FOR JOB SEEKERS
CoolWorks features seasonal and year-round jobs in hospitality, outdoor recreation, guiding, administration, education, conservation, nonprofits, and more, all in amazing places.
Seasonal life can take you to wild, welcoming, unforgettable places, the kinds of communities where the mountains become your backyard and coworkers become friends for life. Here are a few examples of the Great Places you can discover through CoolWorks:
National Parks – https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/national-park-jobs/
Lodges & Resorts – https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/lodge-and-resort-jobs/
Summer Camps – https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/summer-camp-jobs/
Ski Resorts – https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/ski-resort-jobs/
Outdoor Adventure & Guiding – https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/guide-jobs
Conservation & Environmental Programs – https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/conservation-jobs/
Roles range from entry-level to experienced positions in food & beverage, housekeeping, retail, maintenance, guest services, outdoor leadership, childcare, admin, and more.
You can also explore opportunities based on what matters most to you:
Housing availability — https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/jobs-with-housing
(For many job seekers, things like location, season, and housing availability are the biggest deciding factors.)
See all job categories: https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/jobs-by-category/
Many do – some do not. Housing is often part of the seasonal-work experience and can look like anything from shared rooms to bunkhouses, small cabins, RV sites, or dorm-style housing. It can be shared or private, pet-friendly or furnished. Every employer has unique housing specifics and handles it differently, so costs and specifics vary widely.
Look for the Housing Provided tag on and accompanying Housing Details job posts. You can also explore and discover potential employers from the Jobs with Housing page. Some employers provide detailed housing info upfront; others share specifics during interviews.
Be sure to ask every employer you’re considering about housing logistics, rules, costs, and what’s included before or during the interview process.
Housing overview:
https://help.coolworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/18921540147867-Employee-Housing-and-Housing-Search-Filter-Options-Explained
All employers include application instructions in the How to Apply section of their listings. Some will link to an external application or ATS; others ask you to email a résumé, and some might ask you to call or send an email introducing yourself and sharing what attracts you to the role they’re hiring for.
CoolWorks does not accept applications directly. You always apply directly to employers, not to CoolWorks.
How to search and apply: https://help.coolworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000461393-Intro-to-CoolWorks-How-to-Search-and-Apply-for-Jobs
It depends on the season:
Summer: Hiring often begins in November, peaks in January–March, and continues into spring.
Fall/Winter: Hiring begins around June–July and continues into fall and winter.
Year-round: Can be posted anytime a position becomes available.
Help Wanted Now!: Immediate or near-term openings.
Seasonal employers also experience attrition throughout their season, so new opportunities appear regularly.
Best time to apply: https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/resources/the-best-time-to-apply/
Most job seekers apply to several employers. Seasonal roles can be competitive, and applying broadly improves your chances of finding the right fit.
Applicant tips: https://help.coolworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/18731275733851-First-Time-Applicant-Tips
Most employers require staff to be 18 or older for safety and liability reasons. A smaller number may hire older teens for select roles. Some jobs that include certain duties, such as serving alcohol, driving, operating equipment, or working in certain states, require higher age minimums.
Always check the employer’s posting or reach out to them directly for specifics on age requirements.
If you’re under 18 and looking for the right opportunity, consider reaching out to summer camps, which often hire teens for counselor-in-training or junior roles. You can also create a saved search for Teen Jobs to be notified when new opportunities are posted.
CoolWorks was created to help U.S.-based employers connect with people living and working in the United States. CoolWorks.com was not designed to be an international recruitment platform, and we do not operate as one.
That said, some employers who use CoolWorks do hire international applicants through programs like J-1 Work & Travel, H-2B, or other visa options, but the vast majority do not.
Check out more information for international applicants: http://help.coolworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003142213-Can-I-work-in-the-United-States-Information-for-International-Applicants
CoolWorks cannot assist job seekers in obtaining work visas, nor can we help employers secure visas for potential hires.
For the best experience, we recommend applying only to employers who clearly indicate that they can hire international applicants. Employers who do not participate in visa programs are simply not able to consider candidates who require sponsorship, and contacting them about these roles creates extra work for their hiring teams.
See any current jobs open to international applicants: https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/international-job-seekers
CoolWorks listings come from real employers, but many opportunities are in remote or rural locations, and we’re not able to visit each site in person. Employers register and are approved online, so it’s important to research any organization you’re considering.
Always ask questions, read details carefully, and be thoughtful about the personal information you share. A good employer will welcome your questions about housing, community, transportation, expectations, and support.
Whenever you accept a job in a remote or unfamiliar place, it’s wise to make sure you have a plan for travel, communication, and how you would leave if the situation doesn’t feel right once you arrive. Most experiences are positive, and being informed and prepared helps you feel confident and safe.
For your first season, you may want to choose a location that’s near a gateway town or community with reliable services, groceries, transportation, and cell coverage. Ultra-remote jobs, like fly-in lodges, backcountry outposts, or properties far from towns, can be incredible experiences, but they’re often easier to navigate after you’ve built some seasonal work experience and know whether that level of isolation fits your comfort and lifestyle.
