Insiders Tips to Getting a Job in Avoriaz

It’s tough. But here are our top tips to help you beat the competition..

It’s simple really. When looking for a job in Avoriaz and the surrounding areas: be prepared to do anything. I’ve met people who clean in the day, DJ at night and walk dogs at the weekend. There are hundreds of jobs around and if you have a business brain or a hard work ethic you can more than make a decent wage out here. But, as I’ve learnt from personal experience, it might not be the career step you were dreaming of. HOWEVER. The perks of life in one of the most beautiful places on the earth certainly make up for that, and what is it they say? The greatest wealth is to live content with little? That’s code for being skint but loving life in the snow.

When hunting for that coveted position in Avoriaz, also be ready for prospective employers to not really give a damn about what you’ve done before. You might have been personal secretary to David Cameron, or a top CIA agent – but if you can’t strip a bed in record time, don’t know how to clean a toilet or don’t have the physical strength to dig holes, none of that matters! I remember introducing myself to someone looking for summer workers.

“Hi I’m Alice”

Her response:

“What are you looking for? And how many hours can you do?”

There are no airs and graces and none of that unbearable schmoozing you find in cosmopolitan areas in the UK. Avoriaz's work ethic is simply, get the work done well and get the work done quickly. (That’s partly down to the fact you’re usually paid by the hour so you’re cheaper if you’re speedy!)

You also need to be ready to change your working shift patterns. There’s no such thing as all year round, 9-5 jobs in Avoriaz. Work is completely seasonal and the hours are extremely varied. During the winter, everyone knuckles down and works crazy hours, whether you’re a chalet worker, a ski instructor, cleaner or nanny this is the time to work hard and play hard. You’re looking at working split shifts, having a maximum of one day off a week, and spending the little free time you have on the snow. You’ll be tired. But you can certainly catch up on rest when May comes.

Inter-season working is a completely different kettle of fish. In the first few weeks after the winter ends, bars close, chalets close, restaurants close, the swimming pool closes, the shops close for most of the day and the streets are devoid of activity. The whole town seems to hibernate for a week or two to recover. But slowly, businesses that have waited all year round for warmer weather to arrive begin to creep out of their nests. The hum of diggers and cement mixers start to ring out across the valley and emails searching for labourers, decorators, and heavy lifters clutter the inboxes of the expat community. Inter-season is the time for building work and renovations and if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, can be extremely profitable. It’s also a really good time to do some networking. People who you haven’t seen for months, because they’ve been up to their eyes looking after tourists, appear out of the woodwork and desperately want to socialise.

Everyone knows everyone in Avoriaz and making a good impression is everything. People talk, and if you’ve proven yourself as a hard worker who can be trusted, you’ll find yourself in high demand. There are so many people who come out here purely for the snow; employers love to find that person who’ll put the good of the business before time on the slopes. A lot of employers love to re-hire people as well (to save on retraining), so if you want to return next year, you make the job hunt a lot easier for yourself if you impress the first time around.

If you want to make Avoriaz your permanent home, and don’t fancy working an eclectic mix of seasonal jobs, there are always opportunities for new businesses. If you come up with a good idea or identify something that Morzine needs, and if you can cobble the money together to make a go of it, you could make a real success of yourself. The area is extremely supportive of entrepreneurism and people who want to help in the growth and development of the region and there’s certainly a lot of money around. You just have to come up with THE idea.

So the advice really is simple. Be prepared to do anything. Be prepared to take a pay cut. Get out and meet people. Don’t be work shy and certainly don’t come here to make an immediate fortune. It takes time, hard graft and a fair few confidence knocks. But please don’t let me put you off. You can make a packet in Avoriaz if you’re prepared to work hard, and let’s face it; location, lifestyle and contentment are worth a weight in gold. Good luck!