Silver Swan is a bespoke recruitment agency specialising in chalet, villa and yacht staff. We offer a personal yet professional service, with the recruitment process tailored to suit your individual needs.

The 'Silver Swan Blog' has been designed for your enjoyment, here you can keep up to date with Silver Swan vacancies, places we have visited, testimonials, tips on how to improve your CV and interview techniques, interesting articles to read, recruitment fairs, hospitality and catering, pictures to make your mouth water, menu's produced by our Michelin standard chef's, videos and much more.

Feel free to contact us anyday, anytime and a consultant will be available to take your call.
t: +44 208 244 4707
m: +44 7595 526 73 7
e: enquiries@silverswanrecruitment.com

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Marrying a Chef?

If you have worked in a chalet during a ski season before I am sure you have been on the end of a chefs bad day, being screamed at for the simplest things, not describing his 'jus' in the correct way, being in 'his' kitchen when you shouldn't be and just generally doing everything possibly wrong!

But then on his good days, he will cook you the most amazing food, have a giggle and laugh with you and be quite a pleasant human.

Silver Swan read 'Marrying a Chef'' by blogger 'Chef and Steward' and wanted to share it with you.
It all makes perfect sense to us. . . . here 'chef' blogger is writing about all the things 'wife' will go through in their wedded relationship:

  1. You will be alone most of the time.
  2. You have got to have your own life. Having your own identity is essential in every relationship but being independent is even more critical when you are married to a person who you will hardly ever see.
  3. If you cannot approach the holidays, Valentines and special occasions like a single person, look the other way. Special occasions are when chefs work. You will stand alone under the mistletoe and New Year’s Eve will find you alone.  Guaranteed.
  4. There is nothing glamourous about being a working restaurant chef. Forget what you see on TV, real chefs have long, tough hours day in and day out and come home smelling from anything from smoke, to onions to fish.
  5. Most chefs have no desire to cook at home. Just think of the prostitute who is expected to put out after a hard days work.
  6. We talk about amuse bouche in our sleep. Or waiters picking up the orders, or new menus or just food.
  7. We work long hours everyday. This is not an occasional late night in the office. This is  daily hard, rough and tough back-breaking hours that would make cowards cry.
  8. It takes a long time in the trenches and most chefs never get to seniority. If you are looking for fame, marry an already famous movie star or go on Jerry Springer. If you  are looking to get rich quick, join a Ponzi scheme.
  9. We really don’t feel like talking about “feelings” when we get home 2:00a.m. and we will try as best as possible, but sometimes, we will just start snoring.
  10. You have to learn when to talk like a short order cook because we will not have leisure time to just talk. Think of telegrams of the old says. Say it quick and short and make every word count.
  11. Do not call us in service unless it is important. No we cannot just disappear from the kitchen during service to talk for 10 minutes.
  12. You will eat dinner alone at least 5x per week. And breakfast.
  13. You will be criticized for your cooking as if you were a rookie apprentice commis chef. We just can’t help it sometimes.
  14. We love when you cook for us. Just don’t bother during work days because we are too tired most times.
  15. If you are going to cook something, call us or SMS us and let us know. That way, we will not eat staff dinner.
  16. We are passionate.  We can’t help it. Passion is the blood than runs through our veins. This is not a job for the feint-hearted and passionless… it is for the one who truly loves his/her craft and lives and breathes for it (and even dreams about it see #6  )
  17. For the same reason, we marry for love. However, if your dowry includes the cash to open our own restaurant, that wouldn’t hurt either. Just saying.
  18. Our marriages are hard, and some don’t make it, but they are important to us.
  19. When we are off work, we are often just tired, sleep  all day  or watch TV and get grumpy. Just ignore us. No joke. We really wish you would. Life is just better that way.
  20. Do not get in our way in the weeks leading up to a new menu or months leading up a restaurant or hotel opening. Really bad idea.
  21. You will have to handle most of the housekeeping matters.  Refer to #7 and #19.
  22. We are romantics. There goes that passion again. We will surprise you just when you least expect it.
  23. Chefs support each other, and good chefs get treated well by wait staff.  That means that every time we dine together, you will be treated like royalty. Enjoy the perks. You deserve it.
  24. When we cook for you at home, you will fall in love all over again.  Just like you did the first time. Exceptions made in #27.
  25. We tend to be a little cocky.  It comes with the territory. Even females chefs. Female chefs kick ass!
  26. You should love food. If we live and breathe it and you cannot stand it, there will eventually be a  legal paper filed at some point due to “irreconcilable differences.”
  27. You have to have a sense of adventure. You will be our guinea pig. We may work on a recipe repeatedly from home until we get it right. We may make things you do not like in the process. It comes with the territory.
  28. As a result of our own strife for perfection, we will always be telling you how you can improve your recipes. Grow a tough skin or just put us in our place. Or blog complaining about it like my wife did.
  29. If you think that your life will consist of restaurant food daily, think again. When we are at home, we want good home-cooked food.
  30. If we do the grocery shopping, expect the bill to be much higher than if you did it alone. Yes we must buy that expensive carton of French cream and no, we cannot substitute.  That applies for every basic ingredient. Forget about home economics, we are expressing our love.
  31. You will eat some of your richest, most delicious meals at home when we actually do some grocery shopping and cook at home  (not often) that will make you forget about the price of the cream.
  32. You are likely a great person and bring balance and stability to our lives. We have seen something in you worth keeping.  If you have never worked in the food and beverage industry or hospitality, do some research and find out from other people what to expect.  If you can handle it, we promise you the ride of your life!  I really hope you still marry that man- he certainly needs a good woman!

