See Europe from a different perspective

Eurocamp has launched its annual search for overseas staff for the 2005 holiday season, offering a host of positions at its 160 parcs across 12 countries and islands in Europe.

Each year hundreds of people work on a Eurocamp parc as a courier - the name Eurocamp gives to its on parc customer service representatives. Being a Eurocamp couriers allows you see a different country from a unique perspective and broaden your horizons, in many cases this turns out to be a life enhancing experience.

Eurocamp currently has four categories of couriers including children’s couriers, who help deliver Eurocamp’s extensive selection of kids’ clubs. Whatever option you choose, you’ll need to derive great satisfaction from helping Eurocamp customers have the best family holiday possible.

Many of our overseas staff see the experience of working on a Eurocamp parc as the ideal way to develop their language skills and build up work experience to put on their CV. In fact, Richard Atkinson, the current chief executive of Holidaybreak plc - Eurocamp’s parent company - spent several summers working for Eurocamp after graduating from a social sciences degree in 1974, proof that being a Eurocamp courier really can boost your career prospects.

Richard said: I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so I worked in rural France during the grape harvest in the summer and decided to return to the country the following year as a courier with Eurocamp. So impressed with the company, Richard accepted a role as overseas supervisor and didn’t look back.

Belfast student Sean McAdams (20), who is studying for a diploma in Travel and Tourism Management at the Belfast Institute, opted to be an activity courier. He thinks it increased his employability. I think students realise that a degree or FE qualification doesn’t guarantee a job on graduation, he explains, and so we have to find ways to get ahead. I decided to get a summer job that would offer hands on industry experience, and I was also really keen to go abroad to develop my languages. Eurocamp offered a wide choice of countries and jobs to match the type of experience I wanted.

HND Travel and Tourism Management student Hayley McGargill (21) of Newcastle became a Eurocamp courier through a placement. As part of our course, we were encouraged to undertake a work placement and I feel that my experience as a courier was by far one of the best things to do. Not only did it take me to the Vendee in France, I realised what hard work the industry is.

Deborah Beckett, managing director of Eurocamp, said: We receive so many letters each year from past couriers who have gone into full time employment, thanking us for the experience. They firmly believe that not only does it provide them with a head start on their CV, but that when they are in an interview and talk about what they have been involved in employers are really impressed with their knowledge and conviction.

As employers in the industry, we always look out for any hands on industry experience and people who realise the importance of dealing with customers - that’s perhaps why so many of Eurocamp employees started their career on parc.

Whilst Eurocamp does have excellent links with universities and colleges helping students take a ’year out in industry’, the Eurocamp on parc experience is not just for younger people. Eurocamp has a number of vacancies for mature couriers. These couriers normally manage a smaller parc on their own, providing a high standard of service that comes with personal practical experience of travelling and camping in Europe.

Eurocamp overseas staff should be over 18 years old, have a passion for customer service with a working knowledge of a major European language being an advantage. Positions are available for full season, early May to 15th September, or half season. In return Eurocamp offers a competitive salary, full training, free on parc accommodation, uniform, medical insurance and return travel to your parc of work.

For further information or to request an application form call Eurocamp on 01606 787522 or logo onto www.holidaybreakjobs.com