Some snowbirds go back and forth between the same seasonal jobs every year. Others try new adventures and move around every season. The great thing is that there is an abundance of seasonal work opportunities that snowbirds can tap into. Here are just a few of the many opportunities available to snowbirds.
Campground Host
Campground hosts, or work campers, manage campgrounds across the country. In exchange for a free site to pitch a tent or park an RV they perform small tasks, greet guests, answer questions, do routine maintenance, light cleaning, and possibly collect campground fees. It’s an easy job that anyone who enjoys traveling, living outdoors, and not paying a mortgage can do. You can commit for a season or only for a few weeks, but you always get to move on to someplace that’s just as cool as the last.
Campground hosts can find jobs by contacting parks or RV campsites. Check with state and government groups like the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, or the US Forest Service. Also look into jobs with private companies like KOA, Recreation Resource Management, or Aramark. These companies employ a large number of campground hosts across the country. Private companies are more likely to pay you for your services, while a government site will want volunteers.
Pet Sitter
Do you consider yourself to be a dog lover? Are you willing to welcome a stranger’s dog into your home? Would you prefer to leave your 9 to 5 job, have a flexible schedule, and get paid to play with dogs? If you answered yes to any of these, then it’s time to find a job in the peer-to-peer pet sitting niche.
By using specific smartphone apps such as Rover or DogVacay, Pet owners can search for pet sitters by zip code or location. They can browse pet sitter profiles that highlight experience, property type, dog details, certifications, rates, services, and other information. Then they select the best person for the job, coordinate further arrangements via the app or website, and drop off their dog. Anyone can do it students, retirees, stay-at-home moms, freelancers, families, and dog lovers. It’s easy to work part-time, full-time, or whenever you want. There is never any pressure to work, but the more you work, the more you can make.
Resort Employee
Resorts of all shapes and sizes across the Sunbelt increase their staff during winter months. You might find work in any number of capacities, from bartender or gardener to parking valet or room cleaner. If you love golf, there might be openings in the pro shop or as a groundskeeper. Boaters should check out marinas for odd jobs. Gambling fans can investigate Gulf Coast casinos. Fitness professionals such as massage therapists and Pilates instructors may find seasonal jobs with a resort’s spa operations.
Seasonal Retail
Most malls and retail outlets need extra hands during the holiday season and if you’re a pro at customer service, pop into stores you think you’ll enjoy working and ask about opportunities. Lots of local businesses and stand-alone chains need additional help through the holidays and sometimes beyond, and you may be able to land a gig super close to home by broadening your search.
Restaurant Staff
The food and beverage industry covers a wide variety of restaurants. They cover different menus, preparation styles, prices, atmospheres, and goals. From fine dining to fast food, nearly everyone goes out to enjoy a restaurant once in a while. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry that has been successful for centuries. Yes, restaurants come and go, but people are always looking for a good meal, some snacks, or a cup of coffee.
If there are restaurants near you, you can find jobs like these. You can also find these jobs at most restaurants around the world. Lodges,?resorts,?casinos, hotels, national parks,?cruise ships, franchise restaurants, grocery stores, airports, and fine dining establishments are always in need of people like you.