If you are in a relationship with a chef AND work together (very brave) then Silver Swan could have some great opportunities for you, we are always on the look out for chef/ host, chef/ manager couples. 
Still looking for season work? Check out Silver Swans latest vacancies page or get in touch with us at enquiries@silverswanrecruitment.com

Image taken from Pinterest.
Information taken from Chef and Steward


Monday 25 November 2013

Job of the week . . . .

Still looking for season work? Just because the snow is falling and some chalet companies are in the middle or training, don't think it is too late to jump on a plane and find your dream job.

Silver Swan still have plenty of vacancies for the right candidates.  . . .

This week's job of the week is: Head of Childcare in Sainte Foy. 



What an incredible opportunity right? Head up a team on nannies whilst being entwined in a winter wonderland.

First things first, what experience do you need to have? The ideal candidate should have previous experience in childcare and staff management, you will be responsible for the day to day running of the crèche and the management of x4 other nannies. You will also need to have a CRB certificate and be trained in First Aid.

Working as part of a team is a key attribute to this role.

Role responsibilities:

-  Deliver professional childcare services to all booked guests

-  Ensure children’s developmental, physical and emotional needs are met through age and stage appropriate play and activities, according to the weather giving the children an appropriate balance of indoor and outdoor activities

 -  With the Staff Chef provide adequate nutritional meals, drinks and snacks for the children in your care, with consideration to special dietary requirements

 -  Ensure the crèche is opened and closed at the agreed times as instructed by the Resort Manager

Direct Guest Services Performed:

-  Co-ordinated by the Chalet Managers, take part in the pre-holiday telephone call to the guests one week prior to their visit

  -  Read through guest childcare forms and ensure that any outstanding queries with regard to care arrangements are raised so you are able and informed to carry out your childcare duties.
                        
-  Attend Guest Briefing Sessions, as required, on the guests’ first night of stay to discuss their stated childcare arrangement requirements and clarify any queries with regard to the care and dietary requirements

What would your typical day be?

 -  Provide childcare between hours agreed with guest parents, but usually between 8:00am and 6:00pm


 Deliver and collect children from ski lessons at the appropriate times, as required by the parents
-  For younger children on the nursery slopes or other accessible areas, discreetly monitor the children during initial ski lessons to ensure their welfare and enjoyment
 -  Deliver and collect children from agreed meeting points in the resort, as required by the parents
-  Co-ordinated with the Staff Chef, provide lunch (at 12:30)
 -  Hand over children to parents between 5:00pm and 5:30pm during afternoon tea
-  According to rota, supervise an early evening DVD session from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
-  Co-ordinate and take part in a weekly afternoon event for children, such as sledging races
-  When possible, take photographs of children in care to be distributed to parents with certificates on the final evening of their holiday
 -  Co-ordinate and provide evening babysitting as agreed with parents at the agreed hourly rate ensuring you have planned and discussed evening activities and bedtimes
 -  Adapt to other childcare requests as appropriate

SO do you have what it takes to be head of childcare? Are you motivated and enthusiastic? Looking for a new challenge or change of scenery this winter? For more information on this role click here or e mail enquiries@silverswanrecruitment.com
If this role isn't for you but you are interested in seasonal work then check out our other vacancies here
Looking for staff? Click here for more information on how Silver Swan can help you. 
Written by Silver Swan Blogger Holly McQueen @ www.mcqueenslifeadventures.com 



Friday 22 November 2013

#ThoughtForTheWeekend

Its Christmas Jumper Day on the 13th December!!

We all love a good Christmas Jumper and this year money is being raised for 'Save the Children' a good cause if you ask us.

SO - Silver Swan are thinking we can set a trend, we want you to Tweet or Facebook your selfie's in your Christmas Jumper (or why not jazz it up and don a onsie?)

Lets try and get the most selfies of Christmas Jumpers on the slopes and in resort this year and use #xmasjumperonthepiste as your hashtag - lets make a difference to these children's lives and have fun at  the same time.

Follow this link to donate £1 to 'Save the Children' when you wear your 'woolly' on the 13th.




