International Staff
JOIN THE MOUNT SNOW TEAM!
If you are interested in obtaining a J-1 visa and interviewing for a winter job at Mount Snow (we require a personal interview before an offer can be made), you should contact Universal Student Exchange (USE) or CCUSA for details. If you are interested in working in our hotel for the summer season, please contact CCUSA for more information.
Universal Student Exchange www.workuse.com
MOUNT SNOW FACTS
Mount Snow is located at the southern tip of Vermont in the Northeastern United States. On a Vermont map, it is located on Route 100 in the town of West Diver, midway between Brattleboro and Bennington. New York City is a 4 hour drive south, and Boston is a 3 hour drive east. A majority of Mount Snow’s guests come from these major metropolitan areas.
There are several different positions available to our international staff. You should discuss the position details thoroughly with a recruiter before applying for employment at Mount Snow. Below are some the positions that we offer and a brief job description:
- Lift Operator – Assist guests on & off lifts, operate lifts, scan lift passes and tickets, assist at the Tubing Park, shovel snow around lift shacks, etc.
- Housekeeper – Clean guest’s hotel rooms and/or condos including but not limited to vacuuming & mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, etc.
- Food and Beverage Worker – Take customer orders, cook and prepare food, clean kitchen, wash dishes, run cash register, stock shelves, etc.
- Custodial Worker – Clean lodge restrooms, sweep and mop floors, bus tables, clean restrooms, empty trash, etc.
- Rental Technician – Assist guests with rental equipment, make adjustments, collect payments, maintain equipment, keep work area clean and organized, etc.
- Bell Valet – Park and retrieve hotel guest’s cars, assist with luggage, check skis/snowboards, maintain hotel lobby, etc. (International Driver’s License required.)
Also, here are some important points about employment at Mount Snow that you should be aware of:
- Customer service is taken very seriously. Every employee is expected to deliver the highest quality service at all times.
- Attendance and punctuality are demanded. Missing work without cause and/or chronic tardiness will result in dismissal.
- The dress code is strictly enforced.
- Weekends and holidays are Mount Snow’s busiest, so please do not expect to have them off.
WINTER WEATHER AND CLOTHING
The average winter temperature in Vermont is around 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 degrees Celsius). It can often get much colder with the added wind chill. Therefore, you will need plenty of warm clothing including a winter jacket, gloves, hats, socks, lined boots, fleeces, sweaters, thermal underwear, etc. You receive a discount at our stores, but prices remain high. You should plan to arrive in Vermont with the necessary winter clothing, and you’ll be very glad you did!
Mount Snow requires that all staff wear uniforms while at work. If you work indoors, you will be required to wear your own black or tan pants which you should bring with you. A uniform shirt and jacket (if needed) will be provided. Lift Operators will be issued complete outdoor uniforms that must be returned at season’s end.
GETTING TO MOUNT SNOW FROM NEW YORK CITY
Amtrak train service from Penn Station to Brattleboro, Vermont (6 hour ride). For information and reservations – www.amtrak.com. Since the train arrives in Brattleboro at 5:30pm, you will need to call Valley Cab (see below) to arrange transportation to Mount Snow. The more people in your group, the less you each pay for the taxi.
Valley Cab for taxi service from Brattleboro, VT to Mount Snow (45 minute ride). Call 802-348-7827 for reservations. Reservations can be booked in advance.
TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM WORK
The MOOver is a free shuttle bus service in the Mount Snow Valley that runs regularly throughout the workday and will provide transportation to and from work. Mount Snow is located in a remote area of Vermont, so limited transportation options should be an important consideration before applying for a job here. Additional information and current schedules for the MOOver can be found at www.moover.com.
HOUSING
With Internet and email access, the majority of Mount Snow staff now arrange their own housing. We encourage you to arrange yours by working with your sponsor or making direct contact with rental companies. Please be sure to let the rental company know that your housing needs to be ON OR WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO THE MOOVER ROUTE. www.moover.com
Mountain Resort Rentals
www.mountainresortrentals.com
1-802-464-1445
Rentals Only / Offering Seasonal Rentals
www.rentalsonly.com
1-802-464-0904
Deerfield Valley News
www.dvalnews.com
View our Local Rental Housing List
Mount Snow can also arrange housing for some of its international staff if needed. Staff will live in various houses and/or apartments that we rent from local owners a in the West Dover/Wilmington area. All housing is within walking distance of the MOOver bus service. Most accommodations house from 6 to 14 people, and all bedrooms are at least double occupancy and occasionally triple. Please do not expect to have a private room if you elect to have Mount Snow arrange housing for you.