CoolWorks will never ask you for money to apply. In general, legitimate seasonal employers should not charge upfront fees.
Safety tips and how to spot scams: https://help.coolworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/19001657191643-Job-Seeker-Safety-Tips-How-to-Spot-Scams-and-Bad-Actors
Most employers ask for one. A simple resume highlighting customer service, teamwork, hospitality, or outdoor experience is great. If you don’t have a much work history, that’s ok. Include personal references who can attest to your reliability and character.
Yes, and many do. But housing for couples/pairs is not guaranteed, and employers hire individually. Make sure to mention it early and ask whether they can accommodate couples. Submitting applications can be time-consuming. Job seekers often prefer to call ahead of submitting an application form to ensure that the company provides couples housing and that it is available.
Only occasionally. CoolWorks focuses on in-person, on-location jobs in great places®.
FOR EMPLOYERS
Start by registering for an employer account: https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/employer_signups/new
We review each new company registration for fit and alignment with the CoolWorks niche. It’s best to hold off on drafting any ads until your registration has been approved. We do our best to follow up within 1–2 business days.
Once approved, you can log in to your Employer Dashboard, create job ads, and purchase your preferred advertising products.
Learn more: https://help.coolworks.com/hc/en-us/categories/115000847548-For-Employers
CoolWorks offers several tools to help both seasonal and year-round employers attract the right applicants and manage their hiring process:
- Two Types of Job Ads: Choose between Help Wanted (7 days, multiple positions) or Highlighted Job (30 days, single role) ads depending on your visibility needs.
https://employerhelp.coolworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/19073298128539-Help-Wanted-vs-Highlighted-Job-Which-Type-Should-You-Post - The Enhanced Employer Profile: is a complete hiring solution for general recruiting that helps you fill all your available positions. The Enhanced Profile is a storefront for your company and includes all the info necessary to help you engage and educate job seekers in order to hone in the candidates that are the perfect fit for your operation. It also allows you to advertise all of your available job openings with a self-serve Jobs List that you can update at any time as your hiring needs change.
Discover the Enhanced Profile: https://employerhelp.coolworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/18651968831899-Intro-to-the-Enhanced-Employer-Profile
- Featured Boosts: A 7 Day add-on to a currently running Enhanced Employer Profile, Highlighted Job, or Help Wanted Ad that gives your existing listing a prime spot on the homepage as well as at the top of all applicable categorya and job type pages. A Featured Boost draws extra attention with a photo, your company logo, and promotional copy that displays with your listing. https://employerhelp.coolworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/18650861379611-The-Featured-Boost
The Staffing Center: CoolWorks also offers an online Employment Application and Applicant Tracking System (ATS) designed specifically for seasonal employers. The Staffing Center makes it easy for teams to hire collaboratively from anywhere while staying organized, tracking and engaging with applicants, and streamlining workflows. https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/employers/staffing-center/
Explore real-time examples of each product and learn all the details of pricing and what’s included: https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/post-a-job
Not sure which option is right for you? Check out What Type of Ad Should I Post?
Applicant flow depends on job type, wages, housing availability, location, and season — but the strength and clarity of your advertising matter most.
Job seekers respond best to ads that clearly describe:
Starting wages
Housing details and costs
Travel and transportation logistics
Schedule expectations
Culture, values, and community
A clear, simple “How to Apply”
Seasonal hiring is cyclical and competitive. Posting early — and posting clearly — leads to better results.
Pricing varies. Help Wanted and Highlighted Job Ads, Enhanced Employer Profiles, and Featured Boosts all have different rates. CoolWorks does not offer free postings.
View a complete pricing breakdown: https://help.coolworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000042254-CoolWorks-Product-Primer
Not sure which option is right for you? Check out What Type of Ad Should I Post?
From the Employer Dashboard, you can:
- Pause an active listing
Add or manage photos
Extend listings
View invoices and billing history
- Manage or add new users to the account
Dashboard overview: https://employerhelp.coolworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/18650643883803-The-Employer-Dashboard
Yes. CoolWorks supports an XML feed that auto-updates your Enhanced Employer Profile’s job list at no additional cost.
Just forward the Job List Schema to your ATS provider and reach out to get started. https://wp-solo.coolworks.com/job_list_schema
Often, yes. Housing transparency around cost, logistics, and lodging makeup (even if options are limited) almost always improves applicant flow and quality.
Clear, complete information builds confidence. High-performing employers tend to:
Always provide clarity on wages in their advertising
Explain housing logistics and availability clearly
Include diverse staff-centric photos – the marketing materials that you use for guests typically not on target to repurpose for recruiting
Share company culture and expectations
Post early in their hiring cycle and stay engaged until it’s time for staff to arrive
Keep “How to Apply” instructions simple and easy to act on