Help! I Cant Seem To Find a Job
For as long as successful yacht enthusiasts have been buying yachts, there have been yachties and sailors working on them and you can be one too. The yachting industry is a prestigious one, reserved for the most determined and tenacious crew members. If you find you aren’t getting a job immediately, fret not, there could be a number of different circumstantial or environmental reasons you are having a tough time.
Working aboard any vessel will demand more of you, physically and mentally,than most jobs in the hospitality industry. It is a privilege. Simply throwing in the towel after a few unsuccessful months of job hunting would be a bad idea. Perseverance is a trait every yacht worker should posses.
Consider experimenting with these following factors before deciding you may or may not be good enough for the industry.
Location, location, location
Real estate agents swear by it, filmmakers are heavily influenced by it, artists are inspired by it. Being at the right place (at the right time, but we’ll get to that) can have a huge impact on whether you are finding work on yachts.
A lot of hiring captains like to have interviews with applicants before hiring them. In some instances they will conduct the interview telephonically but most times they would like to meet you in person before deciding whether to take you on or not. You might be a great candidate for a Galley job on a 100M MY in Barcelona, but if you’re applying from your couch in Thailand with no plans or arrangements to travel to europe then you are little-to-no-use to the employers you are reaching out to. Captain's very rarely fly candidates out to meet them so you cannot bank on that.
Popular yachting destinations are Antibes, Antigua, Bali, Barcelona, Caribbean, Fort Lauderdale, Mediterranean, Monaco and Palma de Mallorca, It can be quite daunting to pack up and set up in a different country. Unfortunately it is what the job demands a lot of time. Our blog post To Move or Not To Move might help you make that all too familiar, career changing decision.
The closer you are to the job the more likely you are to get it.
Time
The yachting calendar runs in accordance with the weather. Most popular is the Summer season as the warm weather provides a sunny backdrop for the gorgeous coasts along the French Riviera as well as the Mediterranean, Caribbean etc. It would best serve you, professionally, to be in the popular yachting destinations during the Spring-into-Summer time so that you can secure a job for the peak season.
If you find you’ve only gotten to a port town in the middle of the season there are a few yachts that might need extra crew, an emergency temp may be required, and day workers are always in demand. Rather be prepared at the start of the season but if you cannot it doesn’t mean you’re out of options.
During the Winter season, yacht owners often dock their vessels and chase the Summer using some of their other toys, but sailing yachts during the colder season aren’t completely unheard of. It all depends on the contract you sign with the Captain. If you have agreed on a seasonal position you will be released to explore temporary jobs elsewhere. If, however, you have a permanent contract with your yacht then you have the safety of work during the quieter season.
Some yachts give their crew leave during the winter season and it might be a great chance for you to work aboard. If you make a good impression they might hire you under a rotational contract. There are always options as long as you are open and willing to explore them.
Resume
When we say resume we don’t only mean your written CV but your state of appearance. How you present yourself, in document form and especially physically, speaks volumes about who you are. Messy hair and unkempt fingernails are just as bad as a poorly formatted CV. What it communicates to prospective employers is that you lack attention to detail which is VITAL in the yachting industry. Captains want to know that they can trust their Deckhands to maintain the working conditions and spotlessness of the exterior of the yacht. They want to have complete confidence that beds will be made to perfection, carpets and upholstery will remain blemish free, table settings; immaculate and napkins starched, wine glasses polished and crockery unchipped. If you come into an interview with creased uniform or stained shorts you put your place on the yacht at risk. Dress to Impress and Dock Walking 101 have some great advice about how to present yourself.
Similarly your CV has to have all the ‘i’s’ dotted and all the ‘t’s’ crossed. It is crucial that your resume be edited to perfection. Get a fellow yachtie to read it over to give you some constructive advice. Our blog post The ART of a Superyacht CV has some pointers that will, no doubt, give your CV the facelift it needs. We also offer CV evaluations for Premium Members and would only be happy to assist.
If you find you are having troubles finding a yacht job it could be one of the contributing factors mentioned above. All it takes is a simple adjustment and you should find yourself hired in no time