With most of the United States dealing with a heat wave, it might sound silly to start thinking about jobs at ski resorts and other winter locations. Yet, summer begins to fade into fall, employers are beginning to post temporary jobs for the winter. Applying early can increase your changes of finding a seasonal job when the weather turns cold.

Types of Seasonal Winter Jobs

Working at a ski resort isn’t your only option if you want to find a job for the winter months. Other companies also hire temporary workers just for the cooler months. Check out any area where tourists flock during winter mouths – hotels, restaurants, and other businesses in these locations are often hiring for the summer.

You can also check out working on a cruise ship. Maybe people take advantage of the mild Caribbean winters to book cruises when the weather back home is cold and snowy, so ships set sale all winter long from ports like Miami. On a cruise ship, you can work in positions like bartender, activities director, lifeguard, entertainer/dancer, massage therapist, fitness instructors, housekeeping staff, chefs, maintenance crew, and more.

There are also jobs in Alaska available during the winter months. While this might at first seem like the last place you’d be able to find a job during the winter months, some fishing seasons are open only during the winter, so seasonal jobs are available if you can stand the snow and ice!

Why Start Now?

So why should you start hunting for seasonal jobs in the winter when the leaves haven’t even started to change colors yet? Consider the following:

• Temporary jobs are more rare during the summer months. The sooner you apply, the more likely you’ll be able to find a position.
• Applying early shows initiative. The top candidates in any seasonal job are sometimes offered full time positions, so you want to start on the right foot by showing that you’re motivated.
• Some employers have a really long application process, so if you don’t apply now, you might miss out.
• Even though they don’t post their jobs right away, some employers may already know they have openings to fill – and if people contact them about these slots, they may never post them online.
• Looking at opportunities now really allows you to spend time on your resume and cover letter to ensure that they’re as perfect as possible before you submit.

Summer is in full swing, but you can still land a fishing job in Alaska. When ships return to harbor, many times crew members leave, opening positions for new workers. Some of the seasons that are still open include:

• Pacific Cod
• Black Cod
• Halibut
• King Salmon
• Dungeness Crab
• Yakutat Shrimp
• Beam Trawl Shrimp
• Hake
• Sablefish
• Yakutat Salmon
• Sockeye Salmon
• Yellowfin Sole
• Rockfish

There are also a few fishing seasons that start in August and September. August 15, golden king crab season starts in the Aleutian Islands, and during September, a few other seasons start, including king crab and mackerel.

Summer is the prime season for fishing in Alaska, so don’t delay if you’re interested in working in this industry. Working on a ship is actually one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, but this can also be an extremely lucrative career choice, with deckhands earning more money in a single season than they’d earn throughout an entire year in a typical salaried position. Becoming a deckhand isn’t your only option, however. If you’re looking for a less dangerous job, you can also work at an onshore role. Processing plants hire workers throughout the summer season to help with unloading boats, quality control, and other parts of the processing.

The hiring process in the Alaskan fishing industry is slightly different than in most industries. Positions aren’t always advertised; instead, they are filled through word of mouth, especially on ships. If you want to work in this industry, start by looking for an onshore position, so you can begin to meet the fishers already working in Alaska. Work hard and make it known that you’re looking for a position on a boat – eventually, you’ll talk to the right person who can recommend you for a deckhand position.

If you’ve always dreamed of heading north to find an Alaskan fishing job, now’s the time to start your job search. Over the winter months, fewer companies hire workers, but as soon as winter starts to thaw, companies are on the lookout for new hires for the spring and summer. Salmon fishing crews are hiring for their spring seasons, and even ships that fish year-round are transitioning to include new crew members as the seasons change.

Many companies hire crew members from Seattle, so you might consider starting your search there. You can also head to one of the main fishing towns, such as Dutch Harbor (made famous by Deadliest Catch). Before you start your Alaskan fishing job search, here are a few things you should know:

• Many captains hire crew members for their ships based on recommendations. So, if you find it hard to find a job, consider working at an onshore location and getting to know some of the locals so you can find a job next season.
• Crew members are usually expected to provide their own commercial fishing license. Licenses cost $60+ based on the season, animal you’re fishing, and whether or not you are a resident.
• Crew members are also typically expected to have their own gear (wet wear gear, gloves, boots, etc.), which typically costs $200+ depending on your size and the style you purchase.
• State minimum wage laws don’t apply for those working on fishing boats in most cases. Usually, you’ll be offered a share of the total profit.
• On some ships, crew members are expected to share boat costs such as bait, fuel, and food. On other ships, these things are provided.

Alaskan fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, but can also be extremely exciting and lucrative. If this career path interests you, check out JobMonkey’s entire Alaskan fishing jobs guide to learn more about the industry and get started with your job search.

If you’re interested in a commercial fishing job, the Pacific Northwest is that place to be, and this weekend you can learn all about this industry at the Commercial Fishermen’s Festival in Oregon. Located in Astoria, this event features some of the biggest names in the fishing world, including the celebrity captains from Deadliest Catch.

Breaking into the fishing industry isn’t easy, as there are a limited number of slots open on the ships during each season. If you’re interested in working an Alaska fishing job, this is a great place to network with those already in the industry so you can get hired. All of the major Alaskan fishing companies will be in attendance, so this is as much a job fair as it is a place to have fun.

