Taking a seasonal job at a resort, casino, or hotel can be an adventure. You get to travel to a new place, have fun in the sun (or the snow, depending on the location) and meet new people—all while adding valuable experience to your resume. Best of all, the pay for many seasonal hospitality jobs is excellent.
One reason seasonal hotel or resort jobs can be lucrative is that housing is often included. Many resorts provide housing to employees in dorm-style accommodations or even furnished staff apartments; others offer discounts on nearby housing. And when you pay little to no rent during your seasonal job, you get to keep a much larger share of your paycheck.
There are other benefits to seasonal hospitality jobs. Resorts often provide free lunch or a free meal with each shift, and they may offer free snacks. Other perks can include free passes or tickets to resort attractions, ski passes, bus passes, and discounts for restaurants, shops, spas, and the on-site wellness clinic. When you look at all these benefits and take into account the savings on housing and/or meals, you’ll find that the pay for many of these seasonal hospitality jobs can be very competitive.
1. Ski instructor
Instructors help guests learn skiing (or snowboarding). They’re needed to teach all levels and to work with both individual students and groups. Instructors usually work a full schedule, since winter resorts offer ski lessons all through weekdays and weekends, but this position is a great opportunity to spend time on the slopes and get paid for sharing your love of winter sports. Tips from happy students can add substantially to the pay.
2. Catering manager
Banquets and parties are an important part of resort season, and as a catering manager, you’ll work closely with chefs to plan menus, coordinate staff, and help produce some spectacular meals. You can expect evenings and weekends to be filled with busy shifts, but you’ll likely have some downtime during the week for sightseeing.
3. Groundskeeper
Resorts need employees to maintain all the lush greenery, as well as to upkeep properties. Groundskeepers should have experience with landscaping and be ready to use gardening and cleaning equipment, as well as to adhere to safety protocols. Although there may be a few after-hours calls to respond to emergency maintenance requests, many groundskeepers work fairly stable schedules. That leaves them with some free time to take advantage of the season passes or restaurant discounts that often come with the job.
4. Bartender
Bartending is a tipped position, so the base wage is usually nothing to write home about, but after you factor in those tips it can be very lucrative work. You’ll need strong mixology knowledge, awareness of the latest cocktail trends, and skill at creating drinks according to guests’ specifications. Many bartender shifts go from early evening to later at night, which leaves afternoons free to enjoy the resort.
5. Security officer
Resorts need extra security staff during their busiest seasons to ensure guests’ safety. Officers may be required to respond to disturbances, direct traffic, patrol the grounds, and monitor security systems. Venues typically employ a mix of seasonal and year-round staff in their security departments, and outstanding work in a seasonal position could lead to a permanent offer, or a glowing recommendation when you next apply for a security job.
6. Cook or kitchen chef
Resorts pride themselves on their food, and working in a resort kitchen is demanding but ultimately rewarding, too. You’ll enjoy the camaraderie and an exciting, bustling work environment. A seasonal position can be an opportunity to work with a head chef you admire, make new contacts, and sharpen your culinary skills, which can help propel your career forward.
7. Spa manager
Guests come to resorts to relax and feel pampered, and they look forward to spending time at the spa. Resorts need professionals to manage the spa staff and maintain high levels of customer service. Managers should have experience with spa treatments and procedures, as well as knowledge of employee scheduling and inventory tracking. This is an intensive job that requires hands-on work and evening and weekend shifts, but on your days off, you’ll have a blast exploring the local attractions. Plus, a seasonal job as a spa manager at a well-regarded hotel or resort looks great on your resume.