ski instructor

gift shop associate

Sun Valley Resort

I only felt welcomed by my manager and 2 others. I tried my best to get to know other on my team but it was very hot and cold- when it was cold it emotionally and mentally affected me but I was not asked why I was sad or crying at work. I was just told I am allowed to go outside for a few minutes or go on a quick walk.  
I learned a lot here! ..I learned it is normal to feel disassociated with many co-workers would be out on vacation or work trips. I learned I can not be empathetic or have emotions while being a human resources coordinator. I learned that despite how others will treat you, you must carry it well and not speak up about it. I learned I do not want to work on a team and do not work best apart of a team because I can not play office politics. I learned that you may take initiative to do things, but if no one asks you to do it, you shouldn't.
Once you know all of the systems and daily tasks, you can expect to do the same daily tasks but interacting with the co-workers and employees it is a new day everyday. You must always be calm, peaceful, and humble even if you've repeated yourself many times. I truly loved to do my job as a human resources coordinator when it was a good day and the co-workers who were there that day were in good spirits and kind. 
The hardest part of the job for me was getting to know the property (where everything is)by myself, managing the stress (during winter season), trying to make myself feel included when I wasn't (because I didn't want to build anymore relationships with those who were not putting in any effort with me at all) and not walking away from the position the first time I was left alone to handle something, tried to handle it my best, then told a couple days later I shouldn't have handled it that way (even though there was no support there to help me and I was told to do it that way before). 
The most enjoyable thing about it was getting to meet and interact with lots of people from around the world, being celebrated for some accomplishments, having employee appreciation events to attend, and the beautiful area to hike and explore.. and proving to myself I can do it all alone. 


Mismanaged, little pay and unorganized. But, it's a seasonal job, what do you expect. Worked there about 2 seasons ago and ended up leaving halfway through season due to Frustration with Management. When they say Flexible, They mean Completely Flexible. They will change your location without notice even though they promised a specific Location. As a Lift Op, You are able to choose the lift you want to work at for the season (So we were told) I chose the Gondola at the beginning of the season. Shortly into the season I got hurt while I was there snowboarding. Because of this, I was unable to get to certain Lifts. Yet they would schedule me somewhere in the middle of the mountain? I chose to work the Gondola and they told me I would be stationed there for the season. However, Unfortunately almost every other day I was put on another Lift. This made it very difficult to do my job and get to those lifts due to me getting in a snowboarding accident a couple weeks prior, they knew this. yet they would put someone at my assigned Lift and send me elsewhere, even though those people didn't choose to operate the Gondola. Made no Sense. Very disorganized, little communication. I can be flexible, but not when I am hurt and unable to get to certain locations on the mountain. You also work with a lot of people who don't put the effort in. Obviously they can't fully control that, Just keep in mind you will mostly be working with people who are just there for the free ski pass and don't put much effort into the job making you pick up most of the slack. You kind of laugh at the whole situation afterwards looking back. Maybe other departments are better, The housing was decent. But Lift Ops was an absolute mess. Good luck to anyone looking to work here for the season. Biggest positive would be getting to meet new people. Other than that, not much going for this resort. Keep in mind there is also nothing around Sun Valley. It's in the middle of a mountain range (Obviously) right below sawtooth forest. Very little roads in or out. Boise is like 3 hours away or something like that. Perfect if you enjoy the outdoors/nature and don't like cities.. Otherwise, this isn't the place for you.

If it weren’t for the fantastic scenery and wonderful local population, Sun Valley Company wouldn’t be a remotely competitive employer.

My experience: Upper management (well-paid, often incompetent) exerts tremendous pressure on middle managers to control costs at frequent expense of guest and employee experience. Opportunities for advancement heavily favor those with sharp elbows and family connections rather than on basis of merit or competence. Non-Exec turnover is astonishingly high (even adjusted for seasonality/industry), resulting in near-constant training periods and frequent lapses in guest service quality. Execs are obsessed with controlling labor costs yet spend with reckless abandon on poorly-managed marketing/ad campaigns/capital improvements. Routine, avoidable brain drain to other businesses in town due to abysmal compensation and general dissatisfaction.

In short, investing in new lifts serving old terrain, outrageous marketing spend, and rampant nepotism at the expense of merit-based workforce development and fair compensation is antithetical to a world-class hospitality product. Despite a wealth of industry experience, the present GM’s playbook seems more befitting to management of US Steel or Comcast than a high-touch hospitality business.

If you’re looking for a single winter turning lifts, not the worst option. If your ambitions go beyond, don’t waste your time. The snowsports industry has never been more awash in profitable, human capital-centric employers - avoid settling for a relative dinosaur.

