Recruitment FAQs
What package of employment do you offer?
Family Ski Company provide their resort teams with an excellent employment package. This includes your food and accommodation, full season lift pass, ski or snowboard hire, uniform (including ski jacket), return transport from the UK to resort, medical and personal liability insurance. You will also receive a weekly wage paid into a UK bank account. All applicants must have a full UK National Insurance Number, UK bank account and hold an EU Passport.
Location: French or Swiss Alps
Weekly Salary: £££ competitive + benefits
Start Date: Mid November 2009
Finish Date: Late April 2010
Accommodation Provided: Yes, full board
Who are the Family Ski Company?
The Family Ski Company was founded in 1993 in response to a definite gap in the market for a company offering an excellent childcare package as a priority, not as a gimmick to attract sales. Over the years the company has expanded each season to keep up with demand. However, we still continue to offer the flexibility and attention to detail that only an independent company can give.
The owners of Family Ski Company, Lisa and Mike, were previous clients with their families, and they know what people expect and want from a skiing holiday with their children.
Family Ski Company specialises in providing catered chalet holidays with a flexible programme of childcare; our aim being to enable every member of the family to have a wonderful experience in the mountains.
We offer a choice of thirteen separate guest accommodations in 3 of the top French skiing domains as well as the ‘Pearl of the Alps’ Saas Fee in Switzerland. Our chalets sleep families of 4 up to parties of 20, and are all within family-friendly villages with ski to the door access, while our Chalet Hotel in Saas Fee sleeps up to 8 families. Each Resort has a crèche specifically for Family Ski Company children, and all of our properties are equipped with everything parents need for a holiday with babies and children.
A lot of care is taken when putting together our teams of resort staff, and we are extremely proud of them. They are of a high calibre and genuinely enjoy looking after our guests providing a relaxed, professional and caring environment for all ages. Through experience we are aware that working a winter season is very demanding and although we expect high standards from our teams, for those who are dedicated and enthusiastic about working with Family Ski Company this winter then there are some great employment opportunities and rewards.
What is it like to work for Family Ski Company?
Working a season with us is hard work but lots of fun. You will be expected to have a flexible and professional attitude and genuinely enjoy what you are doing. In return you will get to live and work in some of the most beautiful areas of the French and Swiss Alps, make great friends and of course ski and snowboard.
We have built up a good reputation in the industry as a caring and well managed company with a high level of respect for our staff. Both the company directors, Mike Byers and Lisa Dance, like to get to know all their staff and spend time with them out in resort during the season.
Theoperational management team is led by Mike Duffin and Ed White supporting
the Resort Managers who do their utmost to make sure things runs smoothly in each resort.
How Do I Apply?
- Whether you have heard about us from a personal recommendation, seasonal job website, your own internet research, friends or family the first stage is to read our website to find out more about what we do.
- Decide which position best suits your skills and personality~ consider whether your skills are suited to more than one role and apply for what you feel suits you best.
- Fill in the application form – this is your chance to tell us more about you and the reasons you want to work for The Family Ski Company. We really notice those people who put the effort into completing the form correctly and fully.
- After we have received your application, covering letter and photo we will let you know it all arrived safely and process your application.
- If successful we will invite you to an individual interview to discuss the role in further detail.
- If you are chosen to work for The Family Ski Company you will be invited to a group meet up on 21st November 2009. It is a day for all new and returning staff to meet each other, the Company Directors, Managers in France and the sales team in the UK. It’s a great day to get all the information you need before you leave as well as meet your new work and house mates.
Will I get any training?
We take our training very seriously and know the investment in ourteam is very important. We want you to take away formal qualifications, an in depth understanding of what we do and how we do it so you feel confident to provide the highest levels of service to our guests.
Training starts with a week in the village of Ardent in the French Alps. We explain the history and ethos behind the Family Ski Company, how we work, what we expect and discover what skills and ideas you have and how we can incorporate them in the company.
