Whistler Gets Innovative to look for Ski Employees

BC, Canada - B.C. ski and snowboard resort Whistler Blackcomb, through vigorous recruiting initiatives, hopes to be bucking low employment predictions in the Sea to Sky corridor so far this fall. With 170 people signing up for interviews in the first hour and over 300 people signing up in the first 24 hours of the hiring fair on-line registration, Whistler Blackcomb’s recruiting officials are optimistic that this is a good indication of employee interest in the Whistler community this winter.

“Whistler as a community is facing staffing shortages and it’s important for Whistler Blackcomb, as well as other employers to realize that what we did to recruit, even a few years ago, just won’t cut it anymore,” says Liza Walli, Whistler Blackcomb’s Recruiting Manager. “What we’re finding is that people are looking for life experiences, not a punch in punch out job, and that’s what we have to offer here in Whistler. Getting out there and really communicating the magic of this place, and how Whistler and the community absolutely capture you, is paramount in recruiting.”

As a community, Whistler needs at least 3,500 to 5,000 seasonal workers each winter, but Whistler Blackcomb isn’t just looking for lifties. Almost half of the positions that are currently posted at Whistler Blackcomb are career positions including senior accountant, destinations sales coordinator, administration assistant, and various supervisor positions in food and beverage, rental/retail, and ski school. Forty percent of Whistler Blackcomb’s Senior Leadership team started out in front line positions, including Hugh Smythe, President of Mountain Operations for parent corporation Intrawest, who started out as a Ski Patroller on Whistler Mountain, and Bob DuFour, VP of Mountain Operations and Rob McSkimming, Director of Business Development, both of whom started out as a Ski School Instructors

Whistler Blackcomb sent representatives overseas to the UK, Australia and New Zealand, to actively recruit potential employees. Whistler Blackcomb will also embark on a cross-Canada recruiting road trip, October 1 through 14, that will include stops in Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Barrie, Guelph, and will end at the Toronto Ski Show.

“Attracting and retaining great people is the key to the success of Whistler Blackcomb and is a big part of what makes us the number one ski resort in North America,” says Walli. “Going out with great benefits such as a season’s pass, subsidized housing, food and beverage discounts, retail discounts, and free ski and snowboard lessons throughout the season is just the beginning. The less tangible ‘soft’ benefits of Whistler Blackcomb such as the corporate culture, and connection people feel here, are the reasons employees stay beyond one season. Communicating these benefits to new recruits will enable us to attract not only seasonal employees, but year round employees as well.”

Whistler Blackcomb's 2006/07 hiring fair will be more succinct than in years past, taking place over three days, October 23-26. Open later, interviews will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at Dusty’s Bar & BBQ in Creekside, Whistler. People interested in applying are able, for the first time, to pre-book their interview online. Interviews will be conducted by a representative of the division of interest and will be 45 minutes in length. “Condensing the interview process will enable Whistler Blackcomb to present job offers faster and have our staff employed, in house, with their season pass in hand, and ready for another incredible season,” says Walli.