We got our first question, and as you can see, I'm going to try to put the subject of each question into the title of the post. The question, rather than being something about Yellowstone, was more about how you get to work in Yellowstone. So here goes.
My own experience started in 1999 when I made my first trip to Yellowstone National Park. I was a single dad at the time and it was the first summer my ex got the kids for a month in the summer and I had a month to play with. I took vacation time from the Sheriff's Office and headed out west. I really didn't have a solid itinerary but I knew I wanted to go up into Montana to see the site of Custer's Last Stand. Everything else was pretty much hit and miss on the way.
After a couple three days going up through Colorado, Wyoming and into Montana, I reached my initial goal and then headed back down toward Cody, Wyoming, then into Yellowstone. I did not know that you needed reservations nearly a year in advance to get rooms in a lodge, so I had to take one night in a cabin and three nights camped out at Baybridge campground near the marina. It was all to the good. I had a fantastic stay in the park and it changed my future goals.
While in Mammoth Hot Springs I stopped at the general store to purchase some things and to see if any t-shirts caught my eye, when I met a gentleman who worked at the store. He was older than me, probably in his 60's, and was working behind the counter. I saw that his nametag said, "John" and underneath that it said, "Wisconsin". I thought that was interesting and asked him about it as I'd figured the people employed in the park lived in the area and were residents who obtained jobs and went in and out of the park every day. He told me about the seasonal positions available and about living and working right there in the park. It was the first I'd ever heard of such a thing and I made up my mind right then and there that I would pursue it when I retired if there was any way possible.
Over the years since I'd looked into the various companies and vendors that operate the activities, lodging and services in the park. One company runs the general stores, one company runs the gas stations, and another runs the lodging and campgrounds as examples. There are also construction contractors and others but the majority of people are employed during the summer season here by these three companies.
I endeavored to find out how to see what jobs were available, and when, and how to apply for them. It's really pretty easy. Just like any job anywhere you have to have some information for them and put in an application and resume. I have some links to help:
The main employer is Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc. ( http://www.xanterra.com/ ). This company runs most of the large national parks in the U. S. as well as some state parks (like in Ohio) and other tourist concessions and activities. A look at their website will give you a wealth of information about the opportunities in their company. They have many seasonal jobs as well as year round, full time jobs, all around the country. They even have Windstar Cruises ( http://www.windstarcruises.com/ ). If you've ever thought about working a season at Yosemite National Park in California, or Death Valley, or Crater Lake, or Glacier National Park or even Yellowstone, Xanterra is one very big starting place.
Next you have Delaware North. ( http://www.delawarenorth.com/careers/full-time-and-part-time-hourly-opportunities/seasonal-national-parks-opportunities ). This company currently operates the general stores in Yellowstone having taken over from Hamilton Stores a while back. They have opportunities in national parks as well as all over the world.
Next is YPSS, Yellowstone Park Service Stations, a company that runs all the gas stations and repair shops in Yellowstone (http://www.ypss.com/ ). They don't employ as many people as the others but they do need folks to run the gas station / convenience stores they operate I the park.
Another really good resource is a website called "CoolWorks" ( http://www.coolworks.com/ ). This website has listings for all kinds of jobs all over the world in the seasonal work category. If you've ever wanted to work at Denali in Alaska, there will be information there as just an example. Not only that, you can read postings by people who have worked at many different positions and locations and have a wealth of information about what's out there, what it's like, and how they liked it, or didn't, lol. There is a forum where you can exchange information and the folks that run it are just the best there are. You can be as involved as you want, or just read and absorb. I highly recommend that site.
So, by now you are already overwhelmed with information and you've just started. You can do all kinds of searches online and get every brand of opinion about each and every company and site I've listed. There are good experiences, and there are bad. There are good managers to work for, and some not so good. Anyone that has ever had a job will know that these types of conditions exist everywhere and many of them are exactly what we make of them. Unfortunately, not everyone is going to have that "perfect" experience and it happens. My own experience so far has been excellent, but there are always bumps in the road.
I work at Yellowstone National Park in the Reservations Office. We take reservations for activities and lodging in Yellowstone only. It can be hectic and it can be slow. It can be aggravating and it can be rewarding. Every day is the same, and every day is different. It in no way compares to my old profession and for that I am eternally grateful, lol.
I live in a dormitory at Mammoth Hot Springs and I share a room with a roommate. Sometimes you get a good one, and sometimes you get a not so good one, luck of the draw. I've been very fortunate most of the time, with an exception or two, and I've had pretty good ones. We actually live in a kind of a suite, with two rooms sharing a common bathroom, so four of us live in this "suite". There are other dorms with other layouts but they are all generally much the same. Couples who hire on to work can get rooms together as well, and I know several couples who have done just that.
We eat in the EDR (Employee Dining Room) where you can eat as much as you want, drink as much as you want, and get sack lunches for those days when you're going to be out in the park doing stuff instead of at the dining room. Not a bad deal at all. The food? Well, let's see, how to put this. Any of you that have been in the Army will recognize it right away. Those of you who haven't, think college cafeteria. They have their good days, and their not so good days, but there is always a good salad bar for those days when you just don't want what they have to offer. Rarely do they mess up breakfast, so there's that! This morning I had three fried eggs to order, sausage, and some nice fruit, and it was very good to be me.
Now, the pay. They don't pay much, that's for sure. It is above average minimum wage for basic starting positions, and there are higher paying positions available as you become more experienced and take on more responsibility. As you all know, things are relative. For a retiree who may have come from a high speed profession where the pay was pretty good, it may seem paltry. For a student from college who is just working during the summer, it may seem very good. It's all in your perspective.
In addition, they do take out money from your paycheck to pay for said dorm living and the eating in the EDR, so your checks are reduced a little bit by that. Not all places do that, or companies, but that's how it is in Yellowstone with Xanterra. So take that in to account when figuring what you'll be making in the park. On the other hand, you don't have to find a place to live and pay rent, utilities, internet, etc, and buy food and cook it every meal, so it's actually not a bad deal.
Different seasons have different aspects to them, Summer Season at Yellowstone will be different than the Winter Season, and the requirements will be different. There are fewer job positions to fill in Winter than Summer, and you might have to do other jobs in one season than you do in the other, which is very common.
Work conditions are just like every other job you've ever worked or ever will work. You have a task you've been hired to do, and people have been hired to manage your job and make sure your performance is up to snuff and worth what they're paying you. So you'll have a boss in other words. There are dress codes, they expect you to adhere to a schedule, and they expect you will do the job you've been hired to do. It's that simple. And when you are off, whether at the end of your work day, or on your days off, you are in Yellowstone National Park (or wherever you are hired to work). You don't have to GO to Yellowstone, you are IN Yellowstone! I can't tell you how much that is worth because it will be different for every individual, but I know what it is worth to me.
They will have to run me off with a stick.
So, there ya go. Enough already. You have plenty to look into and absorb and go do some research on your own. I've now been here since last April (2014) and while there are small things that could be better I've found it's a good philosophy to not sweat the small things, and they are ALL small things. Take care.
Mac
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