With so many guests asking us how we get these amazing people to work at Vista Verde season after season, I thought it would be fun to do an interview with Beka, who handles the day to day process of hiring our seasonal crews.
Q) Where do most of the staff come from?
A) We hire staff from all over the United States. However, we tend to hire people in clusters. One season we might hire a bunch from Georgia and the next a group from Texas, but it is always a sure thing that a lot will come from Indiana, with all our ties to that state.
Q) How do you interview them?
A) Generally we interview using Skype; it is less like an interview and more like a conversation you would have with someone over coffee. When chatting with prospective employees, we are looking for applicants who genuinely enjoy people and aim to live a healthy lifestyle physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Q) Do you recruit?
A) We post on a few college forums and seasonal work websites. However, our best recruiters are the staff and guests who have experienced Vista Verde firsthand.
Q) What is the weirdest interview experience you’ve ever had?
A) Nothing too crazy has happened yet. We have had some very memorable interviews where people have used props or costumes to express their personalities.
Q) Do you get nervous when they finally show up at the ranch?
A) I used to but not as much anymore, now that we do Skype interviews. There is something very telling about seeing people face to face. It makes you feel that you know them much better when you can see their expressions and reactions to your questions.
Q) When do you hire for each season?
A) Hiring happens pretty much year round. I email or talk on the phone with potential employees every day. We really amp up hiring for the winter in September and keep at it pretty much until staff arrive in early December. For the summer we begin doing interviews right after the New Year and aim to have everyone hired before the end of April.
Q) How could I qualify to work at the ranch?
A) The first step is wanting to be part of the culture. When considering employees, we are looking for applicants who sincerely love people, guest services, kids, the outdoors, and will fit in with the community. Some of our positions require specific skills and experience, but we tend to hire people who are teachable, passionate, and hardworking over those who have a great deal of experience. You can teach skills, but you cannot train people how to care for others, have good character, or work hard. They have to come with those qualities. Another big qualifier is timing; we have a training period before the opening of every season which we take very seriously. We aim to hire staff who are available from the beginning of the training period to the end of the season.
So, are you ready to work at a ranch? Or, do you know someone who would be a perfect fit? Put them in touch with Beka, and she’ll take it from there.