Intro to CoolWorks: How to Search and Apply for Jobs

Intro to Using CoolWorks

Applying for a job through CoolWorks.com is a bit different than applying for a job in one’s hometown. Seasonal employers recruit and make the majority of their hiring decisions months in advance of the position’s start date, which generally corresponds with the location’s operating season. Each employer has a unique application process, usually requiring the completion of an online application.  Once the application is submitted there is a wait time – sometimes days or weeks before an applicant may hear anything from an employer. 

Some employers rely completely on the information submitted in the application, including references and former work history, to make a hiring decision. Others will conduct phone interviews and some conduct video interviews over Zoom or other video conferencing platforms. Job offers can come in the form of a phone call, email, or postal mail, and will typically include a start and end date. The hiring paperwork will also give information about the location of the job, where to report for work, and on what date to arrive, along with information about necessary hiring paperwork, uniform/appearance requirements, and suggestions for transportation and packing.  Once the applicant accepts the job offer, there is often some final paperwork to complete, and then the adventure planning begins!

*It's important to note, CoolWorks is not involved in the hiring or application process. As a job seeker, you'll browse and find employers, learn about them, and if you find one you like, you'll follow their application instructions to apply to work there. From that point, all communication will be between you and the employer, and CoolWorks will not have any information on the status of your application.

Browsing and Searching for Jobs

There are a number of ways to browse opportunities and discover exciting job opportunities on CoolWorks. This video provides a brief introduction on how to use CoolWorks to find your next adventure.

Tips on Using the Search Bar

The main search bar on the home page is a great tool for narrowing down your search to a few specific positions or locations. Like any search engine, the "Search Jobs" tool will scan the site for any keywords you enter, and return all results that contain those keywords.

To get the best results, be as specific as possible. For example, if you want to find a job in a restaurant, don't just search for "restaurant". If you do, you'll get results for every page that contains the word "restaurant", which could include listings that say, "We have a restaurant on site" or "The nearest town has 4 restaurants." Those results likely won't be very helpful.

Instead, narrow your search down to the position you're looking for, like "server", "chef", or "bartender." Even better, add a location to really narrow it down, like "chef Montana". By using more specific keywords, you'll narrow down the results that the search engine returns.