Chat Transcript - How You Chose Your Summer Job

5:59pmKari Quaas How You Decided on Your Summer Job : )
6:00pmBrenda ahhh ok
6:00pmKari Quaas It's 6pm so let's get started.
6:00pmKari Quaas Welcome everyone!
6:01pmGary Hi Kari..
6:01pmBrenda geez that one is gonna be interesting to figure out because it was so long ago
6:01pmBrenda thanks Kari
6:01pmKari Quaas As always, please click on the Chat tab to see it bigger and chime in whenever you like.
6:01pmakscootr It depends on the situation at the moment. If I am broke, I go where I think the $$$ are.
6:01pmKari Quaas Hi Gary!
6:01pmKari Quaas So, first off, quick show of typing who is going to go to their first summer job?
6:02pmakscootr If I want real beauty, I go to Alaska
6:02pmpatty Ruth and Patty
6:02pmBrendan Perrin me
6:02pmKari Quaas cool
6:02pmCarol me
6:02pmMarie me
6:02pmKari Quaas And who is going for the second to fifth summer job?
6:02pmGary I am!
6:02pmBrenda for me I chose the North rim to be closer to my mother because even though she denies it she was diagnosed with alzheimers last year
6:02pmKari Quaas W00t!
6:03pmKari Quaas More than 5 summer jobs? aka Scott?
6:03pmBrendan Perrin i picked YS bc i thought i could get the most out of it
6:03pmBrenda this will be my 11th season
6:03pmKari Quaas Nice, Brenda!
6:03pmakscootr :) yeah that's me
6:03pmKari Quaas Cool. Well, each one requires a bit of thinking and deciding so I wanted to go through your thought process of how you choose.
6:03pmakscootr Seasonal Addicts Anonymous
6:04pmBrenda I originally chose Yellowstone because I wanted adventure and something different
6:04pmKari Quaas What are some key components for each of you?
6:04pmakscootr Nature is #1
6:04pmBrendan Perrin i was going on local not $
6:04pmpatty Location of an old dream Yellowstone
6:04pmGary Cost of housing. Treatment of employees. Heard good things.
6:04pmBrenda as a kid I lived a whole different way of life more western style then moved away from that and I thought Yellowstone would give me that again
6:04pmKari Quaas I know for my first job, I needed the $ and it sounded interesting.
6:05pmMarie housing, treatment of employees
6:05pmakscootr The type of person, regardless of age, is #2. They are more alive and adventurous
6:05pmKari Quaas @Brenda - And did it?
6:05pmBrenda yep location location location for me
6:05pmBrenda the nature
6:05pmpatty me too
6:05pmreggiecohen location and pay
6:05pmBrenda once I started I never looked back
6:05pmMarie also if i heard good things about a place from the people on this site
6:05pmKari Quaas Yeah, I think I posted a forum topic about "time of life" or "type of person" and I think it was an even split.
6:06pmBrenda I get antzy when I am not out there working my dream
6:06pmKari Quaas So reputation of employer is key, yes?
6:06pmreggiecohen yes
6:06pmKari Quaas Where they are is key, yes?
6:06pmakscootr It counts a lot
6:06pmKari Quaas What about friends going to where you are?
6:06pmakscootr not so important
6:06pmreggiecohen if they treat the employees bad i wont go there
6:06pmGary Definitely.. Forever Resorts has a good history of good leadership!
6:06pmKate hello all
6:06pmKari Quaas @akscootr - Why is that?
6:06pmakscootr I stay in touch regardless and I like to make new friends
6:07pmKari Quaas Yep.
6:07pmreggiecohen thank god for email
6:07pmBrenda I always look at it like this an old song comes to mind, make new friends but keep the old one is silver and the other is gold
6:07pmJason Kemple i think overall in the seasonal community, we know that we go at this alone, even though we have friends we've met in other places, so although its great to know people before hand, i don't think its as important to have friends going to the same place as you
6:07pmKari Quaas What about housing? How important is that?
6:07pmKari Quaas @Jason - Agreed.
6:07pmakscootr just more people to share laughs with and I no longer have the need for that kind of security
6:07pmKate housing is important
6:07pmpatty definitely
6:08pmreggiecohen very important don't want to stay in place where its not livable
6:08pmGary Very important..
6:08pmakscootr housing not important
6:08pmBrenda housing is not at the top top as long as I got a roof and food to eat its more the park I am in that matters for me
6:08pmKate I've had to skip applying to some great places because they didn't have housing or it was too far away and/or too expensive.
6:08pmakscootr I can live out of a tent
6:08pmKari Quaas Ah yes, how much is too much for housing?
6:08pmKate since I don't drive that makes it more crucial for me
6:08pmJason Kemple i agree with Brenda. if you have the seasonal worker mindset, you will only use your housing to sleep.
6:08pmKate depends on the wages Kari
6:09pmKari Quaas Yep.
6:09pmKate how much of the paycheck goes to housing is the thing
6:09pmKari Quaas And to that, how important is pay?
6:09pmakscootr One has to be able to save enough for the slow time
6:09pmreggiecohen i think they can lower the cost of the housing for the employees especially if they are returning
6:09pmJason Kemple not that important to me this season lol
6:09pmakscootr For me, very important.
6:09pmKate again, proportions are the thing, for me. Will I have to stress about having any money thru the season and/or being able to save any?
6:09pmKari Quaas So experience is really where it's at for you, Jason? ; )
6:10pmGary Marginally important.. You get off work you're at a resort. People pay alot for that..
6:10pmKate I don't need to be rich. But coming out of it with some $$ to see me through the breaks is important
6:10pmakscootr At some point in time, one needs to invest/save for retirement. Poverty is no fun
6:10pmKari Quaas Do you prefer to have minimum plus tips or full salary or what?
