Work Camping Questions to Ask During Phone Interviews

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Being non-retired folks seeking to traverse the countryside in our motorhome, my husband, Levi, and I knew that we would need to continue bringing in money one way or another to make ends meet. One surefire way we found to keep the money flowing was through work camping experiences. Work camping is a form of employment specific to singles, couples, or families living and traveling in an RV for an extended amount of time. There are a number of organizations that assist RVers in this employment process to include www.workamper.comwww.coolworks.com/jobs-with-rv-spaces, and http://www.work-for-rvers-and-campers.com/. Job listings range from volunteer positions that include free sites and hook-ups to salaried positions including health insurance and additional compensations.

Work camping positions can be at various locations including campgrounds, farms/ranches, national parks, warehouses, lighthouses, marinas, and hotels/resorts. Duties can vary as well. Some are clerical work, outside maintenance, ranch hand, cook, activities organizer, packer/shipper, guide, retail/salesperson, wait staff, or shift manager. The possibilities are endless, but all possess skills involving some degree of customer service and collaboration with co-workers.

As part of the hiring process, many employers opt to phone potential employees, knowing that they will be miles away exploring the countryside. These phone interviews are crucial, not only for the employer attempting to find the right individual for the job, but for the applicant searching for the right mixture of preferred job benefits, location, and responsibilities. Every RVer has their own agenda when traveling and exploring the country, so what may be important to one is of little concern to another. Some full time RVers do not have financial concerns and have income streaming in regularly. Volunteer positions seem more appealing to them. Others are sun-seekers looking for jobs in warm climates. RVers like us may be after jobs that offer full hookups with all or the majority of hours paid.

Because every RVer has their own expectations when they choose to work camp, it is vital that they get all the information they can before agreeing to a job offer. Over the course of several phone interviews, we were able to develop a list of questions to help determine if a job was the right match to our wants and needs. Although some of these questions may not be pertinent to you, a fellow full-time or seasonal RVer, it may help in the development of your own list of questions. If any answers to our questions were mentioned in the company’s job description/post, we still asked them (i.e., job description, use of an RV site) just to verify that information was still relevant.

  1. What are the responsibilities associated with the position(s)?
  2. How are we compensated for hours worked? Full hookup (FHU) site? Payment for hours worked?
  3. Are there a certain amount of hours needed to work for the site? If so, how many?
  4. What is included in the RV site? Water? Sewage? Electricity (specify amps available)? Cable? Wifi?
  5. If electricity is provided, is this unlimited usage or is there an allowance allotted for the site a month? What is this allowance?
  6. How many days a week will each person be working? Are we working the same days/hours? Are we off the same days?
  7. How many hours does one typically work a week? What is the rate of pay per hour?
  8. Is there opportunity to work overtime? What is the rate of pay for this?
  9. Is a laundry allowance given? What is this amount?
  10. If propane or store bought items are sold by the company, is a discount offered for employees?
  11. For income tax purposes, are we considered employees of the company or independent contractors? Is the RV site taxed?
  12. For office work including online programs, what type of software does your company use? Is there an opportunity to preview a demo of this program or attend a training either before or upon arrival of the job position?
  13. What is the dress code? Is a uniform provided?
  14. What would be the best ways for us to prepare for the weather in that region of the country that time of year? What should we be aware of or bring to help acclimate to the environment? (This can encompass proper clothing for weather changes, insect/bug exposure, and RV preparation, to name a few adjustments.)
  15. Since we are traveling with our pooch and cats, we always make sure they are welcomed and ask about the company rules regarding pets in the campground (i.e., leash length, access to dog run, cleaning up after pets, regulations of breed, weight, or number of pets).
  16. What is the preferred arrival date? How soon can we arrive to the site? Do we pay for the RV site if we show up before the contracted date?
  17. Typically our last question is asking about the next steps in the hiring process. Some employers have asked for letters of recommendation on top of our resumes or phoned our references after the interview. If we are offered a position we ask to sign a contract stipulating the job duties and compensation as agreed upon during the interview.

There are many things to consider when applying for a work camping position. The most important part of the whole process, I believe, is obtaining as much information as you can to make a calculated decision on if the gig is right for you and your traveling partner(s) based on your expectations.

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