Top tips for applying to work a Ski Season

Are you looking to work for a high-end, luxury chalet company? We are always looking for exceptional people to join us and work for a ski season in Verbier. Working in the mountains all winter (December to April) is hard work but one of the most rewarding experiences. We have a year-round team based in both the Cotswolds and Verbier, and every winter, we employ 60 fantastic people to join our team to help operate our winter chalets. We have 19 chalets in Verbier and require a team of chefs, hosts, drivers and managers to create the ultimate skiing holiday experiences for our guests.

You may be wondering how I even apply to work a ski season. Year after year, hundreds of people apply for seasonal work with us in Verbier, so to make sure you stand out, read our top tips below!

• First, read about us!
  Find out about us and our values here.
  Discover who the senior management team is here.
  View our Chalet collection here.
  Explore Verbier ski resort here.

• Which role am I applying for?
  You can read about each job role here. Click on each role to learn about its responsibilities, required skills, essential requirements, and package.

• What qualifications do I need?
  Each job role varies, and the qualifications required differ depending on the position you’re applying for. Please click on each job role on our ‘Work with us’ page to see the job descriptions.
  If you’re applying for a driver role, experience of driving in the snow isn’t necessary but it is advantageous and we do look for people who have driven larger vehicles in the past.
  To satisfy Swiss working regulations, all applicants must be over 21 years of age and hold a UK or EU passport.

• How much experience do I need?
  Previous hospitality experience is a must as we deliver the highest service levels to our guests. At least two years experience working in the luxury hospitality sector – luxury chalets and villas, super-yachts, high-end restaurants or an events catering company—ability to work well under pressure and to have excellent time management and organisational skills.

• Can I apply if I am a UK passport holder?
  Yes! You must have a UK or EU passport, a UK National Insurance number, a UK permanent address, a UK bank account, and a valid GHIC.

• Can I apply if I don’t have a UK passport?
  Yes, we can employ people with an EU passport, provided they have a UK National Insurance number, a UK permanent address, a UK bank account, and a valid GHIC.

• Do I need to speak French?
  You do not need to speak French – although it always helps around the resort!

• Can I apply as a couple?
  Yes! We often employ couples to work for us, and if you are both successful in the recruitment process, we can offer you a private room to share. When applying, please ensure you both send in CVs with your individual experience. Couples can work in the same chalet together, but please note that we can’t guarantee this.

• Please read the job description PDFs thoroughly and ensure that you meet the requirements and have relevant experience for the role you are applying for.

• Please review your application, checking for spelling or grammatical errors.

• Remember, you’re competing with many other applicants, so try to stand out! Include interesting and exciting things about yourself, impressive previous work history, or fun life experiences.

• Many of our chefs have impressive portfolios on Social Media—please feel free to share your Instagram handle with us so we can view your creative food!

• Please send your CV to hr@verbierexclusive.com with a cover letter. We aren’t expecting an essay, but something short and sweet explaining a little about you: whether you have done a ski season before, whether you have skied before or not, which role you are applying for, and why you think you are right for the job!

• Please also include a photo of yourself—this doesn’t need to be a passport photo but can be a nice photo that shows your personality while remaining professional. Remember, we are a customer-facing business (and this helps our Head of People, Sally, remember the many people she interviews over the summer months!).

Please email your CV with a cover letter and a photo of you to our Head of People, Sally: hr@verbierexclusive.com.

We will try to get back to you as soon as possible. Please be patient as we receive a lot of applicants. If you are successful, you will be contacted to arrange an online/virtual interview.
The initial interview can take up to an hour, and some roles require a second interview.

If you’re applying for a chef role, please try to have some photos of your food and a sample menu. We advise including three canapes, three starters, three mains, and three desserts.

• What’s included in the job package?
  In return for your hard work, we offer possibly the most competitive package in the Alps! This includes a generous monthly salary, 1.5 days off a week, accommodation in Switzerland, travel to and from Verbier, uniform, food costs throughout your posting, a winter ski pack including a 4 Valley ski pass, ski and boot hire, emergency medical and emergency sports accident insurance, ski tuition, and other winter activities and events.

• How do I get to the resort?
  We provide transport to and from Verbier. We book flights into Geneva airport and drive to Verbier (2 hours).

• How long is the season?
  The winter season is from mid-December to mid-April.

• Is there staff training before the season starts?
  We offer two weeks of orientation before our first guests arrive! You can expect team talks, resort orientation, social evenings, wine tasting, cook-offs, cleaning chalets, polishing vans and much more!

• What can I expect from the seasonal staff accommodation?
  We like to think that we offer some of the best accommodation for seasonal staff in the Alps. Our accommodation is within Verbier and walking distance of the chalets (what a beautiful commute!). The majority of our staff live together. Most rooms available are twin rooms or doubles (for couples), with a few rooms being private.

Fun is at the very heart of what we do. We want this to spill over into every aspect of our business and align with our values of Live. Inspire. Repeat. We are very proud of this approach and fiercely protective ofit—it differentiates us from every other chalet operator and has led us to where we are today.

If you have snow running through your veins, love being part of a high-performing team, and have previous hospitality experience, we would love to hear from you!