6:10pmJason Kemple this season, my first seasonal job, is all about getting what i need for my resume... the background to hopefully one day do something as a career in the national parks.
6:10pmKate since I'm in retail I don't get tips ;)
6:10pmpatty This is Ruth and I decided on management this first year for security and resume
6:10pmKari Quaas Do you get discounts? :)
6:10pmKari Quaas @Ruth - That's great.
6:11pmGary 20 per cent..
6:11pmRick Peterson Tough thing about tips is that when you get your hours cut it hurts that much more
6:11pmKari Quaas I know that my seasonal jobs turned into a career for me.
6:11pmKari Quaas Hey Rick.
6:11pmJason Kemple thats what I want Kari.
6:11pmRick Peterson hola
6:11pmJason Kemple I want to be the next Kari Quaas!
6:11pmakscootr Management would be great if they paid better..
6:11pmKate I'm looking for the opportunities to head in that direction
6:11pmpatty me too to travel to different locations and get paid
6:11pmKari Quaas How important is traveling to your destination?
6:11pmBrenda me to Kari I would love to have my seasonal turn career
6:11pmKari Quaas lol
6:11pmpatty true scott but its a start
6:11pmKate I don't need to be mgmt anymore, right now... might again if the company is right
6:12pmRick Peterson I've driven to Alaska twice, and it is just as great as Alaska itself if you can do it
6:12pmGary Kari! coolworks getting big enough to need more help!!!
6:12pmKari Quaas If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone!
6:12pmakscootr If I go to mgt, I lose about 60% of my pay too much
6:12pmRick Peterson You are not just anyone Kari
6:12pmreggiecohen very that's why i change my mind about alaska it was the cost of the airfare it would be cheaper for me to go to north rim
6:12pmBrenda I love the reactions I get from others when I tell them I work at yellowstone or the grand canyon. it's like really wow that must be exciting
6:12pmKari Quaas Not yet, Gary, but we'll keep you in mind. ;)
6:12pmKate Kari is special, true 8-)
6:12pmKari Quaas Ah , shucks.
6:13pmRick Peterson And she is only 23 years old
6:13pmKate Alaska has been my dream for years
6:13pmKari Quaas :#)
6:13pmSharon Prager i did a seasonal job as a working vacation for 5 months...we got free tourist activities (flying over glaciers, raft trips, sea tours) because the local companies knew we would tell the guests at the lodge
6:13pmKari Quaas hee hee
6:13pmKate 23 years old, well you ARE a prodigy :D
6:13pmKari Quaas Hey Sharon !
6:13pmSharon Prager best 5 months of my life...AK
6:13pmKari Quaas I'm not 23.
6:13pmSharon Prager Hello
6:13pmRick Peterson 24?
6:13pmreggiecohen for the company i was going to work for they didn't pay for the airfare like some company do in alaska
6:13pmKari Quaas That's awesome.
6:13pmKate you're not? lol
6:13pmBrenda Kari is a pretty cool lady, she truly shows she actually cares
6:13pmreggiecohen 43 here
6:13pmakscootr I'll send you my Resume Kari:-P
6:13pmKari Quaas I'm eligible to run for Prez.
6:13pmBrenda and we thank you for that too Kari
6:14pmKate VERY cool Kari I shall remember that next time I design a t-shirt :D
6:14pmakscootr Someone worth voting for :)
6:14pmKari Quaas Thanks!
6:14pmGary I spoke to a company in Ketchikan, Ak. the other day the daily room rent was 20 dollars plus food. on your own..
6:14pmKari Quaas $20 a day - not bad in the real world. Is it enough in the seasonal world?
6:14pmreggiecohen not really
6:14pmakscootr @ Gary many places to camp and showers available. That is too much
6:14pmpatty I wouldn't think so
6:15pmRick Peterson Princess in Alaska is $16 per day, and that includes room and meals
6:15pmKate that's 600 a month, without food, wow, expensive
6:15pmSharon Prager Depends on your goal..i sublet my apt. in WA, broke even but have tons of wonderful memories
6:15pmKate good deal at Princess
6:15pmakscootr 50 a week on the beach in Homer
6:15pmKari Quaas I guess you also have to keep in mind, that you're not paying utilities and a bunch of other stuff.
6:15pmRick Peterson Apartments in Ketchikan must be either hard to find or expensive, or they wouldn't be able to charge like that
6:15pmGary Aks!!! I'm not ready to rough it as much as you do..
6:15pmreggiecohen aramark is about 13-15 an day
6:15pmKate yes Kari....
6:15pmKari Quaas They are hard to find in Ketchikan.
6:15pmSharon Prager Kenai has "dorm-like" lodging
6:15pmKate nor are we paying property taxes and whatnot
6:16pmKate least I'm not
6:16pmKari Quaas right
6:16pmKate dorm lodging is really great
6:16pmakscootr >=-)
6:16pmjackie morris were going to live at yellowstone in rv for 4.50 a day
6:16pmKate for me another important thing is the work atmosphere and the "vibe" I get from researching a place to apply to
6:16pmpatty Ruth will be cabin lodging
6:16pmKari Quaas A little bit about my dad, who still takes advantage of the cruise deal via Princess, always chooses the inside cabin b/c he knows all he'll do is sleep there. Why pay the extra?
6:17pmKate I agree, kari.....
6:17pmakscootr Enjoying it is primary... what is the point otherwise
6:17pmKari Quaas To Jason - What has finally made you make the seasonal jump this year?
6:17pmJason Kemple I agree totally Kari!!! lets get out and see stuff! you can sleep when you die
6:17pmGary Exactly right Aks...
