I've now been at my first camp hosting job for close to eight weeks. It is not going well.
Here are some tips on what should be done to avoid some of the issues I'm now facing:
1) Confirm the details of the arrangement before moving in and sign a written contract;
2) Make sure you and the manager agree on what constitutes hours that qualify towards the minimum expected to cover your rent (or whatever you're bartering for);
3) Get a bit of background on the people you will be working with (how long they've worked there, what they do, what their expectations are for temporary staff);
4) Don't allow them to make significant changes to the contract without a new contract being signed;
5) Don't assume that you and the manager speak the same language. Reiterate very instruction that you are told until you're sure you know exactly what s/he means;
6) Be aware of just how much value you are being given for the number of hours you put in. Camp hosting can turn out to not be cost effective;
7) 7) Carefully evaluate the proposed schedule to ensure that it will not be damaging to your health.
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2 comments:
Excellent advice. You imply this in #1, but I would confirm before you start traveling to the job. It can be very costly if you drive a long ways and find out you've made a mistake.
One thing many campground hosts find is that even when they are not officially on duty, campers still come knocking on their door or there are things to handle. It can be more like 24/7. Sharing duties with another couple or couples can help make sure each host has actual days off. However, having more than one host doesn't always happen.
Working on the road is a learning experience! You have some excellent questions to ask in the future. Good luck!
Jaimie Hall Bruzenak
author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road
Thanks for stopping in, Jaimie!
Very good point about no. 1. Of course, I was less than a km from my camp hosting job, so that wasn't a factor for me.
The job is turning into a 24/7 thing for me, even though the other host on site is unequivocally 'off' when she's not working in the office. One of my many gripes...
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