Does the idea of getting paid to serve drinks in Barbados, work as a lifeguard in Tahiti, or patrol a surf-swept beach in Maui appeal to you? The attractions of collecting a paycheck in exchange for taking part in activities you enjoy is obvious. Other benefits of beach resort jobs include meeting people from facinating places, gaining new skills, building confidence in customer interaction, and developing a greater appreciating for exotic tropical places.

Can I just work at a beach resort for a season, or do I need to commit for the whole year?

Yes, beach resort companies from Maui to Greece hire thousands of "seasonals" every year. The resorts need to staff up for their peak season and often do so with season employees.

There are also thousands of jobs for people who want to work longer - anywhere from six months to several years.

What type of people work at a beach resort?

No matter what your background, there's probably a job waiting for you at one of the many beach resorts around the world. That means that people with different skills, employment requirements, and interests work at destination beach resorts. Typically, though, resort workers fall into three categories:

Students
Those in transition
Skilled career employees

What jobs are available working at a beach resort or other resort?

Beach resorts offer also offer a wide variety of employment opportunities. At these beach resorts there are the standard positions that are at any nice hotel such as: front desk, bell staff, guest services, concierges, doormen, housekeepers, accountants, food staff, bartenders, retail clerks, youth coordinators, child care staff, security personnel, and PBX operators. In addition, depending on the resort, they may also hire: musicians and entertainers, sport instructors (tennis, surfing, water skiing, golf, weight training, etc), beach staff, casino staff, massage therapists, beauty salon staff, and hosts, to name a few.

How much can I earn working a resort job?

Earnings and benefits vary according to your position, the company you work for, and your previous experience. Most people who work in this industry decide to work here based on the settings and recreation opportunities, not for the outstanding pay. Although these jobs pay enough to cover your expenses and transportation, you should not expect to get rich based on your base pay. People who work in jobs in which they receive gratuities from the guests can make substantially more than other workers. It is not uncommon for a waiter in a nice restaurant to make $200 - $300 per night in tips.

Will I be supplied room and board at the resort?

This really varies by resort and company. Some resorts make it standard practice to offer room and board to their employees and others leave it up to the employees to find their own housing. CruiseJobFinder helps you match yourself to the employer and resort that best matches your needs and desires.

Resort job Worker Profile - Massage Therapist

An interview with a real resort worker

Ken Kindt worked as a massage therapist at the Woodstock Inn and Resort in Vermont.

The work of a massage therapist is quite varied. Some of it is therapy work for injuries. There are also people who come in for stress-related relief, and others who come in strictly for relaxation.

The resort requires coverage 365 days per year, so as much as I want to work, I'm working. I usually work six days per week, and I rarely do less than five massages per day-usually more like six to eight during the week and eight to ten on the weekends. The weekends are definitely work days. It's pretty busy year-round here, although some resorts have busy seasons and slow seasons.

My typical day usually starts out with leaving home about eight or nine o'clock. The first massage is at nine or ten, so I go in about half an hour ahead of time and set up the table. I like to keep my lotions and oils warm, so I'll run a sink full of warm water and let the bottles float in there. I have to wait for the room to adjust to the right temperature. Then I'll start on the first appointment and proceed through the day that way.

Each massage is a full hour with fifteen minutes between each client. During that time I change the table over and get the room ready for the next person. I take breaks as they come, and often a day will book solid, sometimes with eight massages back-to-back. As a result, I don't eat lunch very often, so I always try to pack an apple or other snack. At the end of the day I'll check the appointment book for the next day and write down my schedule. It's also nice to think about who's coming in and how they like things so that I can get mentally prepared.

The more education you have, the better off you are going to be. You'd be amazed at the number of questions you get asked. People ask you questions as though you're a doctor, but you're not.

The drawback of working as a massage therapist is that you are almost never on salary. If your hands aren't working, you're not making a dime. So you have no guarantees. But you also have a lot of independence. You can take your hands almost anywhere you want to go.

The biggest reward of being a massage therapist is that it's a self-energizing job. You will usually finish a day tired but rarely exhausted. I never have a day where I don't want to go back the next day. I meet interesting people, and I don't see their bad side. When they come in they want to unwind. It's a very enjoyable job.

If you have an inkling that you might like this kind of work, I'd encourage you to do it. I wish I'd started sooner. It beats working for a living, because it really doesn't seem like you're working.

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