6:17pmreggiecohen we had an inside when i took my cruise with princess
6:17pmKate lol, well, if I skip sleeping y'all'd think I WAS dead ha ha
6:17pmKari Quaas hee hee
6:18pmakscootr Zombies don't act dead...just look it
6:18pmSharon Prager i would think the locals in these areas would rent "seasonal" rooms?
6:18pmJason Kemple The extra 30 lbs i have around my waist, the painful eyes when i leave my "cubicle" every day, and the death of my 18 year old cousin a little over a year ago who had so much to live for and wanted to do so much, yet was killed and didn't get to do everything she wanted. she woke me up.
6:18pmKate @scootr that could be me, too, if I go without sleep
6:18pmakscootr coffee
6:18pmKate I lost a lot of weight my first summer in yellowstone, it was awesome!!
6:19pmJason Kemple i realized that life is too short to sit behind a desk all day.
6:19pmKari Quaas Wow, Jason. I'm sorry to hear about your cousin, but glad you are taking a positive step!
6:19pmGary Amen Josh!!!
6:19pmKate @Jason I agree
6:19pmreggiecohen cant see myself being in one place for along time
6:19pmRick Peterson I've had several employees transfer to housekeeping during the summer as a weight loss program
6:19pmGary I mean Jason...
6:19pmakscootr @ Jason I understand that completely...same happened to my 21- yo brother 2 years ago
6:19pmSharon Prager 5 months in Alaska cleansed my soul!
6:19pmSharon Prager 5 months in Alaska cleansed my soul!
6:19pmKate houskeeping is a good way to work off weight
6:19pmakscootr No time to waste LIVE!
6:20pmBrenda ok back stupid computer just went awol on me
6:20pmJason Kemple wow sorry to hear Scott... it sucks, but like Kari said - you take a negative and turn it into something positive and they live within you after that.
6:20pmKari Quaas Oooh _ I like "cleansed my soul."
6:20pmJason Kemple yes definitely
6:20pmBill Berg carpe diem!
6:20pmreggiecohen my wife is going to be an housekeeping manager at princess
6:20pmGary Today is the third day of the rest of your life...lol
6:20pmKari Quaas Hey B!
6:20pmKate I anticipate many wonderful blog opportunities this summer :D
6:20pmBill Berg Yo!
6:20pmKari Quaas hee hee, Gary
6:20pmKate hi Bill!!!
6:20pmakscootr learn from it... all you can do. It is why I appreciate being a Coolworker so much
6:20pmBrenda hey Bill
6:20pmBill Berg Hey Kate - nice to see you - and everyone else
6:20pmKari Quaas I love to read all of your blogs!
6:21pmBrenda you Catholic???????? saying that
6:21pmKari Quaas Hey B - Since you're here, why did you jump on your first seasonal job?
6:21pmJason Kemple I agree scott! I've never been more excited or thrilled to start seasonal work.
6:21pmBill Berg My first seasonal jobs were baling hay and picking peas on farms in Minnesota...
6:21pmreggiecohen i',m just counting the days
6:21pmakscootr Awesome Jason... you'll have to drop by
6:22pmKari Quaas nice
6:22pmpatty aren't we all
6:22pmBill Berg I got my break when my best friend from High School told me about jobs in Yellowstone.... H worked one summer. I'm still here.
6:22pmBrenda lets see may 8th is my start date so that's how many days
6:22pmKari Quaas I guess technically mine was being a day camp counselor - fun times.
6:22pmJason Kemple Bill - that's an awesome story
6:22pmreggiecohen my first seasonal job was princess
6:22pmKari Quaas cool
6:22pmKate my first-ever seasonal job was clear back in 1990 and it was....yep, you guessed it...Yellowstone!
6:22pmpatty how many seasons Bill
6:22pmBill Berg Scares to me think of how flukey it was that I ended up here...
6:23pmKari Quaas Doing what, Reggie?
6:23pmGary 81 days Brenda. To answer you previous question if it was for me .. No..
6:23pmreggiecohen dishwasher
6:23pmBill Berg Here's to Yellowstone Kate!
6:23pmakscootr Does USMC count as Coolworking? It was adventurous to say the least..
6:23pmBill Berg My first gig in YStone was pumping gas
6:23pmRick Peterson Bellman
6:23pmKate Hip hip hooray to Yellowstone Bill
6:23pmBill Berg Semper Fi!
6:23pmBrenda Kate what part of Yellowstone
6:23pmSharon Prager Anyone ever do seasonal in Whistler? I was there in December and thought it would be a cool place to do that.
6:23pmreggiecohen crappy job but someone had to do it
6:23pmJason Kemple I've never in my life felt like I was going in the right direction as I feel going into my first seasonal job.
6:23pmKate I have a soft spot for bellmen lol
6:23pmakscootr @ Bill :)
6:23pmKate Old Faithful Brenda
6:23pmKari Quaas Yep, dishwashers are very important!
6:23pmBrenda ahhhhhhhh
6:24pmKate It has always been Old Faithful, for me
6:24pmjackie morris the canyon-retail
6:24pmBrenda I was mammoth then Grant that first year
6:24pmdonald murphy We were accepted for yellowstone doing hospitality. What can we expect
6:24pmGary I love Carols Seasonal Anonymous Prayer...
6:24pmKari Quaas @Sharon - Whistler is tricky b/c it's in Canada. Lots of Australians and NZers get work up there.
6:24pmFranklin The dish dawg are my number one guys in the kitchen
6:24pmSharon Prager noticed that by the accents
6:24pmJason Kemple wow 27 people in chat!
