Create your own short-term job

Today, at the RV Authors' Co-op booth at the Escapade in Stockton, CA - an educational rally put on by the Escapees RV Club - I got to talking to Jim. He and his wife, Marijke, went to the fairgrounds office here on the grounds to check out employment opportunities. The San Jouquin County Fair will be held in June. They put in applications and were hired for the 10-day run to sell tickets. They will make a little more than minimum wage, which is $7.50/hr in California, plus get a full hookup RV site. Not a bad way to pick up some cash plus get to see the fair too!

Special events often provide short-term job opportunites. Check out events like fairs, races, or convention and civic centers. Work a few days, then move on. What a life! Jaimie

Pictured: ticket booth at entrance to the San Jouquin Fairgrounds. (Photo by George Bruzenak.) For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

How to get started - step five

Apply to many jobs: The more employers you interview the more you’ll learn about Workamping. It is important to ask a lot of questions since your interview is usually by phone and you may have never seen the location.

Ask questions about:

• job duties and compensation
• your RV space
• what’s in the area
• availability of cell and satellite signals
• what perks are available such as free or discounted propane, store discounts or tickets to area attractions.
  

If you only apply to one or two jobs and they don’t work out, you’ll be left with nothing. If you apply to 15-20 jobs, you’ll probably end up with two or more job offers. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

Work in Yosemite National Park

In the travel section of the Sacramento Bee, is a blurb noting that DNC Parks and Resorts, which runs Yosemite's hotels and concessions in the national park, is hiring. They need 1,800 people to fill housekeeping, kitchen and other positions for the summer season. Most of the larger national parks have concessionaires or companies that have a contract to run tourist operations like hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and tourist activities within the park in return for a percentage of sales.

DNC and most other concessionaires have dormitory housing and some RV sites and usually have an inexpensive meal plan. Wages may not be tops but most of your recreation is free. You could be hiking on your days off in Yosemite or the Grand Canyon or Bryce Canyon (pictured) or another gorgeous park.

You may spot an ad for jobs with concessionaires in city newspapers. An even better place to look is in Workamper News, where a number of concessionaires advertise. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

Not a day to be a "sign twirler!"

Catching the buyer's attention- that's what a sign twirler does. Temporary agencies hire people to stand on a corner of an intersection or near a business to keep a sign in motion, thus attracting the eye of potential buyers. While it's probably more of a job for the young, workers on the RV road could pick up some quick cash this way. Agencies for jobs like this pay by the day.

Yesterday we were in the Sacramento area driving to a basketball tournament to watch my grandson play. It was cold, rainy and windy. At the two corners entering a new cookie-cutter subdivision, sign twirlers moved their signs, more from cold than enthusiasm. None of the three were properly dressed for rain. One young fellow huddled and bounced in a drenched sweatshirt. (This photo is from today -no rain, but a very windy day.)

Not my idea of fun on a day like yesterday, though perhaps on a pleasant spring or fall day, getting paid to exercise on a corner could have its appeal! Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

"Roach coaches" - RV entrepreneurs!

Not everyone working on the RV road wants to work as an employee. Some long for the freedom self-employment brings.

A recent story in the Albuquerque Tribune online describes roadside vendors bringing in $100,000 a year. The ones who sell food need a permit from the health department, other vendors only need a business license. Kevin Sewell, co-owner of Full of Bull BBQ & Catering RV housed in a converted Safari motorhome, has dubbed these roadside food vendors "roach coaches."

Get some ideas by reading the full story. Maybe RV entrepreneurship is for you! Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

Two hundred Canadian drivers needed to deliver RVs

U.S. RV Transport, a company based in Wakarusa, Indiana, is seeking 200 Canadian drivers to transport trailers and 5th wheels to Alberta, Canada. The demand for RVs in Canada has increased this year and the company is shipping more RVs to Canada. Rather than have U.S. drivers make the delivery and spend a night in Canada before returning, they want Canadians to do the delivery. The round trip takes 4-5 days. See the article at EdmuntonSun.com for more information.

Craig Chilton's How to Get Paid $50,000 a Year to Travel (by RV) has loads of information for the person interested in making money delivering RVs. It's available at RVBookstore.com. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

How to get started - step four

Find job openings: Besides Workamper News, other sources of potential jobs include Caretaker Gazette and Coolworks.com. Other places to look are:

• Campground directories list potential employers.


• Temporary agencies have all types of work from general to professional.


• Specialized directories can help you find venues like fairs or flea markets to sell products.


• To work in a certain area, check with the Chamber of Commerce or Tourist Bureau for employers.


• RV magazines have want ads in their classified sections.


• Other Workampers are also good sources of job openings.

RV workers are in high demand and there are many openings. You should have no trouble finding a job. In fact, another way to find a job is to stop by and talk to potential employers. When we were working at the Grand Tetons, friends of a volunteer who had worked in Yellowstone more than 20 years before, stopped off and talked to their old employer. They were offered jobs on the spot! This is actually quite common, so don't overlook this method. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

Campbell County, WY has jobs!

The Casper Star Tribune.com recently featured an article titled, "RV Rally isn't much help." Susan Jerke, marketing director for the Campbell County Economic Development Corporation, came all the way to Quartzsite, Arizona during the big RV show in January to recruit RV workers. While disappointed in the results, she feels certain more RVers now are aware of opportunities in this area.

Jerke said local businesses are looking for people with a good work ethic, even if they commit to remain on the job for only a few months, and RVers appear to fill the bill. Housing in Gillette is in short supply, however there will be RV sites available at the fairgrounds. Upcoming projects will require some 2000 workers in 2009.

If you are looking for a temporary job, head to Gillette! Campbell County is one of the featured employers at Workamper.com. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com