Zermatt - ski snowboard instructor courses in Switzerland available from Peak Leaders

Job Opportunities

Work in one of the oldest ski schools in the world! The official ski school Zermatt was founded in 1929 and has a long and proud history of teaching excellence. Until recently the clientele was made up by the rich and famous from Europe America. More recently Zermatt has shaken off its exclusive image and has appealed to a wider rage of skiers and snowboarders wanting instruction on some of the best slopes in the Alps. The Snowsports school is housed in a magnificent timbered building in the centre of Zermatt.

Wear the coveted red ski instructor jacket! Peak Leaders courses in Zermatt are delivered by the official snowsport school, which is by far the largest school in Zermatt. Trainees who are up to the BASI Instructor standard and who demonstrate the right attitude for working with clients, will be offered work experience with senior instructors during the busy school holidays in February. A selected few may be offered jobs at the end of their course, although no decision will be made on jobs until work experience has been completed.

In 2008, some new Peaks instructors loved Zermatt so much that they stayed on over summer to work in a hotel and started working in the ski/board as instructors in the winter. Others went on to get jobs in New Zealand, Andorra and on dry/indoor-slopes in the UK.

Successful Zermatt trainees with their Red jackets!

Peak Leaders have planned their courses to give you the option of qualifying either in summer (New Zealand or Argentina) or winter (Canada, Japan, Austria, France or Switzerland.)

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)

Welcome to Peak Leaders

Jan 3 – Mar 14, 2011

Peak Leaders Zermatt