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People with jobs in the ski industry

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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
I'm currently in college (undecided) & considering majoring in hospitality and tourism, i keep saying i want to work in the ski industry.

i'll be going to college for 4 years

i'm wondering if anyone on here with a ski industry career could describe their job? i would also like to know the salary but i know a lot of people don't discuss that.

thanks
Sep 7 2009 10:57PM
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SnowRidgeParks
Posts: 2146 - Karma: 88
Shoot me a PM, I'd be more than willing to share my story/advice/experience in the resorts field...
Sep 7 2009 11:00PM
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Big-Punisher
Posts: 814 - Karma: 10
people with jobs in the ski industry...

are often less cool than they purport themselves to be.
Sep 7 2009 11:02PM
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t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,458
which portion of the industry? That is way to broad of a subject. When you say hospitality and tourism do you want to be doing that sort of related stuff like to market for a resort? You aren't really telling us much man.

Take a look through here as well, you might find a few posts that might spark your mind...

https://newschoolers.com/web/forums/readthread/thread_id/461097/
https://newschoolers.com/web/forums/readthread/thread_id/466331/
Sep 7 2009 11:05PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
thanks for sharing those threads. i guess i realize now that my thread was too broad.

i say hospitality and tourism because i kind of ...... well i don't know really. i think any of these things kind of catch my interest:

managing a skiing related hotel
managing anything at a ski mountain
event planning
and probably a lot more
Sep 7 2009 11:33PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
i also forgot to mention that i know there isn't a lot of money to be made, that doesn't bother me, as long as it's not too little money
Sep 7 2009 11:36PM
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Chucktheweasel
Posts: 551 - Karma: 126
Get to know as many people as you can in the industry.

Unless you know someone, it's going to be extremely difficult/impossible.
Sep 7 2009 11:58PM
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BEagle
Posts: 330 - Karma: 59
dont focus on getting a job in the ski industry. Try finding one that gives you money so you can actually go skiing once in a while.
Sep 8 2009 12:01AM
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t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,458
ah the tgr approach.
Sep 8 2009 12:35AM
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Ski..4..Life
Posts: 1347 - Karma: 97
this sounds so dumb to me, i would rather enjoy my job and love what i do then love 2 weeks out of every year,
seems like an easy decision to me.

to OP im going into tourism management this year but i dont really know what i want to do yet, just thinking it could help me get that first step.
my dad also works for hotels that have alot at resorts all over the world, he personally knows people at Whistler so after school i will hopefully have some contacts all over the world.
Sep 8 2009 12:51AM
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nca777
Posts: 752 - Karma: 21

yes, the tgr approach..

Or, you don't need to go to cllege for four years to get a sweet job in 'the industry.' Example; If you're a good skier, you can get a job coaching and after a half decade or so you might be made director of the program and making a low salary, pretty much just as well off as you'd be if you went to college and got a job as marketing director after a decade or so. Don't let college get in the way of your education.

Sep 8 2009 1:13AM
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Line_Skis
Posts: 1983 - Karma: 37,398
please go to college everyone...classes and papers are about .01% of what you get out of the experience, learning and connections.
Sep 8 2009 1:48AM
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Mooserz
Posts: 2945 - Karma: 32
this. i love skiing. but i hate teaching it.
Sep 8 2009 3:00AM
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KRullo
Posts: 4 - Karma: 10

I have a great job  as an event manager for a ski shop.  I'm able to afford to do this job because it's my second career, otherwise it wouldn't pay the bills. I'm going back to school to get an MBA with a focus on Sports Marketing but there are many great undergrad programs in that field. 

There are plenty of jobs out there, but many are on the west coast and require certain education and experience.  A website you might want to check out is malakye.com because it is sort of a clearing house for jobs in the action sports industry.  Read the list of jobs every few days just to get an idea of what might be a good fit for you.  Also research the education and backgrounds of people in the industry who have jobs you aspire to have.

You are going to have to work for many years, you might as well set yourself up for a career that you will love.  Find something that you are passionate about and then pursue it.  Life it too short, love what you do.  Good luck!

Sep 8 2009 12:40PM
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dangerdad
Posts: 2228 - Karma: 317
total truth. Especially if you get involved with a ski club at a bigger school. You get a lot of really good insight about what it is to actually work in the industry, the hours and labor involved, and different positions you could pursue. You also can make an enormous number of connections if you work at it.


Sep 8 2009 1:28PM
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KRullo
Posts: 4 - Karma: 10

I agree!!

It looks like you are already in college??  If so, finish, you'll have so many more options if you finish college.  It's wise to figure out how you fit in and what you want to do before you graduate so you have the knowledge they are looking for.  Sometimes just having a degree doesn't cut it, you need to have a certain amount of KNOWLEDGE about your field.

 Again, go to http://malakye.com to see some of the possiblitiies and what education/experience they are looking for.  This site also lists internships, one of the best ways to open doors for yourself.

Sep 8 2009 2:35PM
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bob_dole
Posts: 4076 - Karma: 1,579
skool is wicked kewl.
Sep 8 2009 4:43PM
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nca777
Posts: 752 - Karma: 21

drink the kool-aide!

Sep 8 2009 5:55PM
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Rogge
Posts: 5772 - Karma: 3,867
This made me LOL'ed. Anyone that's ever met me knows this is true!
Sep 8 2009 5:57PM
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