6:24pmakscootr My 1st Coolworks.com job was Canyon @ YS
6:24pmKate Has Mt Redoubt blown yet?
6:24pmRick Peterson No, and I don't think it wil
6:24pmreggiecohen then i did housekeeping for the winter at este park ymca
6:25pmakscootr No boring...
6:25pmreggiecohen park
6:25pmKate what makes you say so, Rick? (I'm into geology/volcanoes etc
6:25pmKari Quaas Yes, if you're an addict ( a seasonal working one ) join this group - http://my.coolworks.com/group/seasonaladdictsanonymous
6:25pmakscootr It keeps teasing us
6:25pmdonald murphy anyone have a favorite place to work
6:25pmRick Peterson You just can't predict it. I think the news just kinda highlights it because it is a fun story to think about
6:25pmKari Quaas Carol's prayer - My serenity prayer for SAA: oh god! Grant me the serenity to accept the right job, the courage to turn down the wrong one, and the Wisdom to know the difference.
6:25pmKate true, Rick
6:25pmFranklin St.john usvi
6:25pmJason Kemple haha i love it Carol!
6:26pmakscootr Alaska is my fav
6:26pmKate Nicely put, Carol
6:26pmdonald murphy franklin what did you do in st john
6:26pmKate I think Alaska is GOING to be my new fave.
6:26pmSharon Prager Alaska...I felt I was in the womb of mother nature
6:26pmFranklin Alaska is great
6:26pmreggiecohen this would of been my 5th trip to alaska
6:26pmpatty This is Ruth, Carol this would have helped my decision earlier lol
6:26pmKari Quaas I love Alaska.
6:26pmCarol lol
6:26pmjackie morris can you rv anywhere in alaska
6:26pmreggiecohen then i made an mistake by working on an seafood processor
6:26pmSharon Prager Cooper Landing...small rustic back then. Closest "town" was 40 miles..Kenai Princess Lodge
6:26pmKate but I do have apron strings to Yellowstone :D
6:27pmKari Quaas I think it got lost in the chat, but how important is the distance to your new seasonal job from where you are?
6:27pmakscootr rv is easy... lots of free parking on most spots
6:27pmdonald murphy franklin did you work at Maho
6:27pmCarol how many have paced the floor over that decision, ruth...I did
6:27pmKate for me, since Princess assists in getting me there, not so much
6:27pmKate otherwise I take a bus
6:27pmFranklin NO, I ran the balcony on the wharfside
6:27pmBrenda If I have the money I don't consider distance
6:27pmakscootr @Kari...distance not important location is
6:27pmpatty important as far away home as possible lol
6:27pmKari Quaas hee hee
6:27pmdonald murphy kate. what jobs did you do at yellowstone
6:27pmreggiecohen a lot since aramark didn't pay for my fare that's why i choose north rim
6:27pmJason Kemple Kari - I believe the further away it is, the better. It gives you freedom to be yourself, learn responsibility (for the younger ones) and know that you can make it on your own.
6:28pmKate I've worked houskeeping and retail donald
6:28pmCarol must be drivable...
6:28pmSharon Prager drove from Seattle to AK
6:28pmKari Quaas Do many employers help with getting you there?
6:28pmdonald murphy kate how was housekeeping. what part did you work
6:28pmreggiecohen cause my fair alone to alaska would of cost me about 400
6:28pmGary Within 2000 miles
6:28pmGary I've never known of them paying for it..
6:28pmJason Kemple Dominic was saying that ColdFoot in AK is helping pay for airfare, but i think they will take money out of his check to pay back for it.
6:29pmreggiecohen and for me to go to north rim only 100
6:29pmakscootr @Carol...how about sailable@:^)
6:29pmKate I've worked in the Old faithful Inn (1990-1991) and Snow Lodge (winter 2006-07) and I liked the thoroughness but not the time pressure.
6:29pmBrenda ohhhh housekeeping I did that job way to long in Yellowstone
6:29pmCarol sailable works :)
6:29pmKate retail I've worked OFI OSL and OFL, all 3 stores at Old faithful
6:29pmCarol I chose between shoveling sh.....or cooking
6:29pmKate Coldfoot's on my list for someday
6:29pmCarol took cooking
6:29pmCarol :D
6:30pmakscootr not as smelly?
6:30pmjackie morris has anyone ever lived in a rv in ys
6:30pmdonald murphy which was more pressure housekeeping or retail
6:30pmCarol lol....well, not my forte
6:30pmreggiecohen i work at princess 03,04 este park 04-and 05 and yellowstone denali and rosario resort
6:30pmpatty good for you Carol
6:30pmCarol :D
6:30pmBrenda I am looking at Alaska for the future
6:30pmCarol they called it composting
6:30pmEric hey all
6:30pmakscootr Ak = #1
6:30pmKari Quaas Hi Eric
6:31pmKate Housekeeping, for me, donald. But that was due to the time pressure to get rooms done. Some would find retail has more when you get a huge line of guests waiting to pay at your register... lol. But I don't mind that
6:31pmCarol but seriously, is there a job you can play outside, like survivorwoman, and they pay you for it
6:31pmGary Az..#2
6:31pmBrendan Perrin sadly this will be my only seasonal before i become a LE ranger and work in the parks in another way
6:31pmFranklin I try to do alsaka in the summer then hit the islands in the winter
6:31pmKari Quaas Which islands, Franklin?
6:31pmakscootr Anyplace you can get a job fishing on a boat called Butt Ugly must be good
6:31pmKate I'd like to find a hawaii job for the winter....
6:31pmJason Kemple Brendan - Who knows... you may become addicted :-)
6:31pmKari Quaas hee hee
6:31pmFranklin bvi usvi
6:31pmdonald murphy Kate-do they make you work a split shift with housekeeping
6:31pmDominic Smith SKINNY DICKS!!
