| Your resume represents you when a captain or | | | | get more of this experience and build your resume. |
| owner is trying to fill the open position aboard their | | | | Question #2: Can't I just tack the boating related |
| luxury motor or sailing yacht. | | | | information onto my existing work resume? |
| When writing a resume for your first position as | | | | Answer: |
| professional yacht crew, it is easy to screw up by | | | | A hiring captain or owner only tries to determine 3 |
| focusing on the wrong information. However, it is | | | | important issues from your resume:a) How much |
| critical that your resume goes into the "must call for | | | | actual professional yachting experience and training |
| an interview" pile or you won't get the job! This | | | | do you have? (DIRECT EXPERIENCE)b) How badly |
| article shows exactly how to get started... | | | | does it seem like you want the job? (DESIRE)c) Do |
| First, all yacht crew resumes should include a | | | | you appear to understand why you want the job? |
| head-shot photo at the top, your nationality and | | | | (ATTITUDE) |
| visas held. Also, unless you want to obtain an | | | | The hard truth is they do not care what you did |
| advanced position, like chef, engineer, or captain, | | | | before if it doesn't answer their concerns - period. |
| your resume should fit on 1 page. There are two | | | | Therefore: |
| main questions people have when starting to write | | | | Write "Yachting Experience" as the first heading. |
| the actual content: | | | | (Then the second you have true professional |
| Question #1: What should I include if I don't have | | | | yachting experience, even day work, change the |
| "enough" boating experience? | | | | heading to "Professional Yachting Experience" and add |
| Answer: | | | | each job under it. |
| Resumes for all positions should include: | | | | Accept the fact that the 4 days of day work you |
| -ALL boating and water-related experience. (you | | | | did last week sanding decks on the 135 foot M/Y |
| might think of water-skiing just as a fun activity you | | | | "Joe Blow" is more important than your 2 years as a |
| did last summer, but it may be part of your job | | | | Marketing Assistant - get over it. Placing "Yachting" |
| description). | | | | first shows that you understand why you are there, |
| -Boat handling (or "driving") experience is key, since | | | | your desire to learn, plus that you know how to |
| you will drive the yacht's tender at some point. | | | | properly sand teak decks, which will be more useful |
| -Anytime you breathed on the water, e.g dinghy | | | | than knowing how to write a marketing report. |
| racing, working at a marina, scuba diving, kayaking, | | | | The bottom line is all of your previous work |
| life guard at beach or pool, etc. | | | | experience should occupy 25%-40% of your resume |
| -List any safety or medical training, such as CPR, first | | | | - no more. Then get very detailed on the specific |
| aid, OSHA, etc. | | | | skills you know when it comes to yachting and/or |
| -List any customer service work, even as a | | | | useful cross-over skills. Also, once you complete your |
| restaurant waiter or bartender. | | | | STCW training add it at the top of your resume - |
| -List anything that shows you are "handy," such as | | | | without it you won't get hired! |
| plumbing, repairing things, carpentry, varnishing. | | | | Now you should have a resume that you can |
| -List boats that you've sailed on, e.g. 36 foot O'Day | | | | improve as you get more experience and compare |
| sailboat for weekend cruising, or 26 foot "beer can" | | | | contrast to other resumes you see online for |
| race series, etc. | | | | different ideas and phrasing, so you project the best |
| -Most importantly, DO whatever you can NOW to | | | | image possible. |