If you want to work at a location where the expectations are high but the communication is poor if not close to non-existent then this is the place for you! Sun valley is a place with lots of history and is definitely a very cool Seasonal job, but beyond that if you have any hopes of advancing or being able to stay at this job for an extended period of time then forget it. The mountain has fallen prey to Californication and former Vail management, thus ruining the culture and ability to accomplish tasks efficiently and effectively. Hypocritical high ups and constant failures from leadership leave you feeling as if everything you do is in vain and nothing is good enough or everything you do is wrong despite the complete and total lack of proper training, SOP's and equipment. Always being second guessed by your manager, no communication or leadership from your foremen and slow removal and downsizing of benefits. Pay raises (cents not dollars) are insulting unless you are under a certain bracket. Empty promises that leave you hopeful for change or advancements that constantly leave you defeated of frustrated. This place will promise you so much and then keep you in the same spot for 20 years unless you know the right people. If you are looking for a seasonal job, then by all means apply and stick it out for a season as there are amazing people, places and activities surrounding this job, but as a young person starting your career, there is nothing for you here other than some good experience and disappointment. 

A lot to unpack here. The seasonal housing is pretty good. The town is full of rich people, so your guests aren’t  always the nicest. management is good and bad depending on the department the people you will me are all super cool and you do get a free ski pass but rentals are not free after three times. The town is pretty small so the only thing to do is really ski or go to the Hot Springs. the housing management is pretty eh and constantly changes so if you want some thing fixed, it probably won’t happen. There’s an employee dining hall with a decent menu but the food is hit or miss and about five dollars a meal there’s one kitchen to share between two dorm buildings and it’s never clean . They force all the J1s to be in the same building. if you don’t want to be in a crop room with communal showers, the other dorm hall is an option, but cost more and fills up way faster if you’re a couple, you better apply really early for housing.  Way you could be in a two person room or four even though you pay the same price. if you work for banquets, just assume that you’re going to be working a lot with the weirdest hours and never have time off. Definitely not the worst seasonal place to work, but it has some down sides.

do your research make a list of little questions like housing benefits and job related and get those asked and out of the way during your initial interview with dept head.

1. Bring a bike and bike lock a single speed bike will do for 90% percent of commuting and bike trail needs 

2. ask Housing reps for a p.o. box voucher upon initial check in so that you can receive mail and packages

3. Bring a direct deposit form to hand to HR during intake interview 

4. follow all housing rules or you will be evicted from the property and have to live offsite or in your car and if you dont know something ask 

5. map out clock in locations its good to know at least 3 areas where you can clock in since they have the tendency to be out of service at various moments.

6. remain in character after youve clocked off work you will be asked questions/suggestions if in uniform and if your assigned to the main throughfare.

7. Networking is helpful with various departments 

 





you can't have a beard, guys cant have their hair long or a man bun, girls cant have color in their hair. i do like that when tim silva walks in the building (general manager) nothing is below him. he will buss tables while he is free skiing with his family. this is very respectable because it is hard to listen to someone who is telling you what to do if they arent willing to do it themselves. i love the ski school there. the culture is amazing to be a part of. in the beginning they are hard to get to know but once you do it is one big family. so much laughter and happiness. my department struggled withour manager but it was because she just had so much to do. dealing with scheduling and issues with desk staff was not the most valuable use of her time so i think we could rally benefit in a hands on manager there so random girls dont jsut get to choose to be leaders that day. I learned a lot working at sun valley. in the beginning i didnt understadn it but once you live there for a little while and really submerse yourself intht resort/ free lifestyle you will fall in love.

I hated working in the snow and the cold and in the Summer 90 degree weather and thunder storms. Working  around bed bugs in cottages and ebestos in cottage bathroom ceiling fans and black snakes every where you look. Campers clogging up toilets and leaving disgusting stuff in showers and trash cans.  I learned I don't want to work at a place like this. Management yelling at workers on the radio in front of other workers.  Talking about workers behind their backs. Being watched by maintenance workers. Haveing to be rehired every season and then sitting forever on a computer redoing classes over and over again till you get them right every year. I did like working out. and around nature that was ok. The hardest part of the job was cleaning up the next day after campers  were drinking the night before what a mess every where. And the problem with parents not watching their children the children would empty the hand soap bottles and fill them with water.
 

The sous chef personally trained me and did everything on his tasks.
I was well trained and worked all around without complains.
I worked too hard not being able to get a social life outside work.
They don't care so much for us Interns
Barely make enough to call it a living.
No supervisors at night therefore all the workload goes down to me as an Intern when i come in to work just to barely keep up and start again tomorrow with another whole list.
Hardest part of the job is when they on hire people without passion for the business and only comes to work for hours ending up for me to do most of the workload and that they get paid more.
The dorm i lived in is not even on the standards if the rural or urban homes would see it, we get cramped in a small dorm for 3 people.

Mileage may vary depending on who you work under, but in bell service / reception the culture was extremely positive-- provided you put the effort in on your part. I met lots of interesting people nad had a veriety of tasks which prevented days from becoming monotonous. While living in the dorms can be tedious as someone in their mid-20s, the dorms themselves are clean, modern, and well-maintained, and the location is absolutely incredible. Benefits for seasonal employees are fair and useful. Very positive experience, would do it again if I was still a student in need of temp work. The employee cafeteria was delicious and super cheap. Management was incredibly supportive as someone with a disability.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Ski instructor 20 salaries reported	$19.25 per hour
Gift shop associate 7 salaries reported	$13.00 per hour

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