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.

The cruise industry has long thrived in southern California, as tourists have historically enjoyed travel to Mexico in high volumes.

However, according to reports from The Seattle Times, Carnival Cruise Lines is pulling its ships out of San Diego and other travel companies may be following suit. If you’re interested in working on a cruise ship, you may want to check out other ports in the United States and around the world.

The move from southern California ports can be attributed to fears over crime and violence when traveling to Mexico. Carnival’s last cruise ship will move to Australia by April 2012, and Royal Caribbean ships that traditionally leave from Los Angeles will be moved to Galveston, Texas and Tampa, Florida.

Cruise ship jobs can be found across a number of industries, so no matter what your interests, there’s something for you to consider in the cruise line industry.

• Want to work in the medical world? Learn more about becoming a member of the cruise medical staff.
• Interested in art? Many cruise lines hire cruise photographers.
• Love children? Work as a youth counselor on a cruise line.

This is just a small sampling of the many jobs available on cruise ships! You can plan excursions, lead fitness classes, become a bartender, work in housekeeping, learn about ship maintenance, work in retail, or even take a beautician or massage therapist job on a cruise ship. And because cruise lines are leaving southern California, you don’t have to live in this location to find a cruise ship job – positions are available in port cities throughout the country, so check out opportunities in your local area to learn more.

Usually when we are focusing on work abroad, cruise ships don’t come to mind But few other industries can give you the opportunity to see such a large part of the world while doing what you love. There are all kinds of jobs on cruise ships, from food service to entertainment. Many people who love playing and instrument or singing can find success working the cruise ship circuit as part of the house band or other entertainer.

• Cruise ship entertainment jobs can be very competitive, so you should treat each one as an audition for any other job in the entertainment industry. Collect all of your materials, photographs and resumes to create a professional package to submit for your cruise ship job.
• Most cruise ship jobs are contract-based, so your job could last for varying lengths of time – and you might not always know this in advance.
• Pay varies quite a bit for cruise ship entertainment job. If you are pursuing a job on a cruise ship because you are interested in traveling abroad, consider accepting free passage about the ship in exchange for your services. On some vessels, you may only perform once every few days, and you’ll have access to the whole ship’s amenities in addition to the ports of call.

The benefits and drawbacks of working on a cruise ship will vary depending on why you have taken your cruise ship job. For entertainers who are looking to work overseas (literally), the amount of pay may not be as important as the travel opportunities. You may choose to work on a cruise ship that goes to a particular part of the world. Of course, you cannot always be so particular about where you go on your cruise ship job, but you can put in your time in the beginning of your career as a cruise ship worker until you are established enough to request specific journeys.

One cruise ship job that is very cool and unique (and perfect for art lovers) cruise ship job that many people may not know about: cruise ship art auctioneer (or dealer). These art specialists live and work on cruise ships as representatives for art companies. In these cases, you usually aren’t working for the cruise line itself, but for a stateside gallery that holds art auctions for the cruise ship patrons. There are a few major auction houses that specialize in this type of work, as well as some smaller galleries that might be local to major US ports.

Becoming an art dealer on a cruise ship is much like becoming an art dealer anywhere: you should have a comprehensive knowledge of works of art, thrive in a fast paced environment, and have some comfort with selling and closing deals.

The difference on a cruise ship might be your ability to develop some relationships with potential customers during some of the longer journeys, as well being a self-starter who will work alone and largely on commission.

Something to be aware of is that art auctions are a somewhat controversial topic for many cruise shippers. This is because the value of art itself can be somewhat controversial. It is always best to look for reputable agencies to work with in any job, and this is especially true for art dealers and auctioneers working on cruise ships. You will want to be able to take pride in your work, and know that you are an honest professional. One thing to remember when you work in a somewhat-solitary environment like a cruise ship is that what you do is a reflection of yourself, in addition to a reflection on the company for which you are working.

To find out more about working on a cruise ship, please visit the Cruise Ship Jobs section of JobMonkey, which has information about jobs both in the states and abroad!

It’s hard to deny that the most popular position for people working abroad is teaching – English tutors and teachers are in very high demand throughout Latin America, Asia and Europe.

Overseas jobs are almost synonymous with teaching English – especially in non-English speaking countries.

While teaching abroad can be a lucrative, rewarding way to make money while living in a foreign country it simply isn’t the right fit for anyone. So if you are looking to work abroad but aren’t sure exactly what you want to do, here are some of the most popular non-teaching work opportunities overseas.

It is important to keep in mind that you can do virtually any job abroad that you can do in the States or your home country. Doctors, lawyers, financial analysts, nurses can all find work in foreign countries, or might even be transferred by their company or organization. This list focuses on jobs for people for whom travel and culture is just as important as the work itself, and jobs that can be undertaken on a temporary or seasonal basis.

