So, I’m thinking of taking up some summer work in Alaska. I have a lot of food service experience, and think it’s the career path I ultimately want to walk down, but mostly this is just a working vacation in what seems like one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The only downside is that most summer work opportunities I’ve found are in national parks, and the only choice for housing is living dorm style with my coworkers in employer housing. While this is kind of neat, I’ve got a dog, and really really want to bring him along. My aunt and uncle could watch him, but I really really don’t want to do that.
Anyone familiar with this kind of seasonal work, have any tips or pointers about where to avoid and what to look for in an employer? Most of the ones I’ve found play it up as a fun, summer camp for adults, and downplay the actual work aspect, leading me to think there are a lot of shady employers who think they can get slave labor out of recent college grads just looking for a good time.
CoolWorks is the best online resource I’ve found. Other than the parks, it also has jobs for the railroads, ranches, etc. You would have to contact those employers to see if they’d allow you to bring your dog. If you secure your own housing, then I don’t see how its any of your employer’s business.
Most of the work there that you’re describing is in parks and lodges. You could probably take your dog with you if you worked at a remote lodge. The word “remote” in the context of Alaska is not a euphemism for “no McDonalds”. You will probably have to be flown into the sight via floatplane (although there are roadhouses on the highway system that hire summer help), and likely will not return to any sort of civilization until you are ready to leave employment. Personally, I would opt for a remote site, as you will never forget the experience.
I have a friend who worked in Coldfoot for a summer or two, and he lived in tent the whole time. Seems like a dog wouldn’t be an issue in that situation, as long as it didn’t bother the tourists. I don’t know if that might be an unadvertised option in some cases. And of course if you are working in an urban area, you can get your own housing, but you don’t seem to be looking at that.
I don’t have any advice for finding a reputable employer, though.
I worked as a cook on a tugboat (owned by a seafood company) for a season (March-August) about 20 years ago. Cooked for the crew of 5 (including me) and learned a lot about cooking (skills are now used just for family and friends, I am not a pro like you). Dogs would depend on the captain’s feelings (the boat I was on had a cat in later years, so it’s possilbe). I was paid a daily rate and came home with a lot of cash since there was nowhere to spend it. But if you have any motion sickness issues, stay away. We went up and down the coast and I saw some amazing sights and interesting little towns (every time we stopped I got to go to town and pick up supplies).
You could also look at fish canneries. Living conditions could be tents, dorms, or anything in-between, but certain jobs (like cooks) may get preferential treatment (i.e. a single room). It depends on the company policy. The work won’t be glamorous and the workers will mostly just want something hot and fast that doesn’t suck and a menu that isn’t repetitive, so it won’t be a place to burnish your fine-dining skills. But if it is a good season, you can come home with a pretty good chunk of change. From what I remember, you’d get a salary plus a part of the crew bonus (again, depends on company policy).
I had a summer job in Alaska, working with Aramark, the company that runs most of the hotels outside of Denali. It lasted one month. Then I realized that Aramark intended to underpay me, overcharge me for food and lodging, and break a number of other promises that they made. After doing some research online, I’ve found that’s they’re basic approach to employment in all their operation. The word I got from Princess Lodges, the other big, statewide, resort hotel chain, is that they’re even worse with their employees.
On the other hand, I did have several wonderful experiences with summer jobs while I was in college, working in resorts in other places, though none in Alaska. In many places it’s about the only way to stay in or near a park without spending absurd amounts of money, and some of the companies do provide good jobs and good perks. As in any industry, there are good companies and bad companies. My recommendation would be to go to the aforementioned Coolworks website, and when you find a company that looks interesting, as about it in the forums and see what others have to say.
Also, you don’t say what exact jobs you’re willing and able to do. If you have line cook skills, I can guarantee that you’ll find a good job just about anywhere you ask, because those people are always in high demand. Also, I’ve heard tell that if you’re working in one of the high class fishing lodges in the Alaskan interior, you can make big money off tips, because that’s where some of the richest people in the world go on vacation. In any case, Alaska is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been, and even though I had a bad experience with one employer I’m still glad that I went.
If the OP is as young as he sounds, I’d say go for it. Have an adventure. You’re young and even if the trip sucks and they employers take advantage, so what? You’ll live and you won’t have to say, “I wish I would’ve…”
Do it while you’re young and don’t waste your youth, it ain’t coming back to you.
Thanks for all the advice, y’all. I found a nice, small place just a few hours outside of Anchorage that seems very promising.
ITR: I was looking at a job doing chef work, yes. I’ve done line work for years, and am looking for a bump up to Sous Chef if I can find it. I’m glad to hear that cooks are in high demand, because I was worried it was an easy job to fill. It’s funny that you mentioned high class fishing jobs, because I found one that was could have been a parody, it sounded so horrible. 100+ days of work with no days off, 12 hour work days, and employee housing at over $200/month, and the pay somewhere around $9/hour. Yeah, good luck with that.
The whole “disappear into the wilderness” is exciting, but my girlfriend definitely isn’t up for it, so no dice.