HI Jill,
We can talk about this in depth at the gtg if you'd like. You 2 will have no trouble finding jobs - and your pick of most of them. It's a little harder for me as a single female - as many parks want couples to do just what you guys could do - one to work maintenance/grounds, etc - the other in the office or store, etc.
I get workampers - but so far my jobs have not been through it. My first one - I wanted to be in central New Hampshire to sightsee ME, NH, VT, etc for a summer. I wanted minimal hours for a site with no or very few extra hours. I got really lucky here. I started by looking at cg's in my target area, and before I did much, someone posted on an rv.net forum that he was looking for someone for 2 days a week at his cg in NH. I called, we talked, discussed it, and that was my first full summer wc job. I loved it there, but it wouldn't be for everyone. My cell (no cell phone) would work from the cg - but mine worked when I walked 10 minutes up one of the hills LOL - so did that a couple times a day to check for messages. There were only a couple local stations on tv - and many people couldn't get satellite there either, as it was so wooded. I happened to enjoy that for a summer. My site was wooded and all alone. I worked 2 days - had 5 off in a row to sightsee, etc - and that's exactly what I did.
OK, when I left that job, I was travelling more of the NorthEast and the other lady who I had workamped with (were only 2 of us and one employee other than the owner
) - called me that she was visiting a friend who was workamping in PA and she wanted to know if I'd come take a look - as possibly going there the next summer. Well, that wasn't where I thought I'd head the next year, but next thing I knew my rv headed there - I met up with her there - met the owners and managers and current workampers - they GAVE me a site for several nights - and I signed on to workamp there last summer. I LOVED it there. This one I worked more (usually 30-32 hours over 5 days) - I got to do a variety of things, but mostly worked in the office/store.
Then to this summer. I had wanted to come here my first winter - they didn't need help. I decided to email and see if they needed anyone for this summer (as my g/f lives near here and this is - IMO - the best rv park in the area) and yep, they did, and I'm here.
As to what my needs are - they vary. This year I wanted more hours to have pay over and above my working for a site. They offered me 3 or 4 days a week (however these are 9 hour days) and I took 4. That was fine for the first few months, but now I'm tired of the hours - so when they asked if I would like to stay for the winter, I thought about it - said yes, if I could work 3 days. They agreed.
OK - one of my criteria - is I don't want a job that starts before 8 am. Well, as in all things in life, you sometimes compromise. My hours here start at 6 - and I still hate them. But I like where I am and being near my friend and the beach and so much else - that I'm staying another season. Go figure. In the future I probably would rather work like the previous year in PA and work 4-5 days with less hours per day than the long days here. It gets to be too much - for me, anyway.
My BIGGEST criteria - is how many hours I'll put in for my site. I don't care if they pay me for all hours and take out for the site, or I work so many hours towards the site, then pay over that - but I will NOT be taken advantage of. Many cg's and rv parks will offer lots - some give a free site and pay for all hours worked. But there are also some that really will take advantage and as long as rvers are willing to do it, they'll be able to continue to do so. Case in point - I was called by a park in AZ who offered me a job. The place - looks and sounds beautiful - the area, I LOVE AZ - the job - would have been a piece of cake for me. So why didn't I go? They required 40 hours for the site and a $100 electric credit a month. Oh, I'd get discounted internet and $10 a week allowance towards laundry. Holy moly - I'd work 40 hours a week and possibly still have to take money out of my pocket to pay them??? See they get away with this cuz they have mainly couples. The 2 people work 20 hours each the same days and think that's fine. They are OUT of THEIR MINDS. But they do it. Not me, no way. I would work more hours for a volunteer job than for a private rv park/cg - but I'm not going to be slave labor.
So, what will I work for? So far the most I've paid for my site has worked out to 16 hours/week. But that was the site in NH - and I got the site for the entire season the cg was open and I only had to work for part of the season - so had I come earlier or stayed longer, I could have used the site more and the hours would have worked down less. In PA, they got 20 hours/week for the site - but had more amenities (my electric AND gas were paid for) - and I only actually only paid 10/week for the site, because I "partnered" with another women - and they made a piggyback site for us - and we only had to do 10 hours a piece. My maximum for a private cg? Not sure - but probably would be 20 hours.
Finding jobs? If you know an area you would like to go to or be in - find cg's or parks by checking reviews, etc - and contact them. Most take workampers (not all) and don't feel bad if they either don't need anyone or say no - just move on. Don't take a job if you feel any qualms at all - or take it and remember, your rig has wheels. That said, I'm a strong believer in fulfilling my commitments, but I still know that my rig has wheels and if I'm treated unfairly, I can leave.
I would really appreciate hearing from you experienced ladies and would welcome any hints you may have to help me beef up my resume in light of the types of jobs I'm looking for. I have so much life experience and hope my lack of workamper experience won't be too much a deterrent!
,
...I can fit in almost anywhere, but how do you advertise that?
I'll do it though, by golly!
