sous chef

cook

shift manager

youth counselor

recruitment manager

The Chautauqua Institution

Living and working at Chautauqua Institution is an experience of a lifetime. No matter what you do, you will always have a summer you will never forget. Founded in 1874, Chautauqua is a 600-acre lake side summer community that features a 9 week summer program schedule. During those 9 weeks an average of 2,100 events happen and 120,000-150,000 people from all over the world pass through the gates. There are about 1200 Victorian-era cottages on the grounds, most are private homes but also some rooming houses and a few inns. Also on the grounds is the 180-room Athenaeum Hotel which features package reservations including meals and amenities. Chautauqua also features some very exclusive schools for the visual and performing arts including theater, orchestra, ballet, and opera. With a number of performing arts venues, the largest of which being The Amphitheater (5,500 seats) it isn't hard to see a great show ranging from the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra to pop music.

The Institution holds a year-round staff of about 90 but hires about an additional 1400 for the summer season. These jobs range from working in food service to being a camp counselor or sailing instructor to technical crew in one of the performing arts venues. Second jobs are allowed, obviously as long as they don't create schedule conflicts. This is easily worked out early rather than once you've begun work so discuss this with your supervisor early on. Every position working for Chautauqua Institution includes as a benefit a "Gate Pass" which is your ticket to all of the lectures, concerts and other performances, of course dependent upon your work schedule. Most positions also include parking, as no cars are allowed on the grounds for longer than 45 minutes, but parking is conveniently located if you are not housed on the grounds so this isn't a major downside. For some positions, housing on the grounds can be negotiated as part of your contract but availability is short and it is on a first come, first served basis so make sure you mention this to your potential supervisor early on if you need it. It is sometimes possible to find housing off the grounds in the surrounding community.

Some positions are available that are not associated with Chautauqua Institution. These positions are typically in privately owned rooming houses and involve housekeeping duties but other positions as servers or attendants can be found at some of the restaurants on and around the grounds.

People come from all over the United States, Canada and around the world to attend summer programs at Chautauqua. You will meet interesting and intellectual people from all walks of life and often be able to strike up a conversation with them. It isn't uncommon to see well known executives, politicians and even celebrities at a coffee bar or concert or walking by the lake. However at Chautauqua they are viewed as everyday people and just a part of the community. I've always said, "you never know who you're going to meet here."

All in all, I would highly recommend working at Chautauqua Institution. Some positions will have more aggressive work schedules than others but you will have great coworkers who in many cases become close friends. Each and every day at least once it will occur to you that you are a part of something special and you will find yourself getting caught up in the atmosphere of the place. I guarantee should you work at Chautauqua it will be a summer you will never forget.

Excellent Institution to work for. Constantly working with the public and meeting new people. In the few months of the summer season, I was able to have the pleasure of working with many talented performing and visual artists. I primarily worked with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, which was made up of professional musicians from around the globe who come and spend the summer with the symphony. The management is wonderful, cooperative and attentive when dealing with the other employees. Every one of the managers in the production department makes an honest effort to get to know who is working for them. This allows for a much more comfortable atmosphere as an employee. The hardest part of the job was the occasional high pressure situation when I had to lead my crew to accomplish a large task with a short deadline. However, having a crew of competent well rounded individuals guaranteed that no matter the deadline we always achieved our task. The most enjoyable part of the job was knowing that at the end of the day everything we set out to do in the morning ran smoothly and successfully. The experience at the Chautauqua Institution was and incredible opportunity and I hope to return for the 2015 season.

A typical day at work included cleaning up tables and making sure customers were not sitting at tables with empty plates in front of them. I would occasionally refill drinks as well. I learned how to work efficiently in a fast paced environment. The management was not well trained, and often contradicted each other. I enjoyed working with some of my co-workers, but others we rude and we not understanding when their tables were not clear but I was the only busser working. The hardest part of my job was trying to keep the entire dining room clean and clear and being the only busser working during the dinner shift. There were also breaks in between breakfast, lunch, and dinner service, so an eight hour work day ran from 7am to 9pm. The most enjoyable part of my day as working with people my age and making friends and interacting with people all day.

As a Ticketing Agent and Clothing Clerk/Cashier, I had to quickly become accustomed to what customers wanted, and needed. I have to say though, that the supervisors in the ticketing office were ALWAYS there and I never felt isolated or alone during a transaction. That was a really good feeling! I got to learn the in's-and-outs of of  pricing, deals, and refunds/exchanges. 
      When I was a clothing clerk, I got used to running the cash register in the clothing section of the bookstore. I also learned how to restock and take inventory on new clothing shipments that the Bookstore acquired during their summer season. 
       All in all, I got to learn how to work one-on-one with customers, learned how to answer questions quickly and efficiently, and learned how to grow a thick skin. It has helped learn how to deal with people on a day-to-day basis.

Working at Chautauqua Institution was a very engaging experience. You meet a lot of people from around the country and sometimes from out of the country. There are weekly presentations from visiting artists and fellow staff. The job expectations and hours are very well defined. The hardest part of the job was missing out on some educational presentations because I was teaching class. It was also hard to transport all of my stuff and art supplies to stay through the summer. Nice lodging and food was provided though! The most enjoyable part of the job was the networking and freedom to plan my lessons how I wanted. 

Chautauqua Institution only pays their administration staff sufficiently, any other department is paid minimum wage. In a typical day at work you're tasked with doing long and tedious work, the best way to describe it is you're doing busy work on a day to day basis. The only reason I gave them a 3 out of 5 for their rating is because there are good people that work for Chautauqua Institution, they're just drowned out by Chautauqua's board members and select management staff in the administration department.

During the season there was a ton of work to do. It didn't seem like there was enough time to do it. I got plenty of overtime, about 20 hrs a week. The other employees were great to work with and quick to offer help. Management was great, too. During season work was very busy (supervisors and manager deserves a raise). If you do good work, you get good tips. After season, about late August, the workload really drops and work is much lighter and there is way less pressure, which makes up for in-season. 
If you're looking for a summer job with plenty of hours in a somewhat nice environment, this would be great for you. If you can't spend long hours on your feet or don't like spending some days running around to get work done, this is not for you.

What is the best part of working at the company?
All the CO workers and supervisors and everyone I worked with was really nice. There was no drama and just laid back

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Just if we got slammed with a bunch of laundry at one time 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Really laid back and down to earth

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Washing, folding, and steaming laundry. Delivery clean laundry to the hotel and picking up the dirty laundry to wash

What is the best part of working at the company?
Caring supervisors and complimentary admission to most events.  

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I drove the talent in from area airports, bus and train stations.  You want to be the best you can be to show our area at its best.  That can be stressful. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Caring, but excellence driven.  

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Arrive when assigned and day is over when the work is done.

The absolute worst company i have ever worked for. No one in upper management cares about you, HR does not care about you, and your pay WILL be messed up and no they wont care or fix it for you. Every single person in upper management looks down at you and WILL take their personal issues out on you. No appreciation for hard work. There is NO communication. Managers are allowed to verbally and emotionally harass you with no repercussions or anyone caring.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Sous chef 1 salary reported	$20.00 per hour
Cook 5 salaries reported	$19.13 per hour
Shift manager 2 salaries reported	$17.50 per hour
Youth counselor 12 salaries reported	$17.02 per hour
Recruitment manager 4 salaries reported	$19.63 per hour

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