6:31pmreggiecohen i've work for ncl it wasn't that bad
6:31pmJason Kemple Hey Dom!!!
6:31pmJason Kemple inic
6:31pmEric so whats up everyone
6:32pmDominic Smith Hello
6:32pmGary Franklin@ Be sure to be here in chat in 2 weeks. Need your expertise on the Islands...
6:32pmCarol hi dom
6:32pmDominic Smith sorry
6:32pmFranklin I will be in here
6:32pmreggiecohen and i work in dutch harbor that was hard as hell 16hrs 7 days an week
6:32pmDominic Smith Is it featured chat?
6:32pmakscootr Skinny OMG a shocker to be sure. Classic AK
6:32pmBrenda that would be interesting having housekeeping a splitshift in Yellowstone
6:32pmKate no, donald...the rooms have got to be completed before 4 pm, the latest check-in time for guests, and when tours come in, rooms need finishing sooner
6:32pmJason Kemple Yes Dominic
6:32pmBrenda at times I wish they had
6:32pmDominic Smith what are topic?
6:32pmKari Quaas hi Dom - yes
6:32pmEric hey where is everyone working this summer?
6:33pmreggiecohen when i first saw that i had to take an second look
6:33pmreggiecohen north rim
6:33pmFranklin I had those hours when I was in Mcgrath alaska
6:33pmDominic Smith please excuse my abrupt entrance
6:33pmKari Quaas no worries
6:33pmKate McKinley Princess Lodge in AK, eric
6:33pmBrenda North rim Grand Canyon
6:33pmJason Kemple LOL @ Dominic
6:33pmakscootr :)
6:33pmpatty Patty OSL and Ruth Roosevelt in YS
6:33pmKari Quaas How you chose you summer job.
6:33pmDominic Smith hides in corner
6:33pmreggiecohen i was doing crab season
6:33pmjackie morris ys
6:33pmBrendan Perrin dom we love ya
6:33pmGary North of the South Rim..
6:33pmEric so anyone going to wyoming this summer?
6:33pmDominic Smith I haven't choose my summer job!!!!!!!!!!
6:33pmDominic Smith but i'm gonna have some hard choices
6:33pmBrenda Dom just likes to make his entrance known
6:34pmpatty I almost went to Teton
6:34pmakscootr Skinny might be hiring >=-)
6:34pmKari Quaas How will you decide? Get offers today?
6:34pmJason Kemple Kari - Dominic is having trouble with his summer job. He is afraid that if he gets chosen by 2 places he really wants to work, he will need to turn one down (obviously) and he feels he may be ruining his chance for future employment
6:34pmKate sorry donald my private chat's not working.
6:34pmCarol I almost went to Mt. Rainier
6:34pmdonald murphy patty-we have applied to teton but haven't heard back.do you know when they pick
6:34pmKari Quaas Not true, Dom.
6:34pmDominic Smith no?
6:34pmpatty Dom i had the same problem with Teton and YS
6:34pmCarol very hard choice...but knowing I'd have friends already made in Yellowstone, as a first job, helped
6:35pmKari Quaas Just maintain a positive relationship.
6:35pmakscootr They understand you will get several offers
6:35pmKari Quaas They
6:35pmpatty This is Ruth, I got offered management first week in January, patty server too
6:35pmjackie morris is it true ys does job fairs in the summer
6:35pmKari Quaas 'll understand.
6:35pmreggiecohen i turn north rim down but i gave them an heads up then i change my mind they wanted me back
6:35pmBrenda yes they do
6:35pmDominic Smith so If i get an offer tomorrow will they most likely be ok If I tell them I need a week to decide
6:35pmKate Yes jackie
6:35pmjackie morris thanks
6:36pmKari Quaas Yes.
6:36pmpatty maybe they gave me 3 to send 100 room deposit and confirmation back
6:36pmBrenda I think the job fair runs in July at old faithful
6:36pmKari Quaas You might say a day or two instead if you can.
6:36pmBrenda opps runs
6:36pmKate August, usually
6:36pmDominic Smith right
6:36pmGary Brenda! Do they have a job fair at NR??
6:36pmakscootr byb
6:36pmBrenda one of those times lol I can't remember
6:36pmKate lol
6:37pmBrenda I know its towards the end of the season
6:37pmKate yeah
6:37pmreggiecohen cause what i;m hearing from denali they having an 50 percent drop from last year
6:37pmpatty They told us August
6:37pmDominic Smith wow
6:37pmBrenda no Gary at least not last year
6:37pmKate I'm not overly concerned, I believe people will come.
6:37pmKari Quaas Bummer, Rick's gone. I think he said that the numbers were down, but lately they've been selling quite a bit in Alaska.
6:37pmKate I think vacations are going to be much-needed
6:37pmKate that's what he's said, kari
6:38pmBrenda but other properties give first consideration to those that have worked for Forever
6:38pmKate I think he even has a blog post about it
6:38pmDominic Smith Yes he does
6:38pmreggiecohen i think people is going to be wanted to stay closer to home
6:38pmKate some may
6:38pmKate but I believe we'll see plenty of people from other countries
6:38pmKari Quaas http://my.coolworks.com/profiles/blogs/an-updated-look-at-alaska-in
6:38pmGary Europeana will show.. Build it and they will come...
6:38pmDominic Smith I think they may hire fewer people but those that work will be busy
6:38pmreggiecohen that's what i'm hearing
6:39pmpatty So if y'all had to choose for equal jobs and pay, YS or GT
6:39pmKari Quaas Plus, it should be a good weather summer. They rotate every other year in Alaska.
