My wife and I are interested in workamping when I retire. My work experience is 20 years military service and 18 as a police officer. Not really something that translates well into most workamping jobs i've seen. My wife on the other hand has a vast amount of accounting/bookkeeping experience. In your opionions would we as a couple be given an opportunity by CG's or other employers?
Thanks for your comments or suggestions!! Ray
Ray And Kris
2008 Coachmen Mirada 310DS
Eastern North Carolina
Ray, as the owner of a CG I would say a lot depends on the size of the CG and are you just working for FHU. In a large CG there are all kinds of different jobs that need doing. Some with extra pay, many without. There are jobs where all you do is check people in and get paid min wage for the extra hours. Our CG is only 80 sites so I'm looking for someone who is honest and handy in a lot of different areas. Someone who grew up on a farm and thinks 12 hour day are normal would be my first choice but there are only six of them left in this country. I also need someone to fill in so my managers can have some time off. As a former PO, you should score well in the honest factor, but can you fix things like electric boxes, water hydrants, washer/dyers, screen doors or do you only run a weed eater? Will I have to tell you what needs doing or will you find it on your own and do it? Without more info about you, your wife sounds more employable.
We tried workcamping & from what we saw, you don't really need a definite skill set. You just need to be willing to work your buns off for low wages. Most campgrounds we worked at charged us more in work hours for the site than they charged paying customers. We think honesty goes a long way, & if you are an intelligent people person with varied life experiences you'll be a great workcamper. We didn't enjoy helping the campground owners get richer, while getting cheap labor. We found another way to supplement our income.
I see jobs posted all the time looking for security personnel. I recommend http://workamper.com for anyone interested in the workamping lifestyle.
Workamping is a great way to offset expenses. While I wouldn't work 12 hour days and think that is normal, I also wouldn't allow a CG to take advantage of me by over-charging me for my site. It's not hard to do the math to figure out how much your making per hour and what your site is costing you. If you want to know how much your making just add up (1)your site & hookups, (2) your salary and (3)other perks you may get like propane or laundry, then divide by the number of hours worked. The norm is usually between $7 and $12/hr.
Do your homework, ask prospective employers what they expect, get it all in writing, and enjoy. You should have no problem finding work.
'08 Monaco Diplomat SFT being pushed by '07 Jeep Wrangler
-- USAF Retired --
RayK25, believe me you will be welcomed as a security guard at any campground that has them. My DH is a retired cop also from NC and even though he wanted to try other workampimg jobs, was always pegged for security. I am retired from the hospitality industry and found front office work without a problem. Both of you should be welcomed. Jan
Ray I did a stint after HS long ago for a summer in a CG in Colorado Springs, wasnt really anything to it. Being personable certaintly helps. If you are familiar with your RV you should do fine. Lots of folks run into very common RV issues. How to dump their tanks, where to plug in, plugged toilets etc etc.. broken water hoses.. I remember taking folks to their sites, pointing out where the laundry was etc. Restocking the machines for the soap, if they even have those anymore. emptying the coins in the pinball games, video etc. An sweeping an adding chemicals to the pool. Most you will find are rather easy. An most will accommodate the hours you are willing to work, rather flexible.
Joe
"07 Coachmen Aurora 36FWS"
"Workhorse W-22"
"8.1 L Chevrolet"
"Working on Toad"
What we look for is flexibility and personality. We look for couples where one can work in the office taking reservations, checking in guests, run the cash register etc. and where one can work outside with duties such as watering the grass, mowing, escorting guests to sites, emptying trash, weed whacking, occasionally using a manual excavator (shovel) to help with repairing a damaged water or sewer line. Another required duty is cleaning the restrooms. Not as bad as it sounds, but some people feel that restroom duty is beneath them, so we warn all our prospective employees it is a requirement. Being personable is very important since our primary goal is for our guests to have a good stay. It doesn't always happen, but we try to have a good time. As for pay, we pay $8.00 an hour, look for people who want a minimum of 30 hours with 10 hour days. (actually prefer 40 ) and we charge 20 hours a week for the site. (that may seem a little high to some, but our monthly rate is $1050.00 our charge works out to $670.00 per month). Some people will argue that the site costs us close to nothing, so it should be provided free, but we sell out completely all summer long, so we do lose the revenue for that site and if someone were to take a position without lodging, they would need to provide their own lodging and in our area monthly RV spaces are very scarce and run a minimum of $750.00 per month. (if you only wish to commit for the summer) Finally, we run our payroll legally, so we do withold taxes, have workman's comp insurance etc. You will find some parks that will pay under the table, but we don't put you or ourselves at risk due to uninsured injury on the job or a tax audit. Sorry, one more thing, we are in a VERY desireable vacation location, so we can get away with paying a little less than if you were looking for a position in an area less desireable to most people.
