This week we've had rain, snow, valley cloud, frosty mornings, baking hot sunshine and even the notorious foehn wind. But tipsy-turvy weather isn't the only thing you can count on in autumn in Haute-Savoie. You can also count on the powers-that-be down at Les Houches panicking to put their winter lift pass together.
This has happened every year since I can remember, and amazingly a solution's still not been found. The basic crux of the issue is that the resort is split in half, lifts and land being owned by two families. It's not a straight line down the middle - more a patchwork quilt of access rights and title deeds. The share of revenues from passes sold in Les Houches causes the debate. This year, there's been talk of the resort closing for the winter because of this; well, that's not going to happen, but we could see a situation like there's been this summer, with the Prarion side being included on the regular Chamonix MBU pass, and the Bellevue needing a seperate pass. Should that happen, it would mean that taking a wrong turn somewhere down the mountain will require either a long walk back uphill to the Prarion, waiting for a bus, or shelling out for another pass to get you back up to Bellevue.
The knock-on effects are huge, from the tourist office not being able to print brochures and price lists in advance, to tourists not being able to choose where they'd prefer to stay, to chalet companies not being able to budget lift passes for their staff. The world is an uncertain place right now, and for those people lucky enough to be able to afford a break from that, the last thing they want to deal with out here is more uncertainty. Let's hope we get clarity soon.
As winter gets closer, I've seen a new breed of person walking the streets of Chamonix; the job hunter. Translucent resumé-filled folder under arm and hopeful expression on face, they're already out there, plodding the Rue Docteur Paccard. If this sounds familiar, and you're already here, have a read of the following Guide To Getting A Job In Chamonix.
1. Look Down
In Chamonix, you've got nuclear physicists pouring pints, stockbrokers clearing tables and medical doctors ski-guiding. It's usual to be over-qualified for your job, so start looking from the bottom.
2. Be A Pro
Sure, it's a ski town, and it's more relaxed than the City, but most of the normal rules still apply. This means no refering to your prospective employer as 'dude', no wearing hoodies to the interview, no references to your botantical pursuits and no resumé objectives of 'stomping a switch seven'. Your boss wants to employ grown-ups, so be one.
3. Go Everywhere
Drop a resumé into every place that you'd consider working at, up and down the main street. Be nice, get a contact name, have a chat about the job (if they've got one going). Follow it up a few days later with another quick visit and drop in a more personalised covering letter addressing the points that were raised in your first chat.
4. Be Reachable
Pop into Orange and get a sim card for your phone. Put the number on your resumé. Much more effective than offering the Mojo's noticeboard as a way of contacting you.
5. Talk It Up
Go out plenty in the evenings, and tell everyone who'll listen that you're looking for a job. Even if you're having a drunken chat to someone at the urinal, mention it and get their number. They'll be shocked when you call in the morning, but it could go somewhere.
6. Keep Asking
Christmas is a hard time for local businesses - people get homesick and leave, others get injured early. January is a great time to get hired, so don't get disheartened if it doesn't work out straight away. Just make sure you've got enough money to tide you over until you get something.
Armed with that, how could you fail? Happy job hunting and we'll see you next week.
