I am wondering about working for DNC in Yosemite. I have a job offer, Have you worked there?

I started seeking employment in Yosemite a month ago and now have a job offer. I still have to take the drug test, will not be a problem for me. Background check I am wondering about. A few DUI's no warrants but bad credit. Any in sights?

I am planning on working year round for them if I pass the checks. Any thoughts?

Slightly different situation, but I spent three summers working for Xanterra in Yellowstone. I never worked for DNC, but I had friends that did (both DNC and Xanterra operate in Y-Stone). My experience, and the general consensus I seemed to gather from my co-workers and friends, was that both companies are equally bad employers. You'll be over-worked and under-payed, and some concessionaires only give their employees one day off a week (don't know about DNC, but Xanterra thankfully gave us 2-day weekends).

Now, that's the bad news. The GOOD news is that it's a freaking awesome experience. It kinda sucks that the reason they pay so little and treat their employees so poorly is because they know they can get away with it since people are just stoked to be working in a National Park. As much as it hurts my pride to admit it, they were right. There's just nothing like living in Yellowstone or Yosemite, with all of these amazing trails, climbing destinations, etc. literally in your back yard. The majority of your co-workers are young and adventurous (and promiscuous, lol), and it just makes for an unforgettable summer that's worth working a crappy job for.

Of course, that all depends on what job you're applying for. My first two summers I was working in a cafeteria, so the whole shitty job thing applied. My third summer, though, I was working for a third-party employee recreation contractor (basically, we provided recreational services for park employees). That didn't pay much better, but it was a hell of a lot more fun getting paid to go hiking, whitewater rafting, play softball, etc.

Anyway, the bottom line is if you go into it with the understanding that you're doing it for the days off and not for the job or the money (unless you get an awesome job like I had my 3rd summer), then it's totally worth it! Those were the three best summers of my life and I wouldn't change a thing if I had to go back and do it all over again.

Like Rob said, lousy employers, great places to be when you're not working. National Park concessionaires tend to be poorly managed businesses, they stay afloat because they've got a monopoly in whatever park they're operating in.

A big challenge will be finding people whose recreational interests and work schedules both match up with yours. I solved this problem by doing a lot of stuff on my own, doing long bicycle rides and hikes and scrambling up peaks on my own instead of trying to coordinate days off with people. Luckily I'm inclined to do stuff on my own anyway, so it wasn't much of a problem. another option in Yosemite is to look for partners in Camp 4, there's usually people looking for partners there. Age could be another issue. Most of your co-workers (to say nothing of your supervisors) will be 1/2 to 1/3 your age, so try to keep an open mind.

I lasted 5 weeks at the DNC, shittiest job imaginable and mostly because of the dickhead managers you have to work under. Would highly advise against it. If you do end up working there avoid living in Huff, unless you like screaming drunk people outside your tent every night until 4 am. You might have to pass a drug test to get a job, but after that you can smoke as much crack as you want!

DNC is a bad company and they will play you hard, just like they do their customers. They exploit their employees by offering them work in an amazing location with crappy pay and numerous stipulations.