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PROJECT TYPE:

Japan isn’t just about sushi, samurai, and skyscrapers — it’s also one of the top powder skiing destinations in the world. With more ski resorts than even Austria, every mountain region offers something distinct. While Niseko is the best-known area, attracting a global crowd with its variety of resorts, the entire country is a goldmine for snow enthusiasts. Thanks to its natural geography, you’re likely to find untouched powder wherever you go.

Many Japanese ski resorts receive up to 16 metres of snowfall each season. This is due to a unique weather pattern: icy winds from Siberia move across the Sea of Japan, collecting moisture that turns into dense clouds and results in frequent, fluffy snowfalls. The outcome? Perfect powder — light, dry, and ideal for both skiing and snowboarding.

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Qualify as a CSIA Level 1 ski instructor in Whistler Blackcomb and join a world-renowned ski school, teaching children how to ski for the season. You get a job and staff accommodation for the whole season and get to enjoy the breath-taking scenery  and diverse cultural scene of Whistler Village.

This is the perfect opportunity to spend every day on some of the best slopes in the world suitable for all skill levels. While others typically require a Level 2 CSIA qualification to apply for Whistler Blackcomb positions, with Oyster, you’ll leap straight into an instructor role as a freshly qualified CSIA Level 1 graduate!

26 - 26 weeks

Whistler Ski Season Jobs

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Experience the buzz of working in the heart of a busy snow school as a member of support staff for Whistler Kids, or as part of the mountain operations team. Depending on your experience, we have a variety of roles available. Choose from being a kitchen assistant, preparing meals for the students and instructors; work as a den master, or as an Outdoor Ranger supervising the outdoor play facilities.

Whether it’s your first time seeing snow or you were born on the slopes, joining our team means discovering (or re-discovering!) a passion for the outdoors while building lifelong connections with teammates and guests from around the world.

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Front of House Experience : Work in one of Whistler Blackcomb’s most prestigious hotels or spas for a whole winter season. The work is tough but the pay is good and the days off are awesome! If you have hotel or hospitality work experience, use your skills to work in Whistler. All of the jobs are in Whistler Village and everything is within walking distance of the ski lifts. On days off, getting up on the mountain is a must!

Back of House Experience : This year we are also opening up the Chef and Kitchen team opportunities – if you have experience working in kitchens, or have just finished working in a culinary specific qualification or internship, you can join the teams at the one of the best 5* resorts in North America.

Join us in Whistler’s top hotels and spas for an amazing kitchen adventure! Picture yourself cooking up a storm in the heart of this famous ski spot. From creating tasty menus to working behind the scenes, you’ll be part of the action. Get ready for a thrilling ski season where your kitchen skills meet snow-filled fun. This is your chance to level up your cooking game with a big-name brand while enjoying the mountain buzz. Come join our team for a tasty journey that’s as exciting as it gets!

 

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Our program is tailored for those who are ready to take the first step into the culinary world.

With guidance from Oyster Worldwide, you’ll have support from application to placement and beyond. The professional skills you’ll gain, combined with the personal growth you’ll experience, make this an unbeatable start to your career. And when you’re not working? You’ll be hitting the slopes, exploring local attractions, and enjoying the vibrant social scene of Whistler.

No prior experience? No problem. This program is ideal for young people eager to grow their skills, earn great pay, and explore a world-class ski resort. Join a vibrant international community, develop your talents, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Whistler awaits—are you ready?

PROJECT TYPE:

If you’re aged 19–35 and craving a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, our Canada Work Abroad Programme places you right in the heart of some of the world’s most iconic ski destinations. You’ll work full-time in exciting, customer-facing roles for Whistler Blackcomb, or Banff, Alberta – home to deep powder, mountain views, and a buzzing international community.

This is your chance to develop world-class customer service skills, boost your CV, and gain paid international work experience – all while living in the mountains, making lifelong friends, and enjoying employee perks like discounted gear, free ski passes, and available staff housing.

These roles are ideal for those looking to build transferable skills in:

  • Customer service & problem solving

  • Communication (verbal and digital)

  • Working in a fast-paced, international environment

  • Flexibility, teamwork, and time management

  • Adapting to new cultures and environments

  • Confidence and independence

You’ll be trained onsite – all you need is enthusiasm and a willingness to get stuck in.

20 - 30 weeks

Banff Ski Season Jobs

PROJECT TYPE:

Earn money working full-time in a customer service role in the Rockies.  There are certainly worse places to do this job, on a tough day at work, you can look out of the window and see the awesome Rocky Mountains. On your days off, you can be hitting the slopes! (Candidates must have at least one full year of full time work, before applying)

PROJECT TYPE:

Spend your summer living and working in the popular resort town of Banff in Alberta. You’ll be in the heart of all the action that Banff National Park has to offer. Make the most of your days off with all of the hiking, biking and water sports that are available. How are you going to afford this for a summer season? This is where your job comes in!

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Head to dynamic Vietnam – a country rising in popularity with the traveling community. Take part in cultural and sightseeing activities, gain a TESOL qualification and then teach in Vietnam for up to a year!

