For many hospitality professionals, seasonal work is much more than a temporary job. It can be a way to travel, gain international experience, improve language skills, meet people from different cultures and build a career across Europe. The key is knowing how to use each season as a stepping stone towards the next opportunity.

If you are currently working in a summer resort in Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Portugal or another popular holiday destination, the end of the summer season does not necessarily mean the end of your employment for the year. While summer destinations begin to slow down, another part of Europe is preparing for its busiest period: the Alps.

Austria, Switzerland and Germany become major hospitality destinations during the winter months. Hotels, mountain resorts, restaurants and ski resorts need experienced professionals to welcome guests, provide high-quality service and support daily operations throughout the winter season.

This creates an interesting opportunity for hospitality professionals who want to work continuously throughout the year. Instead of returning home after the summer, you can follow the seasons and move to a winter destination for your next contract.

Seasonal Work Can Become a Career Strategy

Seasonal employment is sometimes viewed as something temporary or uncertain. However, when planned carefully, it can become a very effective career strategy.

Imagine starting the year working in a busy hotel in Mallorca. You gain experience with international guests, improve your communication skills and develop your ability to work under pressure. When the summer season ends, instead of taking several months away from hospitality, you move to Austria and spend the winter working in a ski resort.

When spring arrives, you can begin looking for another summer opportunity.

Over time, this creates a continuous professional journey:

Summer season → Winter season → Summer season → Winter season

Every new contract can add another destination, another hotel, another set of responsibilities and another valuable experience to your CV.

This approach can be particularly attractive for professionals who enjoy travelling and working internationally but also want to build a strong and consistent career in hospitality.

Your Summer Experience Is Valuable for Winter Employers

A busy summer resort can prepare you extremely well for a winter hospitality position.

During the summer season, employees often work with large numbers of international guests and have to maintain high service standards during busy periods. You learn how to manage multiple requests, communicate clearly, solve problems quickly and cooperate with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds.

These skills are highly transferable.

A waiter who has spent a summer serving guests in a busy Mediterranean resort may already have many of the skills required for a Chef de Rang position in Austria. A Chef de Partie who has worked in a high-volume hotel kitchen may be well prepared for a winter position in a mountain resort. Similarly, receptionists, guest relations employees and other hotel professionals can transfer their experience between destinations and seasons.

Your previous seasonal experience also shows potential employers that you are comfortable with the realities of seasonal hospitality. You already understand that the work can be intensive, that guest expectations are high and that teamwork is essential.

Moving from Summer to Winter Can Help You Build a Stronger CV

One of the biggest advantages of working across different seasons is the professional variety it can bring.

You may have the opportunity to work in different hotel categories, learn different service standards and work with different types of guests. You may also have the chance to take on more responsibility with each new contract.

For example, someone who starts as a Commis de Rang can use their first season to develop their service skills and then apply for Chef de Rang positions during the following winter season. A kitchen assistant may gain enough experience during several seasons to progress towards a Commis Chef or Chef de Partie position.

This progression is important because employers are not only interested in how many years you have worked. They also want to see what you have learned and how your responsibilities have developed.

When updating your CV, think about the story your experience tells. If every season shows new responsibilities, different environments or greater independence, your seasonal work demonstrates professional growth rather than simply a series of temporary jobs.

German Can Open More Doors in the Winter Market

For hospitality professionals considering Austria, Germany or Switzerland, language skills can make a significant difference.

English is important in international hospitality, but German is particularly valuable in the DACH market. Depending on the position and employer, candidates may be expected to communicate with guests and colleagues in German at different levels.

For some entry-level or back-of-house positions, basic German may be sufficient. Guest-facing positions such as Chef de Rang, reception or guest relations may require stronger communication skills, often around B1 or B2.

The good news is that language skills can improve significantly through immersion. Working in an international environment and communicating with guests and colleagues every day gives you an opportunity to practise naturally.

If you are planning to move from a summer destination to the Alps, the months before your winter contract can be a great time to improve your German and make yourself more competitive.

