What nobody told me about working in the outdoor industry - real advice for guides and instructors
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- Many dream of a career in outdoor sports or outdoor travel. Whether that's being an instructor in an outdoor center, a mountain guide, a bike guide, a kayak or canoe guide... we have a lot of things in common. Yet it's surprisingly difficult to get no nonsense answers to questions like "Are qualifications actually worth investing in?", "What about insurance", "How much should I earn?", "What are some of the + and - sides of actually working in the industry full time?"
After being in the industry for about a decade. I've experienced many facets in many countries. Starting out as a volunteer leader, progressing to guiding as an employee, contracting as a freelancer and eventually designing trips while employing others.
In this video I hope to provide some real life no nonsense advice and numbers for those interested in building a career in the outdoor (travel) industry.
Here's what nobody told me. I hope it helps someone!
💪Want to thank me? Feel free to buy me a coffee! ☕
www.buymeacoff...
Dieter Van Holder - 2020
UIMLA International Mountain Leader
UIAA Instructor Mountain Walking & Trekking
UIAA Instructor Winter Mountain Walking & Snowshoeing
AIMG Jökla II - AIMG Fjalla I
NOLS Wilderness First Responder
That is an hour well spent for anyone thinking of a career in the outdoors and even those who are seasoned pros alike, top job! A lot of things that need saying in there.
Incredible video. So much detailed information in just an hour. You make me motivated to start a career outdoors which I’ve always wanted to do but never thought I could. Thank you!
I will start soon to be a guide in Iceland, your video was amazing, thank you for all this amazing information and insights. I thought this video was more like an advice from a friend.
I listened all the way through. I enjoyed this and I'm very grateful for you taking the time to share it with us. I am constantly thinking about leaving the industry. I worry I'll always be fighting an uphill battle for living wage, worry I won't be able to own a home and share a life with family. listening to your confidence in our trade, in our profession was a great little motivation for me. Thankyou
I love the passion that drives so many in the industry and I am certain that you are no different. I feel your struggle and am glad to hear I could offer some support. We should all support each other more often. 💪🏻
Thank you so much for this video. I have just realized why is it I'm being drawn to this job so much.
Thanks for the ramble, the positive notes and the insights. I'm transitioning between my previous life as an employee earning a salary to becoming my own boss and starting my own business in this outdoor industry. Like you say it's hard to earn a steady income. It's even harder if you've got kids and a mortgage to pay. But it's a risk I'm willing to wage. Guiding groups, working with all kinds of people and teaching outdoor skills is really what makes me tick and gives me energy. A classic 9 to 5 job with just 20 days of leave per year is soul crushing in my eyes...
Keep at it! It's certainly possible, just not easy. As long as you can pay the bills and as long as it feels true to yourself it's worth it! 🤦🏻
It was really interesting, I just got to the end of it and it was thought provoking and insightful.
Great video thanks for making it. Time stamps would be very helpful.
Thanks. I'll get on timestamps soon, you are right.
Did the video give you any new perspective or confirmation? What's your position to working in outdoor sports?
@@DieterVanHolder yeah it did, more so an entire overview of the industry.
I currently work in recruitment. It’s great money but lacking fulfilment. I just love being outdoors, hiking and wild swimming. I also love my fashion. So I was watching to see if I could get an idea of how I would approach working with outdoor gear and getting paid for it. (Love the arc hat) I have a few ideas but I want to avoid social media. That’s seems to be key these days, as if you have an online presence then the brands will be more receptive to working with you.
Bit of thinking to do.
@@Ellisidise in your case I would encourage you to give it a few goes with occasional trips. You can combine both careers for a while as you streamline and find your feet. Feel free to reach out if you want a soundboard.
@@DieterVanHolder thank you! When you say try it out with occasional trips, what would the trip entail? If you are going for the element of outdoor clothing? I was thinking of heading to trade shows to get chatting to brands that way.
Really appreciate the offer!
@@Ellisidise yes trade shows would be a good way to connect with brands. Of you deliver high quality photography or video they might be willing to give you items on loan at first. I have multiple experiences working with outdoor gear brands. Some are really nice and supportive and let you use and show their products in a natural way. Others just talk big talk (mainly through spreadsheets) and just want you to do product placement using their marketing lingo. It's a mixed bag.
Thanks so much for this video! I'm really struggling to find out about how to get the work permit for Pyrenees (Spain and Andorra). Any ideas? We've gone into the IML scheme through BAIML (we are not British ourselves) and thanks to Brexit it seems that the paperwork to get work permits for France and Italy is near impossible as of now. In general the paperwork ahead seems like a proper headache - maybe you could make an instructional video for that :P
For the Spanish side, you don't really need something extra. For France, you will need the Carte Pro.
I know some people blame BAIML. But BAIML is not responsible for Brexit, nor the French tendency to try to block foreigners from working in their mountains. BAIML delivers the UIMLA standard just like the other UIMLA member countries. But the fact that the French are giving the British qual a hard time. Means they are not following the UIMLA agreements. To know what they would need to get you the carte pro, would probably be to write your case to the French ministry of sports. Because that's what you are in their eyes. An educateur sportif.
Fortunately I have my carte pro. But it also took a year to get it even after handing in all my UIMLA paperwork + a bunch of other foreign diplomas.
* Slow clap for Brexit and slow clap for the xenophobic French * unfortunately. It seems like in their mind, "Europe" is anything within their metropole.
@@DieterVanHolder oh, I absolutely do not blame BAIML, all I mean is that it makes stuff hard not only for the Brits themselves and for others following that scheme despite the EU citizenship. I hope the situation improves 🙏🏼
So for Spain & Andorra you just show up with your qualifications and you're good to go? You do not need to register your working there?
@@ramblingowls in don't know about Andorra. But for Spain walking is pretty much free for all and your UIMLA member card should suffice. But make sure to verify this. Rules change. :) Are you living there?
@@DieterVanHolder nah, but hope to spend more time there in the upcoming years as it's our favourite range in Europe🖤 this year the goal is to finish the IML in early March and then enter the bureaucratic obstacle course of getting work permits...but I guess only Switzerland is a hope for now so, yeah. Maybe focusing on Spain is the best option for now then?🫠🫠 If you're looking for IML's around there then let us know ☺️