VIP SKI Blog

1)      You have not packed the right clothes.

It might seem easy – a couple of ski outfits, your uniform and something to relax – but we can guarantee that you’ll have forgotten something vital. Think outside the box – fancy dress will definitely rear its ugly head at several points over the winter. Embrace life with a communal wardrobe shared amongst your roommates and you should be able to muddle through.

2)      You can eat more cake than you think.

Whatever job you’re posted in, cake will be a regular fixture of daily life. There always seems to be leftovers and you’ll never learn how to say no.

3)      Sleep is for the weak.

The 6:30am alarm will seem like second nature after your first week of guests. The first few mornings will be difficult but once you’ve made it through you’ll pick extra skiing time over a mid-afternoon nap every time.

4)      Vegetarian guests are a blessing in disguise.

Being confronted with a chalet-full of different dietary requirements might seem like an impossible task to begin with, but it’s the perfect chance to try your hand at cooking a new menu and learning about different ingredients. The satisfaction from nailing a technically difficult menu and ensuring that everyone has a memorable week is a thrill like no other.

5)      You’ll ski every week…aside from half term.

When you’re used to empty slopes and having your favourite run all to yourself it can be a rude awakening when half the UK descends in mid-February. Use the week to deep clean the chalet while your guests are out skiing and you’ll be way ahead at the end of the season.

6)      Your guests will surprise you every week.

VIP SKI clientele come from all walks of life and no two weeks will be the same. From families on first ski holidays to corporate groups, each party will present different challenges and opportunities. Getting to know your guests is one of the most rewarding aspects of the job and can really make your season.

7)      Seasonaire food and drink discounts are everything.

Producing your seasonaire card and saving 20% on your burger or round of drinks will make you feel like a temporary millionaire. Almost everywhere offers discounts for those lucky enough to work in resort, so make sure you ask around.

8)      The table is the best dancefloor.

Après-ski doesn’t really kick off until someone’s dancing on the table in ski boots. Why is it so much more fun than on the floor? No-one knows, but it’s scientifically proven.

9)      Eventually, you’ll get tired of baguettes and croissants.

At the beginning of the season the unlimited supply of French carbohydrates feels like the greatest thing in the world but come March the lack of plain sliced bread will start to grate. Pace yourself in order to avoid the transmogrification into a pain au chocolate by early April.

10)      It’ll be over before you know it.

One day you’re counting down the sleeps till Christmas and then before you know it you’re waving your last guests off and contemplating deep clean. When you’re living in the mountains, working a job you love and skiing every day with your best friends time passes in the blink of an eye. Enjoy it while it lasts!

...submit a cover letter and CV to recruit@vip-chalets.com to be considered for a role. Read about our top tips for acing an interview with VIP SKI and find out more about what we’re looking for and what’s on offer.

If you love spending time in the mountains all year round, then apply for a role in our summer chalet programme. Recruitment is almost finished but we’re always on the lookout for passionate people to join the team. Get in touch if you'd like to be considered.

Chalet staff in Avoriaz braved an early alarm on their day off to take a sunrise morning ski tour. Heading out before the lifts were open, they caught the sun coming up over the Dents du Midi – the highest range in the Portes du Soleil.

The coach ride might not be the most exciting part of your ski holiday, but the mounting sense of anticipation as you leave the motorway and begin to climb the hairpin bends is hard to deny.

Jack in Courchevel submitted this photo of his weekly coach ride back up to Courchevel. If it weren’t for the cars it could have been taken in Narnia.

Ant in Courchevel scooped the €50 prize this month with this pair of photos taken in the three valleys. We particularly love the hidden skier in the red jacket peeking out through the shadows, and the perfectly groomed piste to the side of the second photo. Classic Courchevel! 

...we’ve asked staff to submit photos which feature people. After two months of beautiful views and empty pistes, it’s time for our staff and guests to feature front and centre. Keep an eye on our Instagram page for photos submitted throughout March.

Chalet Host Eddie took this photo in Avoriaz, managing to escape Morzine’s low-lying cloud to find some perfectly crisp conditions. Being at 1800m definitely has its advantages.

Ed, who is our go-to man for all maintenance issues in the Three Valleys, captured this view in Meribel. Although we’re sure there were plenty of other skiers all around, it feels like he’s the only person in the whole mountain range.

Clouds and views were flavor of the month, it seems. Will, Resort Manager in Alpe D’Huez, managed to slip the VIP SKI logo into his submission, which almost looks photoshopped. If we didn’t have assurances from the rest of the team that it’s real we might have disqualified him.

After lots of deliberation from the office team we chose Olly’s photo as this month’s winner. Taken in Lech, it invokes quiet January days on empty slopes after the monster snowstorms in Austria over the past month.

Next month’s theme is photos taken on, from, under and around lifts. Watch this space for submissions from hosts, drivers, managers and maintenance across our 10 resorts.

1) Relax! We have all worked several winter seasons, been in the same position as you and really aren’t trying to scare you.

2) Come fully clued up with research about which resorts you think might suit you. If you have a favourite then make sure you can justify your enthusiasm by showing why you would be a good fit for the team there. However, come with an open mind and remember that the recruitment team know our resorts better than anyone and may have more of an idea than you as to where you’d fit in.

3) If you are particularly interested in a certain type of food, emphasise this. Vegan, dairy free and vegetarian guests are more common than you might expect – we can guarantee that you will encounter several variations over the winter season - and if you have experience in cooking for them this may give you an edge over other applicants.

4) Draw parallels from prior experiences, even if they are not directly linked to a ski season job. If you have held responsibility at school, university or through your travels then we want to hear about it!

5) Make sure you are as organised as possible. Bring exactly what we ask for - clearly presented – and double check your travel arrangements. If you’re coming from outside London then give yourself extra time in case of delays or confusion over travel. A flustered interviewee does not make that all-important good first impression.

1) Send a cover letter which references all the other companies you have applied to. We know that in all likelihood you will be playing the field and applying for a variety of ski jobs, but we can afford to be picky and will immediately discount anyone who hasn’t spent some time on tailoring their application to our values.

2) Play it too cool. It might work in other situations, but we are looking for people who brim with enthusiasm and personality. If your passion for yodelling comes up in conversation with guests we want to know that you can hold court with poise and confidence – the interview is the first chance for us to test this.

3) Feel like you need to hide any bad experiences from us. We can usually tell if people are dodging a subject and are more interested in what you have learnt from a challenging situation, and how you will apply this knowledge to your winter job, than in what actually happened. Honesty is always the best policy.

4) Let yourself be talked into something you aren’t comfortable with. For example, if you’re not confident around crowds then let us know. We aim to place people where they will be happiest and find that this outlook tends to mean that we assemble complementary teams in our resorts. Treat it as discussion and ask as many questions as you need.

Now you’ve taken these tips onboard the next thing to do is get your application to us; schedule an interview; knock our socks off with a killer combination of charm, wit and personality; and spend the next five months counting down the days until you’re in the mountains. Simple as that!

We offer a great employment package which reflects the high quality of our staff, including:

Find out more about the variety of ski jobs we have on offer on our Work for Us webpage, or email recruit@vip-chalets.com.

So, if you’re considering spending a winter in the mountains, then you’ve come to the right place.

Each year, we recruit more than 300 staff to work in our 10 ski resorts. With over 60 chalets and three hotels, we’re always on the lookout for responsible, hard-working people who will really make a difference to our guests’ holidays.

Tempted? Send over your CV and covering letter to recruit@vip-chalets.com or call the team on 0208 870 6310.