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Head to Hua Hin or Chiang Mai in Thailand and gain an internationally accredited 120 hour TESOL/TEFL qualification which can be used to teach abroad. Want to live and teach in Thailand? Use your qualification to gain a TESOL job in Thailand, in a reputable school and experience life living the beautiful ‘Land of Smiles’.

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Sunny Sydney is the perfect place to live and work for up to a year, with options to extend for two or three years on an amazing working gap year in Sydney. Start with a fantastic 7-day orientation programme, including visits to local attractions, and receive full support in setting up your admin. Find paid work quickly through our exclusive online job database. Prefer another city?

Options to start in Melbourne and Perth are also available – please ask

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Step into a pre-arranged paid groom role at one of Australia’s leading stud farms. This programme is a rare opportunity for confident, experienced horse lovers to live and work on a prestigious yard — all organised before you leave home. Positions are full-time, paid, and include hands-on work with horses at top-class facilities.

You’ll start with 8 nights in Sydney for orientation, giving you time to recover from jet lag, get your admin sorted (including bank accounts, SIM cards and tax numbers), and make friends with other solo travellers. There’s also the option to take on casual city work before or after your stud placement — and you’ll benefit from 12 months of job-finding support across Australia.

 

PROJECT TYPE:

Experience life as a jackeroo or jillaroo by completing an introductory farm work in Australia course in the vast and beautiful outback. Learn to ride dirt bikes and horses, muster and work with cattle, pick up fencing skills and operate tractors. Oh, and did we mention you are guaranteed a paid job at the end of the programme?

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Discover the North Island’s finest offerings on an unforgettable stain Auckland and a 3-day Bay of Islands Adventure. Witness dolphins and marine wonders, explore the iconic Hole in the Rock on Motukokako Island, and unwind at the serene Otehei Bay and Paihia Beaches. Our Auckland team stands ready to assist, from facilitating essential tasks like setting up bank accounts, tax file numbers, and SIM cards to providing insightful presentations on job hunting. With 12 months of ongoing support for paid work and abundant guidance for your travel endeavours, your journey promises not only employment opportunities but also countless moments of joy and exploration.

PROJECT TYPE:

Nestled at the base of the breathtaking Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, Kaprun is one of Austria’s most iconic ski destinations. Together with Zell am See, it offers an unbeatable alpine experience — 81 scenic slopes connected by 53 modern lifts, and access to the Salzburg region’s highest glacier at 3,029 meters. The Kitzsteinhorn guarantees reliable snow all year round, making it a paradise for skiers and snowboarders of every level.

Kaprun’s glacier terrain is particularly famous among freeriders, who return each season to carve fresh lines through deep, untouched powder. This is true glacier skiing — vast, exhilarating, and endlessly inspiring.

Oyster partners with Skischule Oberschneider, a leading local ski school that upholds some of the highest standards in the Austrian Alps. Our preparatory courses here ensure that every aspiring instructor receives world-class training from the start. Once you graduate, you’ll be expected to bring strong professionalism, enthusiasm, and commitment to your work. In return, you’ll gain respect from seasoned instructors and become part of a close-knit community on and off the mountain.

Why work abroad?

Why not combine travelling with one of our working abroad programs? This is a great way to experience what a country and culture is all about by living and working as a local. Oyster offers a variety of paid work abroad opportunities in different locations around the world.

Our paid working gap year programs include teaching abroad in Thailand or China and gaining a TESOL qualification. We can help you gain a hospitality or city job in either Canada, Australia or New Zealand or help you to become a paid ski or snowboard instructor in one of the worlds’ top ski resorts. For the outdoorsy types, we offer amazing rural farm work and horse work opportunities in the Australian Outback.

The benefits to our live and work abroad programs means you can earn money to finance your tourist and travelling activities. This may mean utilising the amazing surroundings and pursuits in the area you are living, or saving it for expeditions further a field such as getting involved in marine conservation or animal welfare projects.

All these experiences will aid in making your CV look more interesting and desirable to future employers and universities by showing off your paid work abroad experience. Gap year work abroad helps demonstrate that you have the maturity and independence to live away from home and that you can commit to a job or a course. Whilst immersing yourself in a new culture, you may even develop skills in learning a new language.  Don’t forget, you will make loads of life long friends from all over the world!

Oyster Worldwide can help you when it comes to looking for jobs abroad and in some cases assist with organising holiday visas. To help keep costs down even further, some employers include food and accommodation when you work abroad.

If you are not convinced yet, check out our top 5 reasons for working abroad. We have over 15 work abroad programs for young adults.

Learn more about how we select employers to work with on our paid work policy page.

Want paid work in the conservation sector? Oyster have teamed up with our friends at Conservation Careers who support people to find paid work in conservation following study or a career change. You can add their fantastic and flexible course to your volunteering trip with Oyster. Your Oyster experience will help add interest to your conservation resume as an eye catching addition to your job applications in future.

The Conservation Career Kick-Starter: Start your career in wildlife conservation with our unique programme of training, support community & jobs.

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