What a difference a year makes. This time last year our local Steamboat Springs newspaper listed 500 avaiable jobs. 500!! Most employers that we worked with at that time were receiving 1-3 resumes per local newspaper add. Not a strong cost-per-lead value that’s for sure. Our recruiters were able to increase that number to a average of 5-8 applicants per job which helped increase the ‘quality’ of candidates for our clients.

One year later…..our local Steamboat newspaper is listing 60 open jobs. Most are seasonal and very entry level (shuttle drivers, night audit, front desk staff). Our employers are receiving 15-18 applications per advertisement. We are now busy helping employers shift through their applications to pre-screen, test, and pre-qualify candidates for them as well as we have been busy assisting job seekers with interview tips and jazzing up their resumes.

We are very accustomed to change here in Routt County as resort towns bring about a lot of transistion and uncertainity….and it is important to go-with-the flow. To maintain our sanity and avoid the daily reports of doom and gloom….our recruiters…well…we find a patch of snow and go skiing.

Living in a resort town, businesses are a bit worried about how their winter business may be with the economy heading south. We have been talking to long-time locals whom are getting laid off from their local jobs and assisting many job seekers in re-vamping resumes, cover letters and interview skills (check out our latest tip of the week about tax deductible items during your job search). Most are a bit concerned about where they might secure their next job and not super excited about being in the job searching market….yet we try to help them use their time to re-develop new skills, change industries, go after that life long dream…or even take a week or two off and go enjoy the beaches of Mexico. Really…..don’t panic…things will turn around and the rollercoaster of life will level out. Nothing is certain and change is always good.

I am a big fan of on-going learning. As soon as we stop engaging our brains I think we fall into stagnation and that’s not good for us or anyone around us.  This summer one of my goals and learning experiences was to ride my Mountain Bike down “mini-moab” here in Steamboat. Just a little rocky, steep, intimidating area on top of one of our mountains. After many attempts and mental blocks I rode up there Tuesday by myself. Cranked up my tunes and just told myself (and bike) to do it! Well…..guess what…I did it. Kinda half-assed….but did most of it.  It wasn’t nearly as hard as my mind made it out to be…and I’m heading back tonight for more.

Some up-coming trainings that might help you avoid the “stagnation” are:

For those of you that are needed some re-freshers on Human Resource issues…..sign up for our November 7th HR 101 course. Here at Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs.

To learn a bit about your co-workers and folks you manage…check out our Generational Training on October 3rd at Trappeur’s Crossing Resort—again here in Steamboat Springs.

More information about these upcoming trainings and registration can be found on our event page on our website http://www.resortrecruiters.com/events.php.

If you’ve ever wondered what it is like…really like..to live in a Resort town let me give you a little snippet. Last Friday evening I attended the FREE Michael Franti & Spearhead concert here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This sentence it itself should be enough for anyone to leave their city lives—FREE Michael Franti concert??!! So, as I’m weaving my way through the crowd grabbing hands and getting hugs from fellow “locals” squeezing my way up to the front to get a better view…..I’m noticing that everyone is there. My yoga teachers, my doctors, my ex-co-workers, my Spanish teacher, my business consultants, my best friends, my family, my clients and long-lost (not so far-Steamboat is small) lovers. Everyone was bouncing to the beat, feeling the love with amazing smiles from ear-to-ear.

This community sure does come together to help out it’s own (like the gals at the entrance of the show collecting donations for a local woman’s ill son) but I have never, in my 16 years of living here, felt such a large sense of “one” then I did that night. As we were dancing our way out at the end of the show, we ran into a friend who moved away for a few years. He stated that “returning back to Steamboat enabled him to get his groove back” he just couldn’t seem to find it where they went…….that my friends is precisely why we live here. We are all able to live in this paradise dancing to our own individual groove.

Well..we are two weeks into Spring here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and as I type the ground is covered in fresh white powder and the skies are grey. I wonder if we will ever see grass and blue sky. Spring is a transitional time for everyone. Time to clean out all the closets and dust behind all the furniture. Open the windows and finally get some fresh air in the house. Ahhhhhh…….it will feel good (once it warms up a bit). We also see a lot of folks searching for new opportunities in Resort locations. Many professionals whom are feeling a bit stagnant with their current positions start to keep their eyes open for new opportunities. Lot’s of new graduates head our way to fulfil their dream of living in a Resort location. For employers, we recommend expanding your current recruitment efforts to find these folks. For applicants……we recommend that they continue to work towards connecting with that perfect balance of lifestyle and workstyle here in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado!

The Resort Recruiters Housing Connection is a new fantastic tool to help in your rental search! The Housing Connection lets you search for a rental units by property type, city and monthly rent. This website allows you to view how many bedrooms, bathrooms and if pets are allowed. Whether you are looking for short or long term rentals the Housing Connection is the place to look! Our recruiting team is happy to assist you in your search.