Start Looking for Your Winter Job Before Summer Ends

One of the most common mistakes seasonal workers make is waiting until their current contract has finished before thinking about the next one.

If your summer contract ends in October, starting your winter job search in November may limit your options. Many hotels begin their winter recruitment earlier, particularly for experienced and German-speaking professionals.

It is therefore worth starting the process while you are still working.

Update your CV, make sure your recent experience is included and clearly indicate when you will be available. If you have received positive feedback from your current employer, consider asking for a reference. Think about which countries and positions interest you and what type of accommodation or working conditions you expect.

Starting early also gives you time to compare opportunities instead of accepting the first available position.

Choose Your Next Season Based on Your Career Goals

Not every seasonal job needs to be chosen simply because it is available.

Before accepting your next contract, ask yourself what you want to gain from it.

Perhaps you want to improve your German. Maybe you want to work in a 4- or 5-star hotel, gain experience in a larger team or move into a position with more responsibility. You may want to develop your service skills, gain experience in a particular type of cuisine or learn how an international hotel operates.

Your next season should ideally help you move forward.

For example, if you have already completed several seasons as a waiter, the winter could be an opportunity to target Chef de Rang positions. If you have experience in a busy kitchen, you might look for a Chef de Partie role. If you have developed strong guest relations skills, you could consider reception or other guest-facing positions.

Thinking about your next step in this way can help you turn seasonal employment into a long-term career path.

Build Relationships During Every Season

Hospitality is a people-focused industry, and professional relationships can be just as valuable as the experience you gain.

Every season gives you the opportunity to meet managers, supervisors, colleagues, hotel representatives and other professionals working in the industry. A good relationship with a manager can lead to a reference, a recommendation or even another job in the future.

Your network can also help you discover opportunities that are not always advertised publicly.

Try to leave every workplace on good terms, maintain contact with people you worked with and keep track of the hotels, resorts and companies where you gained experience. Your professional network can grow significantly after several seasons abroad.

Seasonal Hospitality Can Give You More Than Work Experience

There is also a personal side to working across different seasons.

Moving between countries requires independence and adaptability. You learn how to settle into new environments, communicate with people from different backgrounds and handle unexpected situations.

You may become more confident, improve your language skills and develop a better understanding of different cultures and ways of working.

For many hospitality professionals, this is one of the most rewarding aspects of seasonal employment. You are not simply moving from one job to another. You are building international experience and developing skills that can remain valuable throughout your career.

Plan Your Year Around the Hospitality Seasons

If you enjoy seasonal work, there is no reason why your career has to stop when one season ends.

A summer position in Greece, Spain, Cyprus or Portugal can be followed by a winter position in Austria, Switzerland or Germany. The following year, you can return to a summer destination with more experience, stronger language skills and a better position.

Over time, this can create a career that combines professional development with international mobility.

The most important thing is to plan ahead. Know when your current contract ends, understand when recruitment for the next season begins and start preparing your application early.

Your CV should show your development, your language skills should continue to improve and every new position should ideally add something valuable to your professional profile.

Your Summer Season Could Be the Start of Your Next Opportunity

Seasonal hospitality does not have to mean constantly starting from zero. With the right approach, each contract can become part of a bigger professional journey.

If you are currently working in a summer resort, now is a good time to start thinking about what comes next.

The winter season in Austria, Switzerland and Germany offers opportunities for hospitality professionals who are ready to take on a new challenge, work in an international environment and continue developing their careers.

At Talent Odyssey, we connect hospitality professionals with seasonal opportunities across Europe and support candidates throughout the recruitment process.

For the 2026/27 winter season, we are currently recruiting for positions including Chef de Partie, Chef de Rang, Commis de Rang, Kitchen Assistant and other hospitality roles in Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

Your summer season does not have to be the end of your journey.

It can be the next step in your career.

If you are ready for your next seasonal opportunity, send us your CV and let’s plan your next move together.