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CV / RESUME: A yachting resume / curriculum vitae is often your only opportunity to make a first impression, so make it your best one. Be sure to express your knowledge and experience in a concise and organized manner. Try to use a uniform font and font size throughout (Tahoma, 10) and only highlight the section titles, try to avoid using underlines and italics. Include your Personal information at the top; your nationality and date of birth, passport and visas, and most importantly a good photo with a nice smile (show some teeth!). For Contact information include a permanent email account, preferably web based such as yahoo, hotmail or gmail and a worldwide GSM cell phone. Remember we may want to contact you six months from now so plan ahead! This should be followed by your list of Qualifications. Your Education should reflect some commitment to a pursuit of a yachting career, especially the minimum maritime emergency training given by all UN countries that meet the Standard of Training for Certified Watchkeepers (STCW) which includes first aid, firefighting, sea survival and personal safety. Be sure to include any training / certificates you have obtained including your radio-operator license, first aid, and swimming / diving certification.
Your Yachting Experience should include details of yachts including their length and make, the areas you cruised, your position or duties on board and the name and contact information of the captain and / or other crew members who you have asked to be a reference. Chronological ordering is usually best since most Captains want to know your full history. For non-yachting references emphasize only relevant duties to Deckhand exterior maintenance; mechanical, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, detailing, or Stewardess interior maintenance; cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, laundry, kitchen/galley, and service experience. Chefs should also include a sample menu. Your References will be the pivotal point of your presentation, and anyone who has something good to say about you should be listed (you can leave off your mother and father ;)
INTERVIEW: If you have gained the opportunity of an interview, your resume has shown the knowledge and experience an owner or a captain is looking for. The other equally important aspect of working on a yacht is personality and attitude. Interviews are the best way to show these qualities. Prove your reliability by being on time and well groomed. You have two ears and one mouth, so try to listen twice as much as you are speaking. Show you are organized by knowing your resume backwards and forwards; what you know, where you've been, when and with whom!
Show tact by NEVER speaking poorly of a former employer, owner, captain, or crew. These things are always better left unsaid, and you will be better respected for it. Be positive, attentive, energetic, confident and caring. These are the kind of people everyone likes to be around A person who complains or gossips is a captain's worst nightmare because they will be contagious and will "infect" their whole crew; loose lips sink ships. Being a team player is an asset in yachting and a captain is always looking for someone who will have a positive influence on the team.
DAYWORK: When canvassing for work you must combine the resume and interview process into one. Be prepared to work and dress appropriately in a polo shirt and shorts or slacks (average crew uniform). The best place to find Daywork are the boatyards, where the boats are being made ready for the next season. Occasionally the less "durable" crew will leave the boat when in the yard and captains are always happy to have extra hands on board to get back to sea more quickly. Dayworking is a good way to get onboard since captains prefer to try out crew to see how they fit in before they hire permanently. If you are very sincere you can offer to work a day for free to show what you have to offer! Captains most often hire extra workers when they have a large project going on or they have owners or guests coming soon and they need help to finish the work on time. When you can get on board as a day-worker it is your opportunity to show you are hard working and a good listener. If a captain is really impressed by you he will either make room for you on board or refer you to one of his fellow associates who may be looking for someone as well!
DELIVERIES: Deliveries are contract work, often temporary, moving the boat from one place to another and then the job is completed. Some delivery positions are paid and some may not be, but for the newcomer this is an excellent way to obtain references and experience! To get the delivery contract many captains must "low-bid" the job and count on picking up extra watch crew at low cost. Deliveries may be arranged last minute and the captain's regular crew may not be available, so delivery captains / companies are often in need of extra crew. There are thousands of professional Delivery Captains worldwide; many of who do deliveries full-time and have a company set up. Many of them work with yacht brokers who usually use a handful of the same captains again and again to move their boats around for boat shows or during the change of seasons.
SALARIES: All yachting salaries are determined by a wide variety of factors. As the saying goes, "you get what you pay for". One factor is the amount of time the yacht is used by owners and charter guests. Another issue is the planned itinerary of the vessel as well as any other above average responsibilities. If the vessel will be running with a short-handed crew (less than average) they should be paid more. Of course the individual's personal training and licenses as well as their practical experience should be compensated for if they are applicable. Sometimes an owner or captain may request "entry level" crew and a base salary should be expected. It is also quite common to be hired at a "starting wage" and have the opportunity for further negotiations once a trial period has passed. There are many other benefits that should be considered when negotiating a salary. Most yachts will cover many personal expenses such as meals, uniforms and even shoes. Many yachts now also include a monthly phone allowance and one month paid vacation including airfare. The supply / demand curve also varies greatly depending on the position, the location of the vessel, how far along in the season and how many qualified crew are available at the time. You can always pay the going wage, but sometimes it may be wiser to pay the "staying" wage.