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westernrvparkowner wrote: What we look for is flexibility and personality. We look for couples where one can work in the office taking reservations, checking in guests, run the cash register etc. and where one can work outside with duties such as watering the grass, mowing, escorting guests to sites, emptying trash, weed whacking, occasionally using a manual excavator (shovel) to help with repairing a damaged water or sewer line. Another required duty is cleaning the restrooms. Not as bad as it sounds, but some people feel that restroom duty is beneath them, so we warn all our prospective employees it is a requirement. Being personable is very important since our primary goal is for our guests to have a good stay. It doesn't always happen, but we try to have a good time. As for pay, we pay $8.00 an hour, look for people who want a minimum of 30 hours with 10 hour days. (actually prefer 40 ) and we charge 20 hours a week for the site. (that may seem a little high to some, but our monthly rate is $1050.00 our charge works out to $670.00 per month). Some people will argue that the site costs us close to nothing, so it should be provided free, but we sell out completely all summer long, so we do lose the revenue for that site and if someone were to take a position without lodging, they would need to provide their own lodging and in our area monthly RV spaces are very scarce and run a minimum of $750.00 per month. (if you only wish to commit for the summer) Finally, we run our payroll legally, so we do withold taxes, have workman's comp insurance etc. You will find some parks that will pay under the table, but we don't put you or ourselves at risk due to uninsured injury on the job or a tax audit. Sorry, one more thing, we are in a VERY desireable vacation location, so we can get away with paying a little less than if you were looking for a position in an area less desireable to most people.
Where in Montana. Bill
06 GMC 2500HD Duramax, 2007 Holiday Rambler Alumascape Suite 32SKT,3 slide 5th wheel " SEMPER FIDELIS "
westernrvparkowner wrote: What we look for is flexibility and personality. We look for couples where one can work in the office taking reservations, checking in guests, run the cash register etc. and where one can work outside with duties such as watering the grass, mowing, escorting guests to sites, emptying trash, weed whacking, occasionally using a manual excavator (shovel) to help with repairing a damaged water or sewer line. Another required duty is cleaning the restrooms. Not as bad as it sounds, but some people feel that restroom duty is beneath them, so we warn all our prospective employees it is a requirement. Being personable is very important since our primary goal is for our guests to have a good stay. It doesn't always happen, but we try to have a good time. As for pay, we pay $8.00 an hour, look for people who want a minimum of 30 hours with 10 hour days. (actually prefer 40 ) and we charge 20 hours a week for the site. (that may seem a little high to some, but our monthly rate is $1050.00 our charge works out to $670.00 per month). Some people will argue that the site costs us close to nothing, so it should be provided free, but we sell out completely all summer long, so we do lose the revenue for that site and if someone were to take a position without lodging, they would need to provide their own lodging and in our area monthly RV spaces are very scarce and run a minimum of $750.00 per month. (if you only wish to commit for the summer) Finally, we run our payroll legally, so we do withold taxes, have workman's comp insurance etc. You will find some parks that will pay under the table, but we don't put you or ourselves at risk due to uninsured injury on the job or a tax audit. Sorry, one more thing, we are in a VERY desireable vacation location, so we can get away with paying a little less than if you were looking for a position in an area less desireable to most people.
Where in Montana. Bill
I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you. Sorry, but I do not give out my park information on these forums.
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