The second guest blog post in our series on workamping, comes from Annie who writes for the Tin Can Traveler Blog, which chronicles her adventures traveling and workamping throughout the United States in a Winnebago. Since she's had lots of workamping experience, she has a lot of good advice about how to handle the workamping interviews:
When you're new to the workamper lifestyle, it can seem quite easy to interview for a job. After all, you're usually interviewing via telephone and the potential employer has already seen your online resume. Since it's a “sight unseen” situation, you have to rely on your own ability to ask the right questions. There are, of course, the basic questions to ask:
- What are the job duties?
- What are the hours of work?
- What is the length of the job commitment?
- What are the benefits? Wages? Full hook-up? Other incidentals like laundry, store discount, propane?
- What is the clothing requirement?
Those were the only questions I'd ask when I first started living in an RV and traveling to various states to work. After four years and over ten workamper jobs, I can definitely say that there are some very important questions to add to that list. Especially if you want to have a wonderful and rewarding experience, as well as, making a living on the road: workamper style!
Here are a few of those “important” questions. They're in no particular order. Some may be more significant to you than others:
- Will there be a change in my job duties at any time?
- Are there different work shifts? Will my hours vary? Is there any overtime?
- Will I have at least two consecutive days off a week?
- Do you have any other workampers or employees working for you? If yes, how many?
- How many miles to the nearest town, stores, library, places of interest? (this will vary according to your own interests)
- Who will be my supervisor? Will I be answering to more than one person?
- Where will my RV site be located?
- Does full hook-up mean electric, water and sewer?
- Is there WiFi and/or cable included?
- How often will I receive my wages and in what manner: business check, direct deposit, personal check?
At this point, you might be thinking: why ask any of these questions? My “hindsight's 20/20” answer is this: the more you ask, the more you know. And, the less chance you'll have of being surprised or disheartened once you arrive at your new job.
May all your workamper experiences be happy and memorable!
Joy! Annie
(aka Tin Can Traveler)
About the Author
Annie's home is a Winnebago, hence her nickname: Tin Can Traveler. She's been crisscrossing the country and working in various states since 2007. Her blog addresses how it all started, her travels, workamping jobs she's had and how she found them, as well as topics of interest to people who live in RVs and people who dream about living in RVs.
