Get thee to a yacht hub!

Sitting at your desk with a warm cup of tea and your gorgeous CV in hand that, you’ve presumably just received from our services? Are you wondering, “Now what? Where and when does the adventure start?”

If you’re new to the industry, you’ll want to get yourself to a yachting hub.

What’s a yachting hub, you say? Yachting hubs are large ports of call in desirable cruising areas where boats will gather seasonally. It is highly recommended that you situate yourself in a yachting hub to begin your job search. Unless you are an experienced crew member seeking a senior position, or have a very specialized skill set, truth is that it will be nearly impossible for you to gain your first yacht job if you don’t place yourself in the middle of the action at the right time of year. As they say, you have to be in it to win it.

There are two major yachting hubs in the world: Antibes, France and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. You will want to be sure to get to either at the right time of year and with the correct visas (more on these topics later).

But why can’t I do my job search from home?

The competition for yacht jobs is fierce, there are much fewer jobs available than there are actual crew members and employers are keen for crew who not only look good on paper, but who have made the effort to be in the game and are readily available to interview in person and show off their sparkling personality and put together personal presentation.

Advantages of going to a yacht hub:

In-person impressions: You have the ability to introduce yourself in person to numerous crew agencies and make a personal connection with a crew agent who will fight in your corner for your first job. While Skype is a great interview tool these days - again, it’s about the effort made to put yourself into the game.
In-person interviews: For junior roles, an employer is 99% more likely to interview someone who is immediately and readily available to interview in-person and possibly even trial for a day or possibly a week on board to make sure you not only fit the job requirements but the crew dynamic.
Daywork: Often at the beginning of the season, yachts need extra help to clean and get themselves ready for the season. They often employ “dayworkers” to assist in their getting ready. You should consider daywork as an all day interview. You should always be at your best as daywork can often turn into a long-term position if one is available on that particular vessel, or they might refer you to another vessel that needs crew. At the very least, you may walk away with an industry reference that could prove helpful to gain your first full-time position.
Building a network and making new friends: Surrounded by other yachties, new and experienced, you have the opportunity not only to learn from others, but to gain knowledge from shared experiences. It’s also a great networking opportunity to gain a job possibly by word-of-mouth or via a personal introduction. Not to mention the possibility of forging some friendships that will last a lifetime.
You will need to arrive with the assumption that you will be not returning home before you join a vessel so pack accordingly! And be sure you have the finances to hold out for sometime. It’s difficult to say how long it will take before you get a job. For a lucky few, it could take less than a week, for others possibly four to six weeks or more, and for many, many more … the truth is that it may not happen at all that season. But the important thing is to go prepared with a positive and professional outlook and put your best self forward.

So pack your bags, your adventure starts sooner that you think!