Hotels and Resorts

So how can you make money working abroad if a teaching gig isn’t your thing? Many people who are looking for fun and sun turn to tourism jobs abroad. Resorts, hotels and spas often hire young people to work front desk and hospitality jobs, and others with special skills can serve as swimming, skiing, or other outdoor sport instructors for travelers.

The best part of hotel and resort jobs abroad is that you could manage to find yourself in an endless summer? The temporary nature of tourism allows for lots of travel, giving you the chance to take advantage of warmer climates in the Northern Hemisphere for half of the year before heading south to Australia and South America during the colder months in USA.

Some of the hottest spots for tourism jobs right now are the Caribbean Islands and Latin America, as summer vacations send many North Americans to tropical paradise.  Most resorts are year-round, even staying open during the rainy or hurricane seasons – this means plenty of opportunities to find rewarding work abroad.

Another fun option, if slightly less glamorous, is working at a youth hostel. Youth hostels are generally small boarding houses for young travelers that offer no-frills lodging at a lower cost than hotels.  Youth hostels abroad generally see a relatively high turnover of backpackers and around-the-world travelers from every area of the globe. Working at a hostel is great for outgoing individuals who speak the local language and can answer questions about local nightspots, cheap eats and transportation. While hostel jobs can be low-paying, many offer “free-loading” or free accommodation at the hostel in exchange for a few hours of labor per week.

Cruise Ship Jobs

Similar to hotel and resort jobs, working on a cruise ship can be a great way to see the world! Traveling from port to port, across the many oceans and seas is a great option for someone with hospitality in mind, but who doesn’t necessarily want to stay in the same place for very long.

Working on a cruise ship can involve food service, customer care and jobs like those you might find at a hotel. But another important aspect of cruise ship employment is entertainment. If you play an instrument, are an ace photographer, enjoy personal training or love working with kids, there is probably a place for you in the cruise line industry.

Au Pair Jobs Abroad

Probably second to teaching English is working as a au pair for a family abroad. This is an excellent option for someone who is looking to stay in one place for a while and really get to know the culture and or language of their chosen destination.

Overseas au pair jobs cover a wide range of responsibilities. Some are live-in full time jobs, while others might be after-school or evenings and weekends. Some families will require a certification, or a certain education and have education goals for the children (like learning English or another foreign language) while others might be basic childcare.

Au Pair jobs typically pay salaries at the lower end of the scale, but many offer benefits like room and board, transportation costs…even health insurance!

This is only the tip of the iceberg of jobs abroad! You can truly (as stated above) to pretty much any type of job in a foreign country that you can do in your home country. But if you are looking to get up and go, and need to line up some work relatively quickly, these jobs are an excellent place to start.

Last month, I blogged about working on a cruise ship and pointed out many of the numerous benefits of working at sea. In the aftermath of that post, a number of you wrote in wondering just how you land such a sweet job. Well, here’s the scoop:

There are three basic ways to get hired to work on a cruise liner:

1. Apply, interview with and be offered a job directly from the cruise line. Want to work on a Carnival cruise ship, send off your email to Carnival. Better yet, check their website for open positions. But either way, it’s hard to make your resume stand out unless you know someone (or someone who knows someone — aka work your network.)
2. Apply for a cruise ship job listed on one of the many online cruise ship job boards. A good place to start? JobMonkey content partner Cruise Job Finder.com. They have shared some of their info with JobMonkey for many years.
3. Apply, interview with, and be offered a job with a cruise ship concessionaire. What’s a concessionaire? Only the best bet for getting hired to work on a cruise ship. If you subscribe to the JobMonkey newsletter, you already know all about concessionaires, since we reported on them a few weeks ago. If not, here’s a quick recap:

Concessionaire companies rent out space on the cruise ships to run retail-based operations. Think of it like the sunglasses stand at the mall — only on a much bigger (and floating) scale. Concessionaires typically run the following operations on a cruise ship:

• Gift shop
• Photography service
• Beauty salon
• Casino
• Day Spa
• Café
• Day trips/off-board excursions

90% of American cruise lines work with concessionaires, as do many of the Mediterranean and European lines. Concessionaire salary jobs are on par with regular cruise ship salaries, and like cruise line jobs, all your living expenses are covered while you are at sea.

There are hundreds of concessionaires, ranging from a ten-person operation to an international enterprise with thousands of employees. One of the biggest is Steiner One World Spa. Come visit JobMonkey to learn more about working through a cruise ship concessionaire.

Here it is, Sunday evening. The kids’ lunches are packed and I’m facing the inevitable start-up of the week tomorrow morning.

The good news, for me, though is that I don’t dread my job. In fact, I rather enjoy it! Which makes Sunday evenings not-too-terrible. What about you? Are you looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow, or are you fed up with the daily grind?

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, maybe it’s time to throw some adventure into your life. Of course, adventure is great, but going bankrupt to pay for it? Not so much. That’s why travel jobs are such a great gig — you get to have your adventure, while earning a buck or two to support your lifestyle. So for your Sunday night enjoyment, here is a look at one of the most awesome travel/adventure/fun jobs out there: Working on a cruise ship.

