Universal Résumé
The Universal Résumé is the tool that has arguably granted me the most freedom, ultimate mobility whether I want to work in a small town on the coast, or take a stay in a big city, and the best part? Chances are you already have one too, or at least the beginning of one.
The Universal Résumé is a key to the world…
What is the universal resume?
What I call The Universal Résumé is a résumé that’s built from jobs that are easy to get and are in industries everywhere, for example, hotels, coffee shops, fast food joints, etc. When you’ve worked a variety of entry level jobs in these universal industries you become a jack of all trades and a very employable candidate.
I got my start working at an ice cream parlor in high school, then at a coffee shop, later as a fast food worker, then a housekeeper, you get the picture. Knowing these entry level trades, is what opened doors for me to work in national parks, and eventually as a hiking guide.
These entry-level jobs come with a lot of grit, grind, and dirty work, but don’t shy away from the experience. Because buried in all that grime is gold. What stands out most to future employers isn’t just the job itself it’s your ability to learn, grow, and rise through it.
Seasonal Work
Seasonal work is one of the best keys to making money on the road, meeting like-minded people, and living in incredible places for next to nothing. If you haven’t already, I recommend reading the section on the Universal Résumé, having that tool in your back pocket makes breaking into seasonal work a lot smoother. But if you don’t have one yet, don’t sweat it. There’s still a path forward.
Seasonal work is the dirtbags greatest hack…
What Is Seasonal Work?
Seasonal work is exactly what it sounds like jobs that follow the rhythm of the seasons. Most often, these align with the rise and fall of tourist traffic. In national parks, the busy season usually means summer. For ski resorts, it’s all about winter.
My first seasonal job was in a small Washington town during the summer. Every day, thousands of tourists rolled in, and the local businesses needed all hands on deck. That’s the pattern: when demand surges with the seasons, so do job openings. You’ll find these opportunities wherever crowds ebb and flow.
Why Work Seasonally?
The biggest draw, and in my opinion, the greatest perk of seasonal work is that it lets you live in bucket-list destinations. My second seasonal job was at a lodge inside Zion National Park. While thousands of tourists passed through each week, I got to wake up and fall asleep in the heart of the canyon. That kind of access doesn’t just scratch the surface, it lets you sink deep into a place, discover the hidden trails, and learn its rhythms like a local.
The beauty of this lifestyle is momentum. Once you land your first seasonal gig, the doors start opening. One job leads to the next. One landscape fades into another. Transitioning from job to job or state to state becomes second nature.
Another major perk? The cost of living drops dramatically. Many seasonal jobs include housing and meals, especially in remote or hard-to-access areas. When I worked in Death Valley, I paid $140 a month for three meals a day and a shared on-site apartment. With no rent, no commute, and nowhere to spend your paycheck but on the next adventure, it’s easy to save money fast.
Even better, your weekend fun is built in. When you live in places like national parks, world-class hiking, climbing, and exploring are right outside your door and free.
The People
But maybe the most valuable part of seasonal work is who you meet along the way. You’ll cross paths with kids who ran away to follow the road less travelled, people rebuilding their lives from the ground up, and road-worn travelers who’ve been on the road longer than you’ve been alive. They’ll offer stories, wisdom, and friendship you won’t find anywhere else.
Seasonal work draws black sheep from every corner of the map. Misfits, dreamers, escape artists, dirtbags, and wild hearts, all showing up to the same place, at the same time. It’s chaos, sure. But it’s also community. And for once, it’s a place where the misfits fit.
How to start working seasonally
Landing Entry-Level Jobs in National Parks
If you’re looking for an easy way into seasonal work in national parks, start by researching the major hospitality companies that operate inside them. In most parks, the lodges and concessions are run by one of three big players: Xanterra, Aramark, or Delaware North. These corporations are almost always hiring for entry-level positions, think housekeeping, dishwashing, or cashiering in the gift shop. The pay usually hovers around minimum wage, but most gigs include housing and meals, which makes them a solid first step into the seasonal life.
It’s not glamorous work. It’s gritty, physical, and corporate. And like any big company, these jobs come with their fair share of red tape and complaints. A quick dive into Reddit will surface plenty of mixed reviews from past employees, some of whom will try to talk you out of it altogether.
But here’s the deal: if you remember why you’re doing it, these jobs are worth it. You’re trading a little sweat and minimum wage for the chance to live inside a national park, surrounded by jaw-dropping landscapes, with a cost of living that’s hard to beat. It’s not about climbing the corporate ladder—it’s about getting your foot in the door of a lifestyle most people only dream about.
The Best Job Board for Seasonal Work
Whether you’re just getting started, have a few seasons under your belt, or you’re trained in a specialty like tour guiding, ski instructing, or rafting, CoolWorks.com is hands down the best resource out there.
CoolWorks offers the widest range of seasonal jobs in the broadest variety of destinations, from national parks and ski resorts to ranches, lodges, and conservation gigs. It’s your go-to tool for finding your next job, or your next adventure, in a new place. If you’re serious about chasing seasonal work, CoolWorks should be your first stop every time.
More To Come…
The Dirtbag Database 