Living & Working in Great Places

Rick Peterson's Blog (22)

The Employee Journey -- pt.6 The Last Minute Checklist

It is getting closer and closer to the summer season. Most of you are probably excited for your 2009 adventures. When I worked seasonally I always went a little stir crazy about this time. I knew where I was going and wanted to get there. If you are in the same condition I always was, you run the risk (as I did) of forgetting to pack something or make an important final arrangement. Excitement is the friend of forgetfulness in my household. So I wrote this last-minute checklist for you to hopefu… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on April 5, 2009 at 4:00pm — 1 Comment

Seasonal Work Strategies

I thought I would write a blog on some of the differing summer work strategies I’ve seen over the years. Some are good and some are bad, but they are popular. I see them every summer. Hopefully you can create a strategy for yourself that includes much of the good and very little of the bad. 1. The Early Bird – this strategy focuses on your first month at your new job. Most seasonal jobs come with various discounts. The Early Bird tries to use every discount they have in their first month of wor… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on March 19, 2009 at 7:17pm — 11 Comments

The Employee Journey – pt. 5 How to Build on Year 1 and Beyond

The past chapters on my employee journey blog have focused almost exclusively on the first time seasonal work experience. Well perk up all your “career” seasonal workers, I am writing this blog for the repeat seasonal employee. The goal is to help you become the lead, supervisor, or manager you always wished you had your first season. And if you are a first time seasonal employee, remember this advice as your season goes on. It can come in handy a year from now. As a hiring manager the most dif… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on February 17, 2009 at 5:00pm — 15 Comments

An Updated Look at Alaska in 2009

Well howdy, long time no see. I was on such a roll blogging, and I truly appreciated all the comments I was receiving, and then that darn work thing started getting in the way. I plan on continuing my Employee Journey series soon, but wanted to give everyone an update about the upcoming 2009 Alaska summer. The last 3 weeks have seen some pretty major changes. I previously spoke about the downward trend in bookings in the cruising industry, specifically with my information working for Princess C… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on January 30, 2009 at 12:00am — 7 Comments

The Employee Journey -- pt.4 What you can do after you apply

All too often prospective seasonal employees find themselves in a waiting game after they apply. There are a few reasons for this. First, employers often have a lot of applications to work through. When I work an application I look through the application, contact the applicant, set up an interview, spend 45 minutes to an hour interviewing them, and then have to decide if the person is a good fit for the positions I have available. Hiring is the most important part of my job year after year. If… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on December 27, 2008 at 2:40pm — 7 Comments

The Employee Journey -- pt.3 Deciding what position to apply for

So, the reason it has taken me so long to do another blog is that I am enjoying the benefits of the seasonal hospitality industry and taking a long vacation. My wife and I are enjoying the winter hospitality industry and some indoor water parks back home in Wisconsin. I want to thank everyone for all of the great comments on my last blog. The latest discuss the compensation structures of certain positions and whether they are fair or not. That dovetails very well in to this blog’s topic. My last… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on December 15, 2008 at 10:33pm — 10 Comments

The Employee Journey -- pt.2 Deciding where to apply

I’m trying to blog the seasonal employee journey, based on my history in Alaska. Previously I talked about the slowing rate of tourism in 2009. But don’t worry, there will still be seasonal jobs out there for you to enjoy. Once you have made the decision to seek a seasonal adventure, you have to decide where to apply. This is an immensely important decision and can mean the difference between you having the summer of your life, or the summer of your discontent. Before you start looking at place… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on December 3, 2008 at 6:00pm — 14 Comments

The Employee Journey -- pt 1. A 2009 Outlook

I haven’t blogged for a while but have been thinking about things I could share with the MyCoolworks group that would be helpful for 2009. I am going to do a series of blogs covering my knowledge of the seasonal employee journey. I am going to cover every step I can think of, from your first thought of seasonal employment to your first day of work and beyond. This blog is my rundown and predictions of what 2009 will bring for anyone interested in a seasonal job. My expertise is Alaska, and most… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on November 21, 2008 at 12:50pm — 1 Comment

The Latest Underappreciated Things

Some time ago, I wrote a blog post of things I feel are underappreciated. Seeing as I love lists, I thought I would do a follow up. Here is a link to the original list. http://my.coolworks.com/profiles/blog/show?id=561627%3ABlogPost%3A39996 1. Little Debbie Nutty Bars -- of my gosh, can th… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on October 16, 2008 at 3:30pm — 3 Comments

What a week

I feel horrible, because I was on MyCoolworks so much this winter and spring and have virtually disappeared over the last 2 weeks. Needless to say, it has been a busy time for me. Start up of a 460 room seasonal property is very difficult. No matter how many times I do it, it never seems to get any easier. Boy I wish it would some times. But a remarkable transformation has taken place over the last 6 days. We opened the doors to the Mt McKinley Princess Lodge on May 15, and boy did I think I was… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on May 20, 2008 at 10:15pm — 1 Comment

