How to get a job in yachting

Having additional skills (such as another language) and your interests listed on your Resume is a huge help in making you stand out from other applicants, so consider which, if any, additional courses you may want complete to help you in obtaining and succeeding in your chosen role before you actively start looking for work.

There are several ways to find work in the yachting world. It is highly recommended to move to the yachting hubs and hiring ports of the world (as crew jobs can come up at any time) and networking in the local yachtie hangouts to get yourself noticed. Different yachting hotspots have their peak periods. You can then be in the right place at the right time to hand deliver your Resume to potential employers.

Almost all crew begin their careers by first doing day work: single, one-off jobs which offer cash and valuable experience. Day work is casual work given by the half day or full day but can stretch into several weeks as the work requires. Dock walking, for example, is a good way of getting a job, mainly on small yachts. The usual way to obtain crew work is literally to walk the docks and marinas, visit crew agencies and even frequent pubs/cafes used by existing crew.

It is important to dress appropriately, as you are selling yourself. Make sure that you 'look the part' as first impressions count i.e. smart, wearing deck-shoes and a smart shirt (a yacht shirt if you have one). Keep in mind, casual day work is highly sought after, so it is best to promote yourself as ready, willing and able for work by networking and making contacts and being in the vicinity of the yachts to be able to start work as soon as it becomes available.

A large part of getting into yachting is based on who you know. To enhance our networking ent consider registering for a specialized superyacht recruitment job-board, such as Yacrew. You should also consider attending a specialized recruitment fair. The Cruise Job Fair taking place in Miami every year is the largest recruitment event within the cruise sector but there are always several recruitment agencies attending who are looking specifically for quality candidates for superyachts.