Requirements to Apply

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Guide Position Description
Compensation, Expenses, Benefits & Scheduling
Requirements to Apply
Application & Hiring/Training Process
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REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY
COVER LETTER
1-PAGE ESSAY (ONE SIDE)
RESUME
2 LETTERS OF REFERENCE
SCANNED COPY OF YOUR VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE
ABILITY TO DRIVE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION
SCANNED COPY OF YOUR DMV/DRIVER RECORD
CURRENT FIRST AID AND CPR CERTIFICATION
SCANNED COPY OF YOUR VALID PASSPORT
STRONG PHYSICAL FITNESS
STRONG BIKE MECHANICS
FOREIGN LANGUAGE (FOR EUROPEAN SCHEDULE)
TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
COMPUTER EXPERIENCE

COVER LETTER telling us why you feel you would be the perfect candidate for this job.

1-PAGE ESSAY telling us about the most memorable Customer Service experience you ever received and the impact that it had on you.

RESUME updated and current.

2 LETTERS OF REFERENCE from former employers (or other professionals who can vouch for your suitability for this job). If you have a reference from a Trek Travel Guide or other staff member, then this must replace one of your two reference letters.

SCANNED COPY OF YOUR VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE please make sure that the copy is clear and legible.

Driver License requirements:
All prospective candidates must be in possession of a current Driver's License, valid in your state, province or country of residency until the end of the current year. In order to comply with our liability insurance, all potential Guides must be at least 23 years of age and have a clear driving record.

All Guide scheduled to guide outside of their home country must obtain an International Driver's License prior to travelling there.

Please note that all costs associated with obtaining the above licenses are the responsibility of the Guide, and are not reimbursable by Trek Travel.

ABILITY TO DRIVE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION
Yes! While our North American vans are 12 and 15-person automatic vehicles, our European vans are all manual transmission, so we require all potential applicants to be comfortable driving both. While part of the Guide Training will involve practice with both types of vehicles, this is not the time to learn how to drive a manual transmission vehicle! If invited, you should come to Guide Training 100% comfortable driving standard.

SCANNED COPY OF YOUR DMV/DRIVER RECORD dated within 30 days of your application. Your driving record must have no more than 3 moving violations in the last 3 years. Please note that we will not hire anyone with a DWI/DUI (Driving while under the influence of alcohol) conviction on his or her record, regardless of how long ago the offense occurred. Unless you are a California resident, Trek Travel Guides do NOT need to obtain a Commercial Driver's License. For our trips in Canada, all of our Canadian Guides must obtain a Class 4 Driver's license

CURRENT FIRST AID AND CPR CERTIFICATION
All candidates offered a Guide Contract will be required to obtain their First Aid Level 1 (or Basic) as well as Adult CPR certification, valid until the end of the year, and submit a copy of these to the Trek Travel office prior to commencing work. Trek Travel Guides must submit evidence of re-certification every year, prior to guiding for the season (this holds true even if your certificate is valid beyond 1 year). Guides are responsible for the cost of this certification.

SCANNED COPY OF YOUR VALID PASSPORT
All Trek Travel Guides are required to either be in possession of, or obtain a passport that is valid 6 months past the end of the current year. This is a requirement for ALL of our guides, regardless of whether or not you work in North America or abroad. Guides are responsible for the cost of obtaining their passport.

STRONG PHYSICAL FITNESS
You have to be fit enough to be able to ride the distances and terrain on any one of our trips. Please refer to our Rider Level 3 for a general idea of guide physical fitness required. (link to Rider levels) Remember that while a Trek Travel Guide will split their time between bike support and driving van support, all Guides need to be able to ride every single day of a trip if needed.

In addition to the cycling, Trek Travel Guides are required to load and unload 20+bikes on top of our vans, load, unload and deliver luggage for 20+ guests, and set up picnics that involve moving large coolers and bins. We expect that all of our Guides to be able to comfortably lift 50 lbs over their heads.

STRONG BIKE MECHANICS
We expect our Guide Candidates to be competent and confident in the following Intermediate Bike Mechanic Skills BEFORE arriving at Guide Training:

Remove and replace either a tube and/or tire from both the front and rear of a bike, and properly seat the wheel in the dropouts with proper tightening of the quick release lever in 5 minutes or less
Remove and install pedals in 5 minutes or less
Remove and replace a bike chain in 5 minutes or less
Adjust a bike saddle, both height and fore/aft position
Remove and replace a brake cable on a road bike equipped with internally routed cables
Properly adjust both brake pad alignment and lever throw on a road bike
Remove and replace a derailleur cable on a road bike equipped with internally routed cables
Properly adjust both front and rear derailleurs on a road bike
Adjust a bike helmet for the proper fit
Properly tape handlebars on a road bike in 10 minutes or less
Demonstrate general familiarity with carbon fiber bike frames
Change a handlebar stem and properly tighten to the specified torque

It is important to note that if you are invited to Guide Training, you will be tested on your proficiency with these skills in order to be considered for a Guide Contract.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE (FOR EUROPEAN SCHEDULE)
The ability to speak a foreign language increases your chances of being offered a contract! We have many trips in France, Italy and Spain and therefore we have a strong need for Guides who are conversant in the languages of those regions.

TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
Having spent time travelling and experiencing other cultures will certainly increase your odds of being offered a contract with us. We look for people with an expansive worldview, and who relish the idea of working in other countries and regions and imparting their knowledge of foreign cultures to our Guests.

COMPUTER EXPERIENCE

Comfortable with MS Word, Excel and Email
Comfortable with both Internet and Email (as a Guide you will be using both of these extensively as the primary method of communicating with the office)
Comfortable with using a smart phone