You made the decision. For better or worse, you’re going to live in Tahoe. Whether it’s spending a season as a ski bum, or relocating to a lifelong home, there are a few tips that can make the transition a little bit smoother. Finding a job and a place to live, navigating the social scene and driving in the snow are all key components to a successful stay in the area.
Housing
Be prepared for housemates. With the average monthly rent of a studio or one-bedroom apartment costing $1,000 or more, most seasonal employees are going to find it’s more affordable to split a larger house with friends.
For those who are making a solo venture to Tahoe, Craigslist has a section for people looking for roommates. Be sure to take the time to get to know your potential roommate before moving in together. You don’t want to wait till you’re living together to find out your roommate wakes up to death metal and is allergic to your dog. Co-workers are another great resource for meeting future roommates.
Start by asking vacation rental management groups and realtors about long-term rentals or browse the Reno/Tahoe Craigslist. Think of applying for a rental like applying for a job. Like a future employer, your landlord wants to know that you are respectable, responsible and clean, so dress well and present your best self.
Get a job
The Tahoe region operates on a seasonal job schedule. Even year-round positions are often affected by the influx of seasonal tourists. Tahoe locals know that the bread and butter is made during the summer season and plan accordingly for the shoulder seasons between summer and winter. It’s not unusual to hold two or more jobs to live the ski bum life.
Many resorts hold job fairs in October and early November and hire for various positions including food service, ski and snowboard instructors, lift operators and more. The perks of a resort job include a season pass, discounts at resort-owned restaurants and shops, and an insider’s look at the mountain. The downside? Watching your friends load the lift on a powder day while you’re stuck at work. Don’t even try calling in sick.
For those looking to separate work and play, most restaurants offer the perfect ski bum schedule. Nights and weekends are often the busiest times in the local restaurant scene leaving early-morning, week-day powder runs wide open. Working in restaurants is great for meeting new people. Whether it’s getting to know your regulars at the bar, serving friends during dinner or building a tight-knit kitchen crew, you’re spending a few days a week with like-minded people.
Supplement a day job with odd jobs. In a good winter, the demand for snow removal is high. Offer to shovel your neighbor’s driveways for a few extra bucks. Both locals and out-of-towners seek reliable childcare for a night out or a day on the hill. Check out local job fairs and resort Web sites to land a job.
Transportation
You’ve got the job and the house, but how to get from one to the other? While driving in the snow can be scary and dangerous, it’s just part of daily life for those who live in the mountains. Most employers will not accept bad weather as an excuse for calling in to work, so brush up on the following skills and stay safe on the road this winter.
Driving | Having a reliable vehicle is key to getting to work and the mountain in all conditions. A 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle is best. A front-wheel drive vehicle with good snow tires will do the trick, but avoid rear wheel drive if you can.
Chain up | If don’t have 4-wheel or all-wheel drive, get chains and practice installing them before you are stuck on the side of a road in a blizzard. Also, know when to use chains. Don’t be that person driving with chains after the road is clear.
Take the bus | For those who don’t have a car at all, don’t worry. Public transportation is available to get you where you need to go. Most resorts offer a ski shuttle from downtown areas and local lodging locations. Tahoe Area Regional Transportation offers a daily bus route on the North Shore. After hours, the Night Rider gives free rides between Crystal Bay and Olympic Valley, and along the West Shore.
Shop the swaps
Don’t knock the swaps. Purchase new and used gear, snag a pair of waterproof boots you’ll need to shovel the driveway or walk to the bus stop, stock up on hats, gloves, coats, sweaters, and other gear. You also can sell your old stuff at the swap to score a few extra dollars.
Head to the Ski & Snowboard Swap on Nov. 8 in Truckee or the Cross-Country Ski Swap on Nov. 15 in Tahoe City. Check out the details in the Events calendar.
Happy hours & nightlife
After a long week at work, it’s nice to unwind. Tahoe offers some great happy hour deals for the hungry dirt bags. Most local restaurants offer Happy Hour deals midweek and all-nights specials are usually offered one night a week. You can eat well in Tahoe if you get to know the best deals in Tahoe (Hint: Check out the deals and coupons offered in every edition of The Tahoe Weekly).
And, be sure to check out the local music scene. Moody’s Bistro, the Pastime Club and Bar of America all offer live bands on weekends or head over to Crystal Bay. The Crystal Bay Casino is known for bringing in some big names to the region. To beat that midweek boredom, The Grid in Kings Beach hosts Bass Heavy Wednesdays with DJs spinning beats weekly.
Stay up today on the North Lake’s Night life and happy hours by picking up a copy of The Tahoe Weekly or visit TheTahoeWeekly.com.
Get a job
Nov. 1
Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows host a winter job fair at Olympic House from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Apply online in advance squawalpine.com.
Nov. 7
The Tahoe Regional Job Fair will be held from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the North Tahoe Event Center with more than 70 local employers offering more than 1,000 jobs. Register tahoeregionaljobfair.com.
Dec. 4
Resort at Squaw Creek hosts a Job Fair from 2 to 6 p.m. for full-time, part-time and seasonal positions. Call (530) 583-6300 or visit destinationalhotels.com.