Also featured at the Commercial Fishermen’s Fesival:

• I Am Just A Crabber: A Tribute To Captain Phil Harris DVD
• Coast Guard helicopter rescue demonstration
• Astoria Brewing Company Beer Garden
• AxMen vs Deadliest Catch Tug of War
• Seafood cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs
• Eating competitions
• Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial Ride

The Commercial Fishermen’s Festival is a great way to get your foot in the door in this industry. You can check it out September 18 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m and September 19 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit the official festival Facebook page to learn more about this event.

Happy Hump Day! As you know by now, Wednesdays at the JobMonkey are for hot job leads. We bring you three of the hottest leads from the Job Monkey Job Center, a free resource for job seekers in search of an adventure — and a paycheck.

This week, I am spotlighting jobs in the Alaska Tourism industry. Many of these seasonal opportunities are gearing up to hire workers now, so it’s a great time to throw your hat into the ring. Learn more about working in the great northern state from JobMonkey’s sections on Alaska fishing jobs and Alaska summer jobs.

1. Seasonal Customer Service Representative, Great Alaskan Holidays, Anchorage, AK

The Great Alaskan Holidays company is seeking a seasonal customer service representative to assist guests with their rental contract completion. The representative must have some computer skills, some rental experience and a cheerful attitude for dealing with customers. Additionally, the ideal candidate will be at least 21 years of age and have a valid Alaska driver’s license (with a very clean record). The job pays a salary of $16.74 – $19.82 per hour.

2. Inspector, Fountainhead Hotels, Fairbanks, AK

The Fountainhead Hotels is seeking an inspector to train and supervise housekeeping staff and ensure that facilities are clean and sanitized. In the winter, when the hotel has fewer seasonal housekeepers, the inspector will also be responsible for housekeeping duties. The ideal candidate will be at least 21 yeas of age, have a valid driver’s license, be able to lift heavy objects, and have previous housekeeping and supervisory experience. This 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. job includes some weekend work.

3. Musher’s Camp Tour Driver, Alaska Excursions, Skagway/Juneau, AK

Alaska Excursions is seeking a camp tour driver to pick up guests from cruise ship docks, give a narrated tour through Skagway and out to the Dyea valley. Additional duties will include giving clients a kennel tour at the dog camp. The ideal candidate will have a valid driver’s license, possess good communication skills and be good with people.

Didn’t find the job of your dreams on our hot jobs lists this week? No worries, just check out the JobMonkey Job Center for hundreds of other listings in every imaginable field.

Good luck with your job search this week!

The reverberations of our nation’s economic recession are being felt around the country — including the northern most state of Alaska. Alaska’s biggest tourist season is the summer, which typically sees droves of visitors coming for cruises, train tours and adventure vacations.

This summer, however, early numbers are down — and travel experts aren’t optimistic that they will bounce back in time.

As a result, Alaska’s tourism industry is likely going to cut back on the number of seasonal employees it hires.  Which means, if you are thinking about trying to find a summer job in Alaska, competition will be fiercer than ever. Companies are hiring now, however (as witnessed by the growing number of Alaska summer jobs posted on JobMonkey’s Job Center), so get out there!

To learn more about Alaska seasonal employment, checkout JobMonkey’s sections on Alaska summer jobs and Alaska fishing jobs.

Have you searched for jobs in Alaska using our specialized job board? If not, you should give it a try right now! All kinds of seasonal and even year-round work opportunities are posted every day.

Having been to Alaska several times during the summer months I can tell you: the state is unlike all others.

If you like wildlife and natural beauty, then Alaska is where you should work this summer. Why hang out locally to work retail or in an office – especially if you can make as much or more money in Alaska? Be adventurous and nail down a summer job in Alaska – an unforgettable summer job! Search our special job board highlighting current Alaska summer job listings. You could find yourself working in Denali National Park at a lodge or Glacier Bay on a small cruise ship or seaside resort. The tourism industry in Alaska is bustling and operates non-stop between mid-May and mid-October making it perfect for college students. Or anyone who can carve out time during that period. Cruise lines and tour companies need ship- and shore-based staff to fill thousands of jobs: waitstaff, guest services, tour bus drivers, naturalists, guides, bartenders, and much more. Furthermore, the Alaska seafood industry needs workers every summer. Work in a processing plant or at sea on a fishing boat harvesting salmon. Nothing could be more memorable than spending a summer in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Learn more in the Alaska Summer Jobs section of JobMonkey and on the job board.

As promised yesterday, we’re kicking off our first full week at the new blog with an overview of all the industry information you can glean from the JobMonkey site.

What better way to start our rundown then with a look at the fishing industry in Republican VP-nominee Sarah Palin’s state of Alaska?

Do you love the outdoors and possess an adventuresome spirit?  If the answer is yes, then you might want to head over to the Alaskan Fishing Industry. Working in the fishing industry is a great way to see the incredible state of Alaska and to earn some serious cash. Benefits of Alaskan fishing industry jobs include high wages, free room and board and even free transportation to Alaska.  And don’t worry about previous experience: Most employers are less interested in your resume than in your willingness to work hard and embrace the rugged Alaskan lifestyle. JobMonkey has everything you need to know to get started, including Onshore Industries, Offshore Industries, Other Fisheries Jobs and more.