How To Get A Job In The Surf Industry

It’s that time of year when the idea of a fresh start pops into most people’s minds. If you’re on this site, chances are that fresh start involves a surf job. Maybe a skate or snow job. Or, you know, just hitting Powerball and sailing off for a lifetime of boat trips in the Ments. We can’t help you get cannistered at Macaroni’s, but we can help you figure out how to get a job in the surf industry. Thanks to our mates at NeverWork, it’s never been easier to find jobs in surf, or something adjacent. Before you apply though, there are a few things that can help you nail your first gig in the surf industry…

Here’s How To Get A Surf Job (especially if you’ve never had one before).

Click the button

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SURF

As they say, if you get a job doing something you love, you’ll NeverWork a day in your life. See what we did there?  Actually being a ‘surfer’ will not only help you fit into the culture of any surf brand you apply with, it’ll help motivate you to keep paddling when things get tough. You don’t necessarily need to shred, but being a genuine frother shines through when you turn up all salty and smiling. It should be said there are plenty of people who work at surf brands who don’t surf and are still great at what they do, so this isn’t a ‘must must have’ item. But, it certainly helps. 

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Broaden Your Job Search

For most surfers, there’s one job that stands double overhead above the rest: pro surfer. Unfortunately, that ain’t exactly an actual option for 99.99999% of people on the planet. We just aren’t good enough. That’s 100% fine though! You can teach surfing, run a surf shop, be a surf photographer, write about surfing, market surf clothes, or be a surfboard shaper. If you’re still a little unsure, here’s a list of a few surf jobs you may not have considered before but should. And remember, surf companies still need accountants, lawyers, social media managers, and executive vice presidents of getting coffee for everyone too.

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Start small with entry-level surf jobs

The number one place most people in the surf industry start is in a retail store. Rip Curl, Billabong, Quiksilver and more all have their direct retail that needs great people to sell the sizzle on the floor. If you live in Australia or America, chances are there’s a surf shop reasonably close to where you are (unless you’re down a kangaroo track in Kalumburu or something). NeverWork asked a bunch of high-flying surf execs where they got their first jobs to widen the list for you too. You might be surprised at what they had to say.

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Sign up to NeverWork

You might have picked up, we’re fans of NeverWork. We should be. We’re partnered with them. They list all of the best jobs in the boardsports industry (not just surf jobs, but skate jobs and snow jobs too) across Australia and the US. Sign up to their newsletter and you’ll get a tasty little round up for select roles each week that could be your next big gig. Even better, load up your profile and CV into their back end and apply directly for jobs with brands like Red Bull, Yeti, Patagonia and others. You’ll find all you need to know at thisisneverwork.com 

Happy clicking.