CHEF POSITIONS: The largest difference in a chef position on a yacht is the extensive planning required and the ability to work at sea. They must do their own provisioning and preparation work for all of the courses including desert and often clean their own galley as well. Remember cleanliness is next to godliness! On some smaller yachts the cook may also share steward responsibilities with the deckhand while on larger yachts the chef may have the services of one or more of the stewards for prep work, serving, clearing and cleaning. Also, unlike a hotel or restaurant, a yacht's menu should be practically unlimited with limited resources. Inventiveness is the key! An ability to produce exotic meals from ordinary ingredients and to present new and exciting dishes, avoiding repetition. The chef should also be aware of many different tastes to accommodate possible allergic, vegetarian or simply picky owners or guests. One never knows who may be dining with the owners, your guest may be an influential politician or a world famous actor / entertainer. At the same time your hardest critics could be the crew themselves, who must partake at your table every day. It cannot be said enough: present new and exciting dishes and avoid repetition.
STEWARD or STEWARDESS: On larger yachts a Chief Stew delegates responsibility and divides the work among the other stews. On a smaller yacht may be required to perform dual roles as the chef. The stew is responsible for the interior of the yacht. They must be meticulously clean and orderly people, as should all members of the crew. This position can be interesting because of its many different duties. Although the comfort of the owner and/or guests is the first priority, the steward is involved in every aspect of a yacht's interior. This includes cleaning and maintenance similar to an expensive home as well as many unique yachting areas. There is always vacuuming and laundry to do, washrooms to clean and dishes to wash after helping prepare and serve the meals. The main difference on a yacht is the restricted space! They must be able to meet all of the guest's needs without intruding on their privacy. It is the most skilled steward who is rarely seen and yet "magically appears" whenever they are needed! Timing is everything and keeping organized so that many jobs can be completed at the same time. Aboard formal yachts a steward may be required to know Silver Service, which is also good thing for every crew member to know.
DECKHAND: This position also stays interesting because of its many different duties. A deckhand should be very versatile and a jack of all trades. On larger yachts the boson is responsible for delegating responsibility among the deckhands and himself. On smaller yachts a deckhand may find himself also sharing engineer's duties with the captain or steward's work with the chef. In general deck crew are responsible for the exterior of the yacht. Most of this maintenance can be compared to auto detailing: washing, polishing, waxing, buffing, and touch up painting, often with two-part polyurethane. Teak maintenance is never ending whether it is the high gloss varnished handrails, the richly oiled wheelhouse interior, or the bare golden glow of a freshly scrubbed teak deck. A deckhand must be a sure hand with a brush whether scrubbing or painting. In any case it is always helpful to have some understanding of electricity, plumbing, carpentry, and mechanics as well as interior cleaning and service.
ENGINEER: Obviously the most important responsibility of the engineer are the engines of the yacht. On larger yachts commercial engineer licenses are required and often a chief engineer delegates responsibilities among the 2nd and 3rd engineer and himself. On smaller yachts the captain or mate may be responsible for basic engine maintenance. Knowledge of diesel engine maintenance and general mechanical understanding is a must. Other areas include refrigeration, plumbing, electrics, hydraulics and reverse osmosis. Most every system of these natures is the responsibility of the engineer. Once again we see the versatility of a yachting nature emerge! When large "refits" are called for the engineer may only be required to oversee contracted workers in port; however, the truly skilled engineer is capable of troubleshooting and jury-rigging at sea. When an alternator, freezer or a water maker quits halfway across an ocean, a yacht relies on the engineer's ability to isolate a problem and (if a permanent solution is not available) to invent a temporary solution. At the same time engineers may be expected to emerge from the engine room, dress in whites and epaulets and interact with owners and guests as well.
CAPTAIN: The entire vessel is the responsibility of the captain. Ultimately the safe navigation of the vessel and everyone on board is the main task of captains. They should be familiar with every system on board including radar, satellite navigation, satellite communication, multi-propeller use, bow and stern thrusters, stabilizers, trim-tabs, etc. etc. On smaller yachts they may also be the engineer and even maintain the exterior of the yacht as well. On larger yachts they delegate the various duties among the crew and should be familiar with each of their positions. The best captains lead by example and should be capable of doing each job themselves. They have to keep financial records, make and meet budgets, plan itineraries and reservations in marinas, and have a resource of international contacts for all types of parts and services. Clearing customs and immigration in international ports and being familiar with new International Ship and Port Security measures are ever increasing examples of privacy responsibilities as well. Finally, being able to interact closely with owners and guests while maintaining a professional relationship, and able to keep the crew united while maintaining their respect.
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