reply to 'As an American, how do I find a job at a Swiss ski resort?' posted Jan-2013

You will need a work permit and this one will be very difficult to obtain for someone from outside of EU.

Topic last updated on 10-January-2013 at 15:48