Unlike many cool travel jobs, which are seasonal, cruise ship jobs are available year-round. When you think of cruise ship jobs, you may instantly think of Julie McCoy. But there are actually a wide variety of cruise ship job positions beyond the cruise director. In the entertainment department, there are casino staff, disc jockeys, entertainers and dancers, but that is just the tip of the iceberg (er, maybe not the best choice of metaphors when talking about cruise ship jobs!)

Did you know that major cruise lines employ between 500 and 1,500 crew members? Last year, 81 new cruise ships were launched — and there are plans to introduce 24 more by 2012 — that means somewhere in the neighborhood of 24,000 new cruise ship jobs. Plus, with high personnel turnover rates, established cruise lines are always looking for new crew members as well. In short, despite the recession, there has never been a better time to be looking for work in the cruise line industry.

Did you know that in addition to their salary, crew members receive free room and board, free air travel en-route and homeward bound, and free medical insurance (as required by maritime law). Even their laundry is free!

If you are a foodie or a would-be chef, then you will definitely want to visit JobMonkey’s Guide to Cooking Careers. Today, I wanted to give you just a “taste” of some of the super cool — or at least, highly unusual — chef jobs we have featured over there.

Considering this a little appetizer to whet your appetite (sorry, no more bad eating or cooking puns!)

Executive Chef on a Cruise Ship
An executive chef heads the cruise ship galley. He or she must have extensive experience (read: at least eight years) in restaurants or hotel kitchens. Responsibilities include supervising the entire galley staff, planning all food and coordinating beverages, and maintaining quality control. Executive Chefs earn between $4,300 and $5,200 per month. Not bad for sailing the seven seas with a spatula in hand!

Prison Cooks
It’s not exactly working on a cruise ship, but cooking for the prison population presents challenges and opportunities all its own. Prison cooks must make the menu and oversee the kitchen staff. You will need to get creative, since budgets are notoriously low for prison food and you will be working with a very limited palate of ingredients. Salaries don’t compare with five-star restaurants, although they are competitive with the dining industry at large. I’m just not sure how much crossover there is to the “general population” eateries after you’ve “done your time”.

Grocery Store Baker
You know all those lovely fresh bagels, breads, donuts and cakes at your local grocery store? Guess who is responsible for them? The grocery store baker! You can’t be afraid of early hours to be a grocery baker. Most have to arrive before dawn to prepare freshly baked goodies in time for the store to open. In addition to standing over a giant Kitchen Aid, bakers are also responsible for ordering and maintaining ingredient stocks, overseeing hygiene and cleanliness, and supervising staff.

Check out more cool chef jobs at the JobMonkey.

Do you have Love Boat career aspirations? I suggest turning in your application, stat, with Carnival Cruise Lines. That’s because, despite the recession, Carnival has managed to not just stay afloat — but to actually turn a profit.

At the end of March, Carnival reported earnings per share of $.33, up 10% from the first quarter of 2008.

Is it because so many people are throwing financial caution to the wind and taking week-long Caribbean cruises? Not exactly. Although slashing fares has helped Carnival to keep its numbers from completely sinking. In actuality, the real push toward being in the black for the cruise line came from the steep fall in oil prices. Cheaper fuel has let Carnival keep its costs low — low enough to turn a profit despite the recession.

If you want to land a job with Carnival Cruise Lines — or any one of the other dozens of cruising companies in America and abroad — visit JobMonkey’s section on cruise jobs.

Common wisdom might tell us that cruising and the tourist industry in general is in serious trouble these days.

According to this article from Time Magazine, it’s true that the cruising industry is swimming upstream, but they are fighting hard to stay afloat. (Okay, no more water analogies, I promise!)

The Time piece reports that Royal Caribbean saw a 98% drop in 2008 fourth-quarter earnings and that onboard traffic during the winter months (typically the busiest season of the year) is down on some lines by 25%. That’s the bad news. The good news is that lines are enticing would-be cruisers with rock-bottom fares. And rolling out sexy new ships to stay at the top of their game.

All of which means that despite the sinking economy (oops), there are still opportunities for hard-working, talented people looking for jobs on cruise ships. If you are the adventurous type looking for an exciting career opportunity, check out JobMonkey’s section about Jobs on Cruise Ships. Especially helpful to newbie sailors is this descriptive list of common typical cruise jobs. Ahoy!

Cruising is one of the fastest growing job sectors — in 2007 alone, ten new cruise ships were introduced. From deckhands to sailors and maintenance crew to service staff, the cruising industry has a diversity of jobs available to people seeking a short-term adventure or a long-term career. To help you set the course on your career, sail on over to JobMonkey’s Cruise Ship Industries. (You forgive my compulsion to use nautical imagery, right?) The site has teamed up with Cruise Job Finder to provide articles on cruise line job descriptions, working conditions, nautical terms, and more.