UNIVERSITY OF THE MOUNTAINS

Of course, there are the obvious skills that come from various jobs working for a ski tour op. Only ever cooked toast? Take a week's chalet hosting course and, hey presto, you're chefing in a luxury chalet making canapés, cordon bleu and carrot cake. Moreover, you'll learn how to create dinner with a broken oven (and, also, a broken wrist from riding park) and manage not to poison guests who are celiac, peanut allergic, vegan or, generally ultra picky and deserving of a quick death.  

Mother always cleaned at home? Or, excuse us, the maid/housekeeper? Well, you'll learn how to clean to such a high standard that you'll use a toothbrush (preferably not the guests') to do the toilets.

And, possibly the highest achievement of all, will be mastering the skill of drinking out of a jug of beer  while dancing on the table. In ski boots.

If you survive a season and pass your Degree in Mountainship, here are the 10 life skills that'll impress future employers:

10 SEASONAIRE LIFE SKILLS

1) YOU CAN WORK IN A TEAM

Damnit you thrive in a team. Pulling together with your co-workers for a ski tour op is one of the most essential life skills in the mountains. You watch their backs, they watch yours. Literally, when it comes to cramped seasonaire accommodation.

2) YOU'RE A GET UP AND GO TYPE OF PERSON

Bluebird powder morning and your day off? You're up and out racing for the first lift to lay first tracks. Exactly the kind of go for it attitude employers love. (They need never know that, after bar crawl night, all you could lay was on the bed).

3) YOU CAN HANDLE PEOPLE

You were a rep involved during Snowmageddon in the French Alps, 27th December, 2015 when snow blocked roads, cancelled flights, left 29,000 cars stranded and 15,000 people needing emergency accommodation on nightmare transfer day? And you weren't mauled by slavering guests looking for blood? Then pick a job, any job dealing with people.

4) YOU'RE GOOD IN A CRISIS

Dropped the cake, chocolate side down? Quick, pick it up (five second rule), redo chocolate, add sprinkles and serve.  You're calm when all around is chaos. Who wouldn't want someone with such an unflappable attitude?

5) YOU CAN MULTI-TASK

Balance beer on head, drink shots and stand on one leg. No probs. Can anything workwise be harder?

6) YOU'RE TANACIOUS AND DON'T GIVE UP EASILY

You always make it to the final bar on the bar crawl. Who wouldn't want someone with your guts and determination to hang in there?

7) YOU WILL GO THAT EXTRA MILE

Guest's ski jacket left on coach. You'll go to the ends of the earth - to infinity and beyond - to fetch it (if it means a day's paid trip out of the ski resort down to the coach depot). Bosses love those who will make the effort to help others. 

8) YOU LIKE TO WIN

Bake the best cakes, wear the best fancy dress, pull the best guy/girl. Thumbs up, you're a natural when it comes to winning, No one wants to employ a loser.

9) YOU'RE TOUGH

You can land a triple cork or stack it and still come up smiling. Even though it's just off the table at apres. Yep, you're a born survivor. In business, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Up the career ladder.

10) YOU HAVE AN AMAZING SENSE OF HUMOUR

Otherwise how'd you ever have survivied a ski season? You've also learnt when to laugh and when to choke it as in not howling with laughter when a guest slips over on the icy chalet path. Carrying skis. So ditto with the boss and, thus, keeping your job.

Until winter comes along again and your friends in the resort persuade you to return for another season. Two seasons on your CV? Just add 'loyality' to your Degree in Mountainship and your extremely employable qualities...