Yacht Careers: How To Get A Job On A Yacht Like Below Deck
How do you ensure that you have the best potential chance of landing your dream job on a yacht or superyacht?
Our guide will give you all the insider tips and tricks to help you to get your foot in the door to finding new and interesting positions within the industry.
Research
Along with fundamental abilities and certifications, you must be aware that this job requires a great deal of effort and long hours.
You’ll be living in small, crowded quarters, making it tough to locate a quiet spot to unwind.
This may sound self-evident, but you’ll be away from home for months at a time and will have to accept not seeing your friends and family for an extended period of time.
Certification
You must obtain your ENG1 Medical Certificate in order to work at sea and find work. This certificate is an examination that verifies that you are in excellent health and medically fit to perform your tasks aboard a ship.
Training Courses
After ensuring that you are physically healthy and capable of working at sea, you must obtain all of the essential credentials and qualifications to demonstrate your expertise.
The majority of green (new) superyacht crew members go through a training program that provides them with all of the necessary qualifications, experience, and advice to land their first employment.
You will receive your STCW Certificates, which is the minimum required, as well as additional certifications such as Powerboat Level 2, VHF Radio, Security Training, and more.
The more credentials you have, the more committed you appear to be and the more benefits you will be to a captain.
Yacht Crew Agency
Yacht crew agencies aren’t the only option to acquire your first job on a superyacht, but they may surely help and may speed things up.
They have a large yacht network and will likely hear about new employment openings before you do, and may even have unique access. Give them a call after you’ve applied on their website and try to give them an idea of what you’re all about.
Yacht Roles
Captain – They are in charge of the yacht’s safe operation and communicate with the passengers and owners.
Chief Engineer – In charge of the yacht’s mechanical and electrical systems.
Officer of the Watch (OOW) – The captain’s second in command. When on passage, the OOW keeps watch and is normally in charge of navigation. In charge of the deck’s day-to-day operations.
Chief Stewardess – Responsible for the interior, service, and laundry of the boat. The Chief Stewardess ensures that the guests and owners enjoy 5* service around the clock.
Chef – Prepares delicious meals for the guests, proprietors, and crew. A happy boat is one with a well-fed crew! A separate crew and the guest chef will be employed on large vessels.
Bosun – Also known as Senior Deckhand, a bosun is a deckhand who has worked on a ship for a few seasons. He or she will be in charge of the cleaning and maintenance activities on a daily basis. They’ll also be in charge of the yacht tenders.
Deckhand – Responsible for all maintenance and cleaning to keep the yacht in top shape at all times. Deck operations, mooring, anchoring, and security will all be part of the job.
Stewardess – In charge of the yacht’s interior, service, cabin preparation, and ensuring that the guests and owners have all they require.
Go To Where The Work Is
The final stage in landing a position aboard a boat like the Below Deck crew is to get to work.
Captains are more likely to give crew positions after meeting them in person, so you must be in the right marinas at the right time.
Superyachts will often arrive in the Mediterranean between February and May to kick off the summer season. This would be a perfect time to look for jobs in a large superyacht marina, such as Antibes.
You will be ‘dock walking’ at the marinas. This entails going to the docks where the yachts are docked with your CV in hand and approaching yacht captains to beg for day labour to get experience.
It’s critical to have your finances in order so that you can spend a week or two in France looking for a job.
98% of our Superyacht Course alumni find jobs in Antibes, so once you’ve completed all of your certifications, pack your belongings and go!