10 ways to get the most from your first ski season job

Get your accommodation sorted early - there are lots of things to sort out before you head out to your resort, we aren't going to cover them here, but it is worth mentioning accommodation. While it may be you get staff accomm included in your employment package, it's not necessarily going to be the best option. Sharing living space may not be your thing and even if you start out in staff quarters, you may soon regret not having a look at what else is available. During the working day (or night if you are bar or catering staff), the state and location of your digs probably doesn't matter, but long term you will be spending quite a portion of your season in and around your living environment, so it makes sense to not hate it too much. Wherever you decide to lay your head, make sure you get it sorted early as you can so it isn't giving you a headache when you should be looking forward to starting your season.

Get fit - another before you get there tip, though it does apply equally once you are there. And certainly more relevant to the instructors who will be standing on a plank or two for hours and hours each day. Basically, make sure you are in good physical condition before you head out to resort. Anyone who has taken a skiing holiday will know how demanding it can be, and how much pizza or pasta you need to put away each day to keep your stamina up. Imagine being active on the slopes from dawn till dusk, five or six days a week for a whole season; it's going to put pressure on your body over time so make sure you can handle it. Telling your guests that you need the afternoon off to recoup in a cafe isn't going to go down too well.

Build relationships early - early in your season, often during the first few weeks, is the time you will forge the bonds with your fellow workers that will last all season and well beyond. Making an effort at this stage can pay dividends: the strongest friendships are usually those that we make early on so be sociable and try to get on with as many people as possible. This is an important time for your relationship with the boss too. It is natural for people to form their impressions of others very early on, and this is no different for your employer. If you show willing at the start of the season when there may be more work to get done in time for the first guests arriving, then you are putting yourself in a good position. Whether that is for extra shifts during the winter, or for an invite to return again next year.

lots of beer Pace yourself - by this we mean don't go out partying every night, despite the obvious temptations of being away from home and there not being all that much else to do. If your resort role involves working at night then you have less of a problem, as drinking yourself to oblivion during the daytime is not usually considered cool, and besides, you are more likely to be playing on the snow. After you have put in some hard work during the day, a trip to the local bar with your colleagues is a welcome reward and great way to relax, but chances are you've got work again early in the morning, so living the student lifestyle needs to be done with a degree of caution.

Keep tabs on your cash - not in a, be wary of pick pockets sense, but by making sure that you aren't spending more than you are earning. Spend your wages wisely. Unless you have the negotiation skill of Kofi Annan, and have somehow managed to negotiate a huge salary, you probably aren't getting paid a right lot. That's ok, we all know working a ski season isn't really about the money, but at the same time it is nice not having to ask mates to sub you a few quid until pay day, and to be able to afford something other than cheese sandwiches for your evening meals. Spending the majority of your earnings on alcohol isn't always the wisest move.

Work hard, play hard - it is great to let off steam at the end of the day or on the night before you day off, but don't treat the whole experience as an excuse to have a winter long party. This is exactly what a lot of people do, and your employer won't appreciate it. Nobody is going to argue that a ski season job isn't a fun experience, and of course everyone wants you to enjoy it, but first and foremost you are there to work for your employer. They have to kowtow to their guests and if you aren't helping them with that then you probably aren't going to be invited back for a second season. And if you really aren't putting in any effort you can expect your season to end rather quicker than you had in mind. Working a ski season is about achieving a balance between enjoyment and hard work, so show willing. Don't lose your job and throw away your season.

sledging in the snow Enjoy your down time - making the most of your time off is really important. This is perhaps the other extreme to the people who party away the season with no real respect for the job for which they have been employed. Of course the job is important, but don't work hard all day, then sit in your room every night and during your day off. If you saw how many people apply to work in ski resorts during the year you would appreciate just how lucky you are to find a job, and you may not find yourself in that position again any time soon. So make the most of it. Make sure you get plenty of skiing or snowboarding in. Even if you are working as catering or hospitality staff, or anything else not directly related to the pistes, chances are your employer will provide some form of benefits - ski or snowboard hire, lift passes, etc. Take them. Take some time to explore the local area too and think about where you actually are. Anyone spending a season in Chamonix for example could easily visit resorts in Switzerland and Italy.

Stay safe - without trying to suggest that a ski resort is any more dangerous than any other work place, in any other region of the world, it is surprisingly easy to do yourself some damage, especially if you are relatively new to skiing or snowboarding. Every year we get calls from the companies we work with wanting to quickly re-advertise jobs like chalet hosts. They haven't left it too late and suddenly remembered that they need someone to welcome their guests, but rather the unfortunate sole who was about to start the season got over confident, went out on a red run, and broke a limb. Season over. Make sure it doesn't happen to you!

Your guests - it is worth remembering that the majority of people you shall be entertaining, teaching, serving, or otherwise being nice to, are on their holiday. They have probably paid a lot of money for the experience and some of them may be under the misconception that you are there to treat them like Gods. You don't have to do that, though brownie points from your employer if you do, but be nice and try not to let them wind you up too much if they are not nice in return. Tell yourself that they haven't been sent there to try your patience, even though it can sometimes feel that way. If you are really struggling with a tough customer just cast your mind forward a week or two. They will be long gone, back to their mundane life, but you will still be in resort getting paid to live there.

collapsed in the snow Getting disillusioned - not everyone will experience this, but quite a few people find that at some point during the season, especially after New Year once the excitement, and newness has worn off, they start to get a bit disillusioned. It may be that you start to miss friends or family, or that you wonder whether you could be earning or achieving more if you were back at home. But if you follow the tips above you should be able to avoid this final point, or at least realise that you are in a great position and working the type of job that a lot of people will never be lucky enough to experience for one reason or another.