6:39pmpatty How do you decide
6:40pmKate very nice, kari
6:40pmreggiecohen gt the housing is cheaper
6:40pmpatty my housing at YS free manager
6:40pmGary Shocked to hear Ketchikan gets 150 inches of rain a year.
6:40pmakscootr GT prettier, unless Lake property
6:40pmreggiecohen ys then
6:40pmBrenda for me as long as I would be in wyoming or there abouts I would take either
6:40pmKate although, I do like a nice rainstorm now and then
6:40pmKate I'd like to work at Signal Mtn someday...
6:41pmFranklin it is a rainforest
6:41pmakscootr Ketchikan is rain forest
6:41pmDominic Smith I'm looking forward to long sunny days in AK
6:41pmGary Signal Mtn. yes..
6:41pmCarol i want to do Grand Canyon someday...either rim
6:41pmBrenda I think I applied to signal once
6:41pmDominic Smith I applied at Signal and they called my referenced today
6:41pmKari Quaas @gary - oh yeah - I was there once on a rainy, rainy day.
6:41pmKate me too Carol
6:41pmBrenda it looks kinda interesting
6:41pmKate I've camped at Signal Mountain
6:42pmJason Kemple where in signal dominic?
6:42pmDominic Smith Tetons
6:42pmakscootr @Dom Signal is awesome
6:42pmJason Kemple ahhhhh SWEEEEET!
6:42pmreggiecohen one place i want to work at is ocean reef club in fla
6:42pmBrendan Perrin whoo hoo
6:42pmdonald murphy how is the internet in yellowstone
6:42pmKate decent, donald
6:42pmJason Kemple we are reeling him in Bren!
6:42pmDominic Smith ocean reef sound cool is it hard to get into?
6:42pmKate its wireless in some of the newer dorms.
6:42pmreggiecohen from what i hear yes
6:42pmakscootr very upscale environment
6:42pmGary Give me a nice island for the winter, and a drink with an umbrella in it...
6:42pmBrenda :-!
6:42pmDominic Smith Has anyone worked outside the US?????
6:42pmdonald murphy how is the food in yellowstone employee dining
6:43pmKari Quaas :)
6:43pmpatty So those of you have been around a few seasons, if you are good, is it really possible to get jobs and make this a career
6:43pmDominic Smith The food in Yellowstone EDR leaves something to be desired
6:43pmakscootr I have for 10 years now
6:43pmBrenda depends on the location and the staff that year donald
6:43pmKate It depends, donald. some years its ~ehhhh~ and some years its Bleeehhh. some days though the food's ok
6:43pmreggiecohen don't know when i work in laundry we had to buy our own food
6:43pmGary Dom! Yes i have worked out of the country.. I worked in Arkansas once...LOL
6:43pmDominic Smith but it varies
6:43pmFranklin lol
6:43pmKate yeah the food varies
6:43pmDominic Smith lol Gary
6:43pmKate LOL Gary
6:43pmakscootr Not worked but lived out of country
6:44pmpatty I lived there for 18 years, Gary is correct lol
6:44pmFranklin I have trained outside
6:44pmJoshmax is there a kitchen in the dorms?
6:44pmDominic Smith where Josh?
6:44pmBrenda no
6:44pmJoshmax YN
6:44pmreggiecohen not at yellowstone
6:44pmJoshmax YNP
6:44pmdonald murphy how do we get in Teton? we've applied twice
6:44pmBrenda no Joshua
6:44pmJason Kemple Kari - I guess some chat topics will be shorter than others!
6:44pmDominic Smith I had a camp stove I would cook on
6:44pmBrenda its all edr
6:44pmJason Kemple :-)
6:44pmKate only in Larkspur, and it is locked in the summer. Only mgmt can have key to it in summer
6:44pmKari Quaas @Jason - yep
6:44pmakscootr an upside-down iron cooks well :) just use aluminum foil
6:45pmKate I had a key summer 2008 cuz I was a mgr
6:45pmJason Kemple But again, another great chat!
6:45pmDominic Smith lol scootr
6:45pmreggiecohen i tried 3 times going to the tetons never got an call back
6:45pmKari Quaas It's all good. I guess the best part is that everyone is talking to one another and getting feedback and you know where to come and get it.
6:45pmKari Quaas That makes me :)
6:45pmKate Yessirree, kari
6:45pmJason Kemple The best place on the internet!
6:45pmDominic Smith My summer job is gonna choose me
6:45pmKari Quaas w00t!
6:45pmSharon Prager Do most people here find jobs through coolworks?
6:45pmBrenda I worked in the tetons twice
6:45pmKate :-D ...woot? Ha ha
6:45pmreggiecohen would u consider going to an place that had an bad rep
6:45pmpatty Makes this less scary chatting with yall
6:46pmDominic Smith yes dont know what we would do without CW
6:46pmBrenda for flagg once and then for Togwotee
6:46pmakscootr Maybe show up in late July when all college students are leaving
6:46pmKate I'd be less Cool, and have less Work with out it ;)
6:46pmKari Quaas @Kate - a new tag line!
6:46pmKate heh heh
6:46pmpatty Brenda, which do you like better tetons or ys
6:46pmreggiecohen just to see for your self
6:46pmKate yeppers Kari
6:46pmKate ©me
6:46pmKate he he
6:46pmDominic Smith i would go to a place with a bad rep, the person who is giving the bar rep probably didnt do there job well and that is why they did not get along
6:46pmKate j/k
6:46pmDominic Smith I believe every place is what you make it
6:46pmBrenda the Tetons are awesome in beauty
6:47pmKari Quaas hee hee
6:47pmpatty thanks
6:47pmCatherine i'm going to a place with a bad rep this summer lol
6:47pmKate if too many people say bad things then I would not go to the place and work
6:47pmDominic Smith you will survive catherine
6:47pmCatherine however, i've heard great things, too..so
6:47pmBrenda those are my favorite mountains
6:47pmDominic Smith I would only take first person accounts, not oh my friends sister says....
