Are you trying to start a full-fledged career, or are you more interested in getting a short-term entry level job and seeing how things go? While there are thousands of crew positions available in Alaska during the summer and demand for hard-working people is high, you don't have a chance of getting hired if you can't set aside significant time in your schedule.  Typically you will need a minimum of two months clear to land an entry level job in Alaska. Most entry-level jobs for those with little or no experience are on salmon boats called trollers, gill netters, and purse seiners. The salmon season begins in May and extends into the fall. The longer your availability is within this window, the more likely it is that you will find a job. All jobs in the Alaskan fishing industry, and especially entry level jobs, are strenuous and grueling. You will be placing yourself in a highly stressful and demanding environment. A fishing boat is not a place where you can work yourself into shape. You'll need to be fit in advance. When getting in shape for a fishing job, it is best to focus on building up functional strength. Being able to run ten miles or bench press 250 pounds won't do you as much good working 18 hour days on a fishing boat as core stability and overall functionality. Understand that your body won't be the only thing that will be tired at the end of an 18-hour day. Your mind will be worn out and your emotions frayed. As is frequently illustrated on TV shows that deal with the Alaskan fishing industry, the captain and rest of the crew can be particularly hard on green hands. Learn to deal with stress accordingly.   Different people prepare themselves in different ways mentally and emotionally. Find a way that works for you. Focus on developing both a learning attitude and a thick skin when it comes to criticism. As the old saying goes, sometimes it takes money to make money. As you'll discover on your job search, it can be very difficult to land a guaranteed job in advance prior to going to Alaska. Many job seekers have to move to a fishing hub first, and look for a job in person. You'll need to have the financial wherewithal to secure yourself housing and cover basic expenses if you opt for this route. Even if you don't move to Alaska without a job, planning to get a job in Alaska could compromise your ability to take a local job, possibly leaving you stuck at home without a summer job at all. Don't put all your eggs into one basket unless you can afford to have them broken.

Summary: Establish your objectives and set your schedule accordingly. Build muscle and endurance. Develop mental and emotional strength. Assess your financial situation.


Bullies get satisfaction from seeing their victims react to their taunting. If your child starts ignoring the bully and walking away when the taunting starts, the bully can lose interest. Sometimes your child will be in a situation when he can't walk away, like in class or on the field. In this case, you child has to ignore the taunts and teasing to disarm the bully.   Acknowledge to your child that this is very difficult to do. It is definitely easier said than done, and your child might resist this idea when you bring it up. It would help if you did some exercises with your child to help control emotions. Tell your child to close his eyes and count to ten when feeling angry or sad. Deep breathing exercises can also help control emotional responses. If a bully refuses to leave your child alone, you can encourage him to stand up to the bully. Bully's like to pick on weak targets, and will often back down when someone stands up against them.   Tell your child to say firmly, "Leave me alone!" the next time the bully bothers him. Never advise your child to physically attack the bully. This won't help the situation. Bullies are usually more likely to go after victims when they are alone. Your child can avoid this by sticking with a friend or classmate whenever he goes somewhere the bully might be. If these methods don't work, your child needs to seek help from another adult. A teacher, principal, or coach might not even be aware that there is a problem, so your child has to report it. These people can take steps to prevent the bullying. After your child initially tells you about the bullying, it will probably be easier to talk about it in the future. You must, however, make sure you keep checking in with your child regularly. Ask how these methods are working and if the situation is getting any better. If nothing is working, you might have to step in and take more active measures.

Summary: Advise your child to walk away from the bully. Tell your child to ignore the bullying if he can't walk away. Advise your child to stand up to the bully. Use the buddy system. Let your child know when to get help. Keep the lines of communication with your child open.


The average adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep per night, and sleep is even more important when your immune system is compromised. Make sure that you're well-rested: don't stay up too late, and sleep in when possible. Sleep gives your body time to heal. Consider calling in sick at work--or going in late--to give yourself plenty of time to sleep in. You don't need to stay in bed all day unless you feel so inclined, but try at least to take it easy. It is easy to become dehydrated when you're sick, and dry sinuses will only worsen your cold symptoms. Drink plenty of water, tea, and soup to minimize irritation.  Avoid drinking alcohol and sugary drinks, as even low consumption can weaken your immune system. Wait to resume these habits until you're well and your immune system is ready for the beating. Consider using a humidifier in your bedroom to keep from breathing dry air at night. You can buy an electric humidifier at some department stores and drugstores. Your immune system is already compromised, so try to stay away from bacteria that might make your condition worse. Avoid hospitals, crowded areas, and other sick people; avoid any place where germs congregate. Wash your hands with antibacterial hand sanitizer several times throughout the day.  Consider carrying a small bottle of hand sanitizer about with you. Whenever you come into contact with germs or sick people, cleanse your hands. Avoid infecting others, especially children, the elderly, and anyone with a weak immune system. Cover your nose and mouth with your arm, a tissue, or a handkerchief when you sneeze or cough. Wash infected pillowcases, towels, clothing, and utensils to avoid reinfecting yourself once you're well. Sugar consumption weakens your immune system, and eating a lot of sugar-heavy foods may reduce your body's ability to recover from cold symptoms. There is some medical disagreement as to whether avoiding sugar during a cold can actually reduce the duration, but it is generally accepted that avoiding sugar in general is better for your immune system.  People tend to get sick at times when they're eating a lot of sugar: times of stress, and during the winter months. Stress itself weakens the immune system, so the combination can be dangerous. It is best to avoid excess sugar before these times, so that you don't compound the problem. Avoid candy, soda, and other sweets. Fruit juice is sugary, but it is also typically high in Vitamin C--just try to avoid juices that have a lot of sugar added to them. Many other animals are able to convert sugar into vitamin C, but humans cannot. Sugar competes with vitamin C in the body, so high sugar consumption often results in low vitamin C concentrations.
Summary: Get plenty of sleep. Stay hydrated. Avoid exposure to germs. Avoid sugar.