Our 24 hour trip to Switzerland

Silver Swan Blogger Holly McQueen had a flying visit to Switzerland yesterday, unfortunately she was only there for 24 hours and didn't have chance to get her ski's out BUT she did encounter her first snow flakes of the season AND managed to get these lovely wintery snaps of Lake Annecy, Lake Lausanne and travels through Switzerland to Fribourg.

Who is loving all the snowy updates . . . . Silver Swan would love to receive your pictures of the snowy wonderland that is currently France and Switzerland.







If we are getting you in the mood for this season and are yet to secure your placement we may just have something which fits your requirements - it is never too late to apply!! Visit our current vacancies page here or e mail enquirires@silverswanrecruitment.com for more information. 

If you are looking for staff to complete your team or have had any last minute drop outs, Silver Swan can help, visit our website for more information here.  

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Whose in Courchevel this weekend?

Most seasonnaires are no doubt in the middle of training at the moment, or perhaps, being placed in your resort and chalet.

The question is . . . . how many of you will be in Courchevel this weekend?

Courchevel as a resort is not meant to open until the 7th December, that's 10 days away, however, the Saulire and Verdons lift will be running this Saturday so those of you itching to get out on the piste can have your kicks. 

Lifts opening so early is a first for Courchevel, in celebration, Saturday will be FREE to all guests along with parking!!!



What better excuse to go for a morning Saturday ski!!! We are so very jealous here at Silver Swan!! Please do send in all your pictures though, enquiries@silverswanrecruitment.com

And further good news . . . . the snow is forecast to stay!! This could be a record ski season - yet again!!! Proving France as the most popular ski destination in the world.



If you are yet to secure your season work of know of someone that is (we are still offering 'recommend a friend' and receive a bottle of fizz) then get in touch with Silver Swan for more information on our current vacancies, available here or e mail enquiries@silverswanrecruitment.com 

Written by Silver Swan Blogger Holly McQueen @ www.mcqueenslifeadventures.com

(images taken from Courchevelguide.co.uk)

Monday 18 November 2013

Job of the week. . .

Yes, its that time of the week again and this week we have positions for four high quality chefs in Meribel, Val d'Isere and Les Gets for one of the best ski companies in the French Alps.

Are you a chef looking to work in one of the most luxurious chalets in the Alps? Be able to design menu's around your clients requirements? Stick to a budget? Create a 7 course tasting menu or be happy enough to sit down with the kids and make a pizza? Build relationships with the local fish and meat suppliers?

You will be required to work 6 days a week producing breakfast, afternoon tea, canapés and evening meal.
Your food should be to a Michelin standard and you should take pride in your work.

Working as part of a team is crucial as you will be spending a lot of time with your colleagues.




Interested? Read on for more information . . .

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
  • tailored menu designing and planning for each group of guests
  • preparation and service of breakfast, afternoon tea, canapés, five course evening meal, ski room snacks, pre-dinner nibbles and after dinner petit fours
  • catering for all guests special dietary requirements
  • catering for all requests for special occasions
  • catering for children and nannies (including early lunches and dinners when required)
  • maintaining food hygiene, general health & safety standards in the kitchen and dining areas
  • keeping the kitchen clean, tidy and presentable at all times
  • assisting with the management of chalet food budgets
  • assisting with the maintenance of all kitchen facilities and equipment
  • planning and preparation of 2 x staff meals PER DAY
  • assisting with FOH duties when required
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
This role would suit individuals with the following skill set:
  • recognised catering qualification or extensive experience
  • previous 5* catering experience is essential. Chalet catering experience is desirable.
  • good interpersonal skills
  • excellent time management and organisational skills
  • conversation French is desirable
  • previous experience catering for Russian/French clientele
  • full UK clean driving license is desirable
If this job fits your skills then please get in touch with Silver Swan Recruitment at enquiries@silverswanrecruitment.com

If this job doesn't fit your skills but you know someone who will be right for the job then please recommend a friend - remember that this week, any recommendation successfully placed with receive a bottle of fizz - what better incentive than to spread the word #JobOfTheWeek!!!




Written by Silver Swan Blogger Holly McQueen @ www.mcqueenslifeadventures.com



Friday 15 November 2013

Val Thorens Snow Park 2014

Are you looking for your next thrill? Perhaps you are doing a season in Val Thorens this year and want something new and exciting to recommend to your guests . . .

Val Thorens Snow Park is opening in a few weeks and with the amount of snow out there we are sure it will be a huge success.

The Snow Park is one of the bigger parks in Europe and opens on the 23rd November 2014. 

If you have plans to visit we would love to hear your thoughts and any pictures make sure to send through to enquiries@silverswanrecruitment.com 


(video taken from dre d'dans production via vimeo)

If you are yet to secure your season work of know of someone that is (we are still offering 'recommend a friend' and receive a bottle of fizz) then get in touch with Silver Swan for more information on our current vacancies, available here or e mail enquiries@silverswanrecruitment.com 

Written by Silver Swan Blogger Holly McQueen @ www.mcqueenslifeadventures.com