6:47pmakscootr u will be in a very beautiful spot catherine
6:47pmKari Quaas Yeah, that can be a tricky thing. Two people go to the same resort, do the same job, live in the same housing and have totally different experiences.
6:47pmCatherine i know i will..and i will be even more proud to announce it wasn't as bad as everyone thought wen the summers over
6:47pmKate @dominic I agree
6:48pmreggiecohen everyone has different opinions about the places some people will say aramark has an bad rep
6:48pmpatty where you going catherine
6:48pmdonald murphy At yellowstone.do you have much choice when you get there as to what job you want to work or do they just assign you
6:48pmJason Kemple its awesome that we've all gone to so many different places and can share those experiences here for others.
6:48pmCatherine flagg ranch
6:48pmKate and it depends too on what they say. I
6:48pmFranklin I myself will not work for the big companies
6:48pmKate You're assigned before you go donald
6:48pmreggiecohen but that's what u do with seasonal work its come with the bad and good
6:48pmBrenda well it may not be Catherine but you really can say that for everyone because this is a whole different year
6:49pmakscootr also depends on the type of person u are
6:49pmSharon Prager it's all about what you are doing when you aren't working!
6:49pmKate it;s in your contract. If the location gets shorthanded then they might ask you to help make beds or something if you're not already in housekeeping
6:49pmBrenda each year brings new staff and it can be totally different
6:49pmakscootr does it have to be organized or chill?
6:49pmKari Quaas Yep. Sometimes the best part about being a tour bus driver was the end of the tour and I could say sayonara to the group, knowing that a better one was coming along.
6:49pmakscootr partyers or church-goers?
6:49pmdonald murphy does anyone have a favorite dude ranch they have worked at
6:49pmreggiecohen plus i think its what u make of it
6:50pmKari Quaas It's like New Year's Eve with every tour, every summer, every winter job.
6:50pmKate I haven't worked a dude-ranch. I can't do the waitering or I'd apply someday.
6:50pmakscootr many factors to consider... who are you is what provides the best answer
6:50pmDominic Smith how many people here do seasonal work year round???????
6:50pmFranklin I do
6:50pmreggiecohen if u come in there with a crappy attitudes yeah u will have problems
6:50pmakscootr I do
6:50pmSharon Prager I will never forget the eagles, the color of the water, the sound of glaciers calving
6:50pmBrenda sometimes though places just have a bad mix of employees for that season and they make it hard for everyone
6:50pmKate I've done it year-round, minus breaks between summer and winter and then winter and spring.
6:50pmJason Kemple I will once I can afford an RV and a vehicle that pulls it
6:51pmKate and would like to get back on a summer-winter year-round seasonal job thing
6:51pmDominic Smith do you find it hard , mostly financially with the breaks
6:51pmKate If I plan in advance it isn't hard at all dominic
6:51pmakscootr or a sailboat AK to Hawaii
6:51pmdonald murphy has anyone worked at evergreen resort in yosemite
6:51pmDominic Smith I'm with scootr
6:51pmreggiecohen what i;m doing this year is saving for an car then next year an cruise
6:51pmDominic Smith but im gonna fly my own float plane
6:52pmakscootr or a sailboat AK to Hawaii
6:52pmFranklin if i plan it right there is no brake, maybe two weeks at most but you need that after 15 hour day no stop all summer
6:53pmakscootr oops internet again sorry
6:53pmKari Quaas @Donald - no, but I like their ads
6:53pmKate I do like a bit of a break, for a rest and maybe a quick trip...a "vacation from my vacation" lol
6:53pmBrenda working seasonal is a permanate vacation you live in
6:53pmKari Quaas yep
6:53pmKate Me and my family got to do disneyland when I was on break between summer 07 and winter 07
6:53pmBrenda thats why I love it
6:54pmKate so it was very nice.
6:54pmDominic Smith for those that work year round please join our group The Seasonal Addicts and share your story
6:54pmreggiecohen if u single yeah it can be good if your married and the other half dont want to do then it can be hard
6:54pmFranklin I stayed in oregon for this last summer to work in a normal kitchen and it back fired on me, so I was to late in finding a good winter job
6:54pmJason Kemple Dominic - you missed it - Kari posted the link for SAA in the chat room. I was so proud i shed a tear lol!
6:54pmGary Franklin!! I am extremely intereste in you r yearround expeience in Seasonal Employment...
6:55pmDominic Smith awwwww
6:55pmDominic Smith I did miss it
6:55pmKari Quaas hee hee
6:55pmKate www.KariRocks.com Ha ha ha
6:55pmDominic Smith Hey Kari are you feeling better tonight???
6:55pmMegan Geiger so whats up
6:55pmKate I couldnt resist
6:55pmKari Quaas LOL
6:55pmKari Quaas I still have the common cold.
6:55pmDominic Smith awwww
6:55pmFranklin I am just a NOmadic Chef
6:55pmBrenda lol thats good one Kate
6:55pmreggiecohen i want to do an topic on roomate horror stories i have some any i dont know where to begin
6:55pmakscootr the cure is coming:)
6:55pmDominic Smith lol
6:55pmKari Quaas I'm eating some spicy Thai food though, yummy.
6:56pmDominic Smith yummmm
6:56pmKari Quaas I hope so.