Top 5 Mistakes Seasonal Managers Make

A while back I wrote a blog entitled, "The Top 5 Mistakes Seasonal Workers Make." I was sledding and building a snowman with my wife today when I realized I needed to tell the other side of the equation. So I thought I would write about mistakes that managers make as well. Now, by managers I really mean ME, or what I have seen personally, but I figure that I cannot be that different from other managers in this industry. Plus, a blog entitled, "The Top 5 Mistakes I Make" just didn't seem like som… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on April 20, 2008 at 9:52pm — 1 Comment

Instant Classics -- Redux

I was inspired today to blog on a previous blog that yours truly wrote called Instant Classics. I had to tape Sense and Sensibility on Masterpiece Theater for my wife tonight. As I perused my pile of video tapes (why is it so hard to keep VHS tapes organized?) I found a prospect for recording. It had an old episode of Heroes on it. Just as I was about to switch it off and set up the timer I saw a blurb across the bottom of Heroes for the Series Premiere of Journeyman. This caught my atten… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on April 6, 2008 at 11:48pm — 1 Comment

Why Driving to Alaska Rocks

I was inspired by a new MyCoolworks friend to write this tonight. She just went on a rocking road trip in her Cobalt and it got me thinking about two road trips that I have done, driving from Wisconsin to Alaska. The first time I was in a wicked rush. Please pardon the "wicked" comment, I have been reading a book about the Boston Red Sox and I guess am feeling a little New England-ish tonight. Back to the point, first trip of 3600 miles was done in 4 days, leaving Friday morning and arriving Mon… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on April 1, 2008 at 12:00am — 6 Comments

My List of Underappreciated Things

I thought I would write another random blog post that had nothing to do with work. I want to thank everyone for their feedback and comments on my blogs. I love getting it. I had a lot of great feedback from my "Odds and Ends" blog so I thought I would do a listing of some things that I feel are very underappreciated. At the end of this, let me know what you think are some underappreciated things. 1. The Cow -- I really think the cow is underappreciated. Without this animal we would have no hamb… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on March 27, 2008 at 10:29pm — 6 Comments

The Battle of the E's

I interview many people who think they should get the job because they have experience. I hire many people because they are enthusiastic about their jobs. So there in lies the Battle of the E's, what is more valuable: Experience or Enthusiasm? I hope you noticed the italics in the first two sentences. Experience may get you an interview, enthusiasm will get you hired. Seasonal jobs by their very nature require constant training. The jobs start and end each year, and new employees… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on March 23, 2008 at 10:57pm — 10 Comments

The Top 5 Mistakes Seasonal Workers Make

It is great seeing the members of MyCoolworks excited about finding their seasonal jobs for the summer or fall. I remember the feeling you get in the pit of your stomach as you prepare for your adventure. I worked seasonally in Alaska for 4 summers, in jobs ranging from bell staff to housekeeping to front desk. For the past 4 years I have been on the other end of the spectrum as a seasonal hiring manager. I get the cool feeling of making people's dreams come true in a way by hiring them to come… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on March 20, 2008 at 2:11pm — 8 Comments

Odds and Ends

Hide the women and children because I have decided to blog tonight. I have decided to forgo my usual blog attempts at having a cohesive, logical theme and instead will be documenting some odds and ends about yours truly. You see, I am sitting alone in Alaska because my wife is out of town. I am a little depressed and cannot seem to coordinate my thoughts. Instead, I have lots of thoughts all jumbled up at once. So I will unjumble them in the blog. Perhaps I can give you something to think about… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on March 14, 2008 at 11:12pm — 4 Comments

The Importance of Friends

One interesting side effect of working in the seasonal job market is that you end each year with a new group of friends, most of whom you may never see again. This is not for lack of wanting, but simply due to every 3rd graders favorite subject, geography. Most of your interaction with these people will now be done via e-mail, networking sites like MyCoolworks, the telephone, and possibly letters. Hopefully you also have those rare opportunities to travel and see each other as well, though for m… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on March 12, 2008 at 2:26pm — 2 Comments

Some interview advice

I thought I would share some information about interviewing for a seasonal job. Many people on this site spend a bunch of time deciding what the right job is, and where to find it. So when you do, it can be crushing if you don't get it. Each year I hire about 100 seasonal workers in a wide variety of different jobs. I interview everyone from future high school graduates to college students to adventurous 40-somethings and retirees. Even though the people are all different and the jobs change, th… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on February 29, 2008 at 9:25am — 8 Comments

My Inner "Ramsey"

I was coaxed into blogging today by my good friend Kari, so here I go blogging. I work in the seasonal hospitality industry. The biggest challenge with my industry for me is working with seasonal staff. Like a bad box of chocolates, you never quite know what you are getting when your seasonal staff arrives. Sure they sounded great over the phone, but phones are dirty liars some times. Phones don't tell you that the person has 40 tattoos and 6 piercings and three noses and, well you get the pi

… Continue

Added by Rick Peterson on July 6, 2007 at 9:17pm — 4 Comments