By participating in pre-arranged housing through us, you are requesting Mount Snow to seek out and secure housing for you as an individual. After receiving and signing this Housing Agreement LINK, you will immediately be responsible for the total loan amount. The loan required for pre-arranged housing is $1,275 for the entire season, not including additional costs such as utilities (electricity, trash removal, snow removal, heat, telephone service, cable TV, etc.). This is a fixed rate loan and can’t be pro-rated based on shorter stays. Utility payments will be an additional deduction from your paycheck at a bi-weekly rate of $70.
Your signed Housing Agreement will govern your stay in rented housing arranged by Mount Snow. It provides for your immediate eviction and removal from housing if House Rules are violated. If you are evicted for any reason, Mount Snow will not assist you in finding alternative housing. You will be permitted to reside in Mount Snow arranged housing only while you are employed at Mount Snow.
The only way Mount Snow will know if you would like housing arranged for you is if you fill out the Housing Agreement LINK form and either fax (+1-802-464-4135) or scan and email it to wparent@mountsnow.com.
MAIL DELIVERY
The US Postal Service will not deliver packages to rental houses, so you will be expected to make arrangements for your own post office box in either the town of West Dover or Wilmington depending on your housing location. In order to establish a post office box, you will need your passport and one other form of identification.
INTERNET
There are several computers available for staff use in Skybox, located on the 4th floor of the Main Base Lodge. If you bring a laptop, WiFi is also available at the Grand Summit Hotel.
SHOPPING
The Mount Snow valley has one major supermarket which is located on the MOOver route in Wilmington. Other smaller stores are located throughout the Mount Snow valley and are accessible by MOOver. There are many outdoor sports stores where skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, pants, jackets, hats, gloves, helmets and other winter gear can be purchased. The Mount Snow region is fairly remote, so shopping is limited to a handful of markets and specialty shops. The MOOver does make a couple of round-trips per day to Brattleboro where you can access several larger grocery stores, specialty shops, movie theaters and Wal-Mart.
PAYCHECKS
Mount Snow pays employees biweekly on the Friday following the close of the payroll period. Pay periods are Sunday through Monday. Due to our pay period system, it is very likely that you will work 2 weeks before receiving your first paycheck. You should bring enough money for food and basic living expenses for the first two weeks of your stay. Mount Snow recommends that you bring no less than U.S. $400.00 to get you through the first few weeks.
TAXES
International staff are not exempt from Federal and State Government Taxes. You should expect to see approximately 20% withheld from each paycheck for these taxes. Staff members on J-1 Visas are exempt from Social Security taxes only.
ILLNESS – INJURY – MISSED WORK
An employee who is injured while performing his/her work duties may be eligible for Worker’s Compensation and paid medical care. An employee who is injured while skiing/snowboarding or any other activity while he/she is not working will not receive worker’s compensation. It is essential to plan for traveler’s health insurance that will cover you while in the U.S. Medical care is very expensive and works on private insurance or “pay-as-you-go” cash system, which can easily add up.
If you are sick and cannot come to work, you must call your supervisor immediately to let him/her know you will not be in. Seasonal staff are not paid for days that they are out sick.
END OF SEASON DEPARTURE
Mount Snow is unable to assist in transportation and/or travel plans for leaving the resort at the end of the season. It will be your responsibility to make these arrangements. See “Getting to Mount Snow…” above.
Prior to departure you will be expected to:
- Notify your supervisor of your anticipated departure date
- Return all uniform clothing/outerwear that has been issued to you by your department or any department where you have position-shared
- Make arrangements for your last paycheck and the return of your housing deposit (if applicable) CCUSA www.ccusa.com
VIDEOS OF MOUNT SNOW
Vimeo Channel – featuring Carinthia Parks videos, including the popular C Sessions and Ride With a Ranger series.
YouTube Channel – Mount Snow’s video channel.
INTERNET RESOURCES FOR OUR INTERNATIONALS
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
www.uscis.gov
United States Department of State
www.state.gov
United States Department of Labor
www.dol.gov
Department of Health and Human Services – CDC&P Travelers’ Health
www.cdc.gov/travel
Social Security Online – The official website of the Social Security Administration
www.ssa.gov
Internal Revenue Services – U.S. Department of the Treasury
www.irs.gov
Vermont Department of Taxes
www.state.vt.us/tax
TaxBack.Com – Income Tax refunds for people who have worked abroad
www.taxback.com
World Embassies – Directory and search engine of the world’s embassies and consulates
www.embassyworld.com
Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce
www.visitvermont.com
The Moover (free shuttle)
www.moover.com
Greyhound Bus Lines
www.greyhound.com
Amtrak Train Lines
www.amtrak.com
Hertz Car Rental
www.hertz.com
Hostelling International
www.hiayh.com
Duncan Cable TV & Broadband Internet
www.duncancable.com
Vermont Churches
www.vermontchurch.com
WebMD Health Information
www.webmd.com
QUESTIONS?
Mount Snow encourages you to contact the Human Resources Recruiter, Willian Parent - wparent@mountsnow.com with any questions.
