The
Course...
Peak
Leaders have planned their courses to give you the option
of qualifying either in summer ( New Zealand or Argentina)
or winter ( Canada, France or Switzerland.) This flexibility
means you can fit in a course in the summer holidays
from July - October before, during or after school/
university or qualify during the northern hemisphere
winter season January - March.
Verbier - Guaranteed Work Scheme
For
example, when your school / uni exams are out of the
way in June / July you could head south to Argentina
or New Zealand. Returning to the UK as a qualified instructor
in October, you are either in time for the new academic
year or home just to fling your gear into the washing
machine before jetting off to a job in November in Canada
or Europe.
On the other hand,
should you have other plans for the summer then a winter
course from December or January in Canada, Switzerland
or France training to become a ski or snowboard instructor
may be a better option. You could be qualified by the
end of February and finish the season working as an
instructor (Call Peak Leaders for further info). You
could also opt to travel to the southern hemisphere
in June to chase the snow and fit in some work experience
as a ski or snowboard instructor before going on to
other things in the autumn.
The
C.V...
 To
enhance your CV for future employment, Peak Leaders
have devised a course structure which includes a wide
range of complementary qualifications and skills.
Having completed your Peak Leaders' course, a well presented
CV listing qualifications you have gained, with good
references, is key to gaining a job.
Your
portfolio...
Understanding
customer service and developing your people skills are
modules taught on a Peak Leaders' course. As with most
jobs, being an instructor often involves starting at
the bottom of the ladder in a snowsports' school. Although
the money is limited at the beginning, you will be working
in the most fabulous outdoor office in the world doing
something you love with like minded people. You should
also, in a good snowsports' school, expect to receive
personal development training, qualifications and job
/ income prospects. Once you have built up a portfolio
of skills and a reputation with clients who want you
as their instructor, your salary will increase.
Job
search...
Peak
Leaders commitment to helping trainees does not end
with the completion of your course. We will give you
information and advice to help secure the job you want
Former
trainees...
 From
the Andes to the Southern Alps to the Rocky Mountains,
wherever you qualify with Peak Leaders, remember, you
may be head hunted for jobs the following season. Destination
resort managers look out for good Peak Leaders'trainees
who finish the course well qualified, with good CVs
and references. In 2005 there were 12 former Peak
Leaders' trainees employed at Sunshine Village
alone as instructors, with others working elsewhere
in Canada, Europe, North America and New Zealand.
Visa
& Work Permit Advice:
Europe
- UK citizens do not need a visa to
travel or work in Europe. If you do not hold a European
passport you should contact the local embassy of the
country you want to visit or your foreign office before
applying for jobs.
Canada
& The U.S.A - You can go to Canada
for up to 6 months as a visitor and no visa is
necessary as long as you are on a full British passport
and do not do paid work. If you get a job, you
have to apply either from your country of origin or
in Canada itself (which will take up to a month to process).
If you do the latter, you will have to leave and re-enter
Canada with the new paperwork from outside its borders.
Many ski and snowboard schools in Canada and the U.S.A
have some jobs which include work permits specifically
for their international employees. Alternatively,
BUNAC run a Work Canada program which allows
those aged between 18 & 30 to work and travel in
Canada for up to 6 months. BUNAC will issue you
with a "Work Authorisation Certificate".
When you arrive in Canada, you take this certificate
to Canadian Immigration along with your passport and
they will issue you with a stamped visa.
New
Zealand - A working holiday visa is a good option for job seekers going to New Zealand.
This scheme allows UK and Irish citizens to stay in
NZ for up to 12 months and allows you to work to supplement
your travel. There are 8,000 visas available to UK citizens
and 1,000 for Irish citizens. There are some Working
Holiday Visa Conditions, you must:
 Be
a British or Irish Citizen residing in the UK
or Ireland respectively at the time of applying - Be
aged between 18-30 years
- Not
accompanied by children on your visit
- Have
a passport valid 3 months beyond your intended departure
date from NZ
- Upon
arrival, provide evidence of NZ$4,200 in funds
- Upon
arrival, provide an outward flight ticket, or sufficient
funds to purchase one (approx NZ$2,000)
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