What is a fisherman and how to become one

Key steps to become a fisherman

1. Explore fisherman education requirements

   Most common fisherman degrees

   High School Diploma

   38.6 %

   Bachelor's

   30.3 %

   Associate

   11.7 %

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2. Start to develop specific fisherman skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Safety Standards	30.85%
   Deck Hand	17.73%
   Hoisting	15.25%
   RAN	7.96%
   Processing Plant	4.50%

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3. Complete relevant fisherman training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New fishermen learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a fisherman based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real fisherman resumes.

4. Obtain the necessary licensing

   Becoming a licensed fisherman usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you don't need to pass an exam to become a licensed fisherman in most of states. 9 states require fishermen to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

   State	Education	Exam	License url
   Alaska	-	-	Commercial Fisher
   California	-	-	Commercial Fishing License
   Hawaii	-	-	Commercial Fisher
   Illinois	-	-	COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN, RESIDENT AND NON-RESIDENT
   Massachusetts	-	-	COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN

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5. Research fisherman duties and responsibilities

   • Perform daily tasks in extreme Alaskan environment.
   • Operate fishing skiffs and direct daily harvesting and processing excursions.
   • Record target and incidental catch of recreational and charter boats participating in the large pelagic fisheries.

6. Prepare your fisherman resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your fisherman resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a fisherman resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   Choose from 10+ customizable fisherman resume templates

   Build a professional fisherman resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your fisherman resume.
   

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7. Apply for fisherman jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a fisherman job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams