The term "ski operator" can refer to several types of jobs available at ski areas or in other areas where skiing is possible. The first step you must take, therefore, if you want to become a ski operator, is to figure out what type of operations you want to focus on within the ski industry. You can become a ski operator who runs a chair lift, or you may want to be someone who gives tours or lessons. Other operators work various snowmaking machinery, such as groomers and snow cannons.
Most of the jobs within ski operations will not require you to have any specific level of education, though it is a very wise decision to at least complete a high school education or equivalent qualification. This will help signify to employers that you have developed basic math and communications skills, and you are hard working enough to complete a task. Once you graduate, you will need to apply for various positions at a ski area in order to become a ski operator. Do not be surprised if the only positions available to you are entry-level positions, such as working at a ticket counter or in the ski repair and rental shop. You are likely to start with such positions to familiarize yourself with the daily operations of a ski area.
Once opportunities for training become available, sign up for such training if you want to become a ski operator. Some of this training may even take place during the off-season summer months; lift evacuation training, for example, is likely to take place when no skiers are on the mountain, which is most often during warm weather. You will need to undergo such training in order to become a lift operator, a ski patroller, and even a snowmaker. Other types of training that may help you become a ski operator include first aid and CPR training, Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training, explosives training, and much more.
Having other qualifications such as a commercial driver's license or heavy machinery operator license will help you become a ski operator as well, especially if you want to operate grooming machines. You should attempt to make yourself as valuable of a job candidate as possible in order to get the jobs you want, even though on the job training is often available to learn the more complex tasks. An employer is more likely to hire you if they do not have to invest significant time and money into your training.
