FAQ’S FOR PARENTS

Chalet hosting is probably pretty similar to how you remember it (lots of cooking, cleaning and hosting your guests), and hopefully it is an experience you enjoyed!

We often find students have been encouraged to do a ski season if it is something one of their parents has done in the past. Recent changes have meant it is more competitive to find work, with the offer of a better salary and more time off. So whilst your son or daughter is likely to have as much fun as you did on and off the piste, they need to stand out and show they can do the job well. That’s where we come in, our courses will help your son/daughter understand and appreciate the nature of the role but be able to work in a way to achieve a balance so they can also make the most of the experience.

For more details your son/daughter can do our FREE online course ‘Chalet Hosting - Is It For Me?’ or read about the role in the ‘Everything Else’ section under ‘What is Chalet Hosting’.

No, recruitment and an offer of employment are solely made by the ski companies themselves and it is not something any cookery school can guarantee.

However we work closely with a number of the ski companies as they recognise that the syllabus we teach, and the training we provide, gives students the best possible experience of what it is like to be a chalet host.

When your son/daughter books a place on one of our residentials we will immediately send them our online ‘Getting A Job’ course. This is a comprehensive course that will take them though the stages of applying, from researching companies, to putting together a CV, covering letter and menu plan, to what to expect at interview.

Students who book on are also able to send their draft versions of CV’s, covering letters and menu plans to us for additional comments before they apply.

On their applications we recommend students indicate they are booked onto one of the Fresh Tracks courses and outline what topics they will cover to show awareness of the role and, in addition, can provide our details as referee’s if required.

No. If you want to find out more about a ski company and the role you should encourage your son/daughter to make contact themselves. If you are calling on their behalf many companies will see this as a signal that your son/daughter does not have the maturity or confidence to do this themselves and hence reluctant to offer them a position where they need to be self-motivated and assertive. Whilst you think you are helping them, you are not!

By all means assist your son/daughter in putting together their application with some encouragement and advice, and read over it to check it comes across as professional and logical, but don’t do it for them!

Chalet hosts can be 18 years +. Many companies like young people as they bring energy and enthusiasm to the role, are more readily adaptable and flexible and are willing to learn. These are the skills that your son/daughter will need to demonstrate.

Some companies indicate they will only employ over 21’s, but what they are basically wanting are applicants who are confident and capable and have some life experience. So if your son/daughter has the right work experience and work ethic they could still make an application to these companies.

Yes, it is still possible for British passport holders to work as chalet hosts. It is not as easy as it was since Brexit, but if the company offers an applicant a job they will sort out a work permit and the applicant can then arranage for the visa. This has become a little easier over the last few years with a more established system in place. For more details see our Blog ‘The Visa Process - Updated’.

Yes. We are proud to be an Approved Activity Provider with the DofE which means your son/daughter can use the course to achieve their Gold DofE residential. Please note that your son/daughter can book with a friend but the majority of the other participants must be unknow to them, in order for this to qualify.