6:56pmKate thanks Brenda
6:56pmKari Quaas I did want to share since we're nearing the end of the hour that we've got a few chats lined up.
6:56pmDominic Smith cool
6:56pmKari Quaas Next week is Winter Jobs.
6:56pmKate And I plan on attending
6:56pmKari Quaas The following week is Tropical Jobs
6:56pmDominic Smith nice!
6:56pmKate Winter Jobs And then tropical
6:56pmKate YES! Yay!
6:56pmKari Quaas The week after that is Greening Your Employer
6:56pmKate Both!
6:56pmGary Be here with bells on..Lol
6:56pmDominic Smith how bout a tropical winter job!!!!!!!!!
6:56pmKate yet another good'un
6:56pmKari Quaas Coolio.
6:56pmBrenda hmmmmm that should be interesting to hear about
6:56pmakscootr ST. Thomas always wanted to try that
6:57pmCarol greening?
6:57pmKate lol dominic
6:57pmKari Quaas @Dom - totally doable
6:57pmFranklin thats when they hire
6:57pmKari Quaas Environmental
6:57pmDominic Smith looking forward to all of those
6:57pmKari Quaas We have a new Green Group.
6:57pmKate skiing one minute, laying on the beach the next :D
6:57pmBrenda ?
6:57pmakscootr Environment= our work
6:57pmreggiecohen dont do sking
6:57pmCarol will check that out
6:57pmJason Kemple there is Kari? I will check it out
6:57pmKari Quaas Just added today.
6:57pmCarol :D
6:58pmKari Quaas Please message me if you have other topics you want to cover. :)
6:58pmDominic Smith who here had done work in Alaska???????
6:58pmreggiecohen me
6:58pmDominic Smith I know you
6:58pmSharon Prager Cooper Landing, Kenai
6:58pmreggiecohen lol
6:58pmKate I havent...yet. I shall work in AK for the first time this summer
6:58pmKari Quaas Hey Carol Rich!
6:58pmSharon Prager You'll love it
6:58pmKate Yay sharon
6:58pmreggiecohen princess and denali
6:59pmDominic Smith I interviewed to work at the Kenai Lodge
6:59pmSharon Prager Best 5 months of my life!!!!
6:59pmKari Quaas I'm not sure if she's looking at the chat, but she worked in Alaska while I was in the Seattle office for Gray Line back in the day.
6:59pmKate cool, sharon :)
6:59pmreggiecohen i work winter and summer in alaska
6:59pmakscootr Kenai will be very busy home of combat fishing
7:00pmKate @scootr lolroflol "combat fishing"
7:00pmSharon Prager The river that runs ajacent to the lodge is the purest teal color you will ever see
7:00pmreggiecohen they have an fight the last man standing get the fish
7:00pmakscootr literally the term up here lines of people shoulder to shoulder
7:00pmKate sounds beautiful
7:00pmDominic Smith the area is so beutiful
7:00pmKate wow scootr I can imagine then
7:00pmKari Quaas I do picture camo and weapons - fishing poles.
7:01pmakscootr one of my favs
7:01pmBrenda think more like the fish will be fighting the fisherpeople
7:01pmKate lol Kari
7:01pmBrenda they'll come up and attack
7:01pmKari Quaas We fly fished up there. It's way cool.
7:01pmreggiecohen attack of the fish
7:01pmKari Quaas chomp
7:01pmKate I'd like to learn sometime.
7:01pmreggiecohen hey new tv show
7:01pmKari Quaas hee hee
7:01pmakscootr and the grizzly's who want them :)
7:01pmKari Quaas even better
7:01pmSharon Prager eagles everywhere
7:01pmreggiecohen only on g4
7:02pmKate Animals are so neat
7:02pmakscootr btw bear aware very important there
7:02pmBrenda wow I would be scared to fish in Alaska
7:02pmSharon Prager nature rules man there....seriously
7:02pmKari Quaas Well, the official chat is over, but please stay awhile and thank you so much for joining in!
7:02pmBrenda Bears are awsome
7:02pmKate yes it is scootr as it was important in YS, I'd bet it's more so in AK
7:02pmakscootr some bad attacks last year
7:02pmKari Quaas Alaska rocks.
7:02pmGary Thanks Kari for everything!!!!
7:02pmKate I'm gonna head out. thanks Kari, see ya's all
7:02pmJason Kemple Thanks Kari again! much appreciated!
7:02pmDominic Smith I cant wait to go
7:02pmFranklin I am happ y I have found this site for networking
7:02pmreggiecohen fishing is fun in alska caught an 65 pound king salmon
7:02pmKari Quaas You bet. You're welcome!
7:02pmBrenda already wow
7:02pmakscootr including in from of Kenai :Princess lodge
7:02pmKari Quaas Glad you joined Franklin.
7:03pmakscootr Gracias Kari
7:03pmSharon Prager everything is done by the rules of nature...the passing of time is seen in the chamomile, the fireweed, the bears etc.
7:03pmKari Quaas De nada
7:03pmDominic Smith in my interview I was asked why I want to go to Alaska, im like do I have to explain it, why wouldnt I!!!!!!
7:03pmakscootr princess
7:03pmSharon Prager thanks Kari!!!!!!
7:03pmFranklin Well thank you kari
7:03pmKari Quaas Thanks, Sharon. Glad you joined in. Email tomorrow if you have any ?s
7:03pmKari Quaas Have a good night!
7:03pmSharon Prager very helpful
7:03pmreggiecohen when they ask me that type of question i tell them its somewhere i never been
7:03pmBrenda thanks Kari for the chat
7:03pmSharon Prager will do.
7:03pmDominic Smith yay
7:04pmKari Quaas :)
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