Qualified trainers will help all staff prepare for their winter season with the emphasis on practical skills which will actually help you to do your job. Chalet Cooks and Chalet Hosts will practise cooking and hosting three-course dinners to get to grips with their roles and to give them the confidence to entertain guests.
Childcare staff have practical demonstrations, role play andplanning sessions to prepare for the roles of Activity Leader, Childcare Nanny and Ski School Helper.
All of our Childcare team will complete a First Aid certificate appropriate to children and infants while our catering team sit for a Food Hygiene qualification. Both of these courses give you a recognised qualification which can be taken on to your next employer along with your CRB police check which clears you to start employment with us.
All staff then have a further week in their own resorts to continue training and preparation for the season ahead. This week is an invaluable period to cover anything you are still unsure of and to input your own ideas and experience to help set up the resort, crèches and chalets.
I can’t ski but would love to work a season, can I still apply?
Yes, most of our positions don’t require you to ski. In fact many of our staff have never skied before they come out and tell us some of the best days of the season were spent trying to work out how to get down the mountain.
We also have great relationships with the ESF ski schools in each resort and the instructors will often give a few pointers or whole lessons free of charge to help you learn the basics.
The only position where ski ability is really important is the Ski School Helper who is based with the French ski school and will need to accompany skiers on to the slopes in the afternoon.
Do I get a ski pass?
Yes, everyone gets a full-season ski pass to make the most of any free time by spending it on the mountain.
Will I have to buy my own skis or snowboard?
No, we will hire skis, boots and poles or board and boots for you for the whole season. This means you can enjoy learning to ski with your friends and go out whenever you have the chance. However should you wish to purchase or bring along your own equipment this is also possible and often discounts are available to seasonaires in resort.
Will I have time to ski?
Yes, all of our childcare staff are guaranteed one and a half days off per week although on quieter weeks it might be more. All Chalet Staff have one full day off to ski plus any mountain time they get during the day.
I can’t speak French or German, will that hold me back?
No, French and German speaking is not essential for most positions; with the exception of Resort Management roles and the Ski School Helper but if you do make an effort with the locals it is always appreciated. You will be in a foreign country and learning at least a few phrases is not only polite but also advantageous. All staff and the majority of our guests are English speaking so you won’t need to speak French or German to do your job.
Am I Insured if I get ill or hurt myself?
Yes, we take out medical and personal liability insurance for you so that you can access emergency and non-emergency medical
treatment. This also covers you on the mountain and if you need to be rescued from the slopes this is included in the insurance. You must have a valid European Health Insurance Card and you can find out more information and apply on line at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthadvicefortravellers/Gettingtreatmentaroundtheworld/EEAandSwitzerland/DH_4114793
I haven’t got a CRB check can I still work with children?
No, we insist on a CRB police check but you do not need one to apply. If we offer you a position we will apply for a check on your behalf. All we need from you is some basic information. Every member of the team from the Company Directors to the Chalet Hosts, Cooks and Childcare staff undergo the CRB police check and are cleared to work with the company. You can find out more information about
the CRB check online at:
http://www.crb.gov.uk/
Can my family and friends come to stay?
Yes, we find it’s a great idea to have friends and family out to visit but we do ask that you arrange accommodation for them in the village or a nearby resort. Our staff accommodation is shared and it can become cramped and noisy if extra people stay. You will probably be sharing your accommodation withcolleagues who might have different working hours and will not appreciate being disturbed by guests who can keep holiday hours.
What happens at Christmas?
Christmas is a great day in resort – everyone helps out so that it is a day to remember for the guests and staff. The atmosphere is fantastic –
Santa comes to visit making his way through the trees on his sledge, the children sing carols while the adults enjoy mince pies and mulled wine. The whole team helps with the festivities and preparations for the full turkey dinner and once the guests have settled down in front of the fire the staff retire for their own Christmas dinner and celebrations.