Joining the crew of a mega yacht seems all fun and no work when it is quite the opposite. The amount of work required while traveling to your favorite destinations may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Despite these challenges, the lure to travel across the globe and get hefty compensation for that makes the joining of a quite a popular ambition.
There are many opportunities to join the crew of a mega yacht. It is important to know the ins and outs of the industry before you set out on this journey. The most important thing is the mindset and whether you see yourself cut out for this line of work. Then comes the important distinction between the types of jobs offered to join the crew of a mega yacht.
Know the Job Market
Anyone looking to enter the job market needs to first make some important observations regarding the job market. The availability of jobs, the skills required, the temperaments, and the environments of such jobs must all be studied before diving headfirst. The most important thing to know about becoming a yacht crew member is the types of jobs or superyacht crew members.
In essence, there are two types of jobs on a mega yacht. The two broad categories are technical or operating crew and the service crew. The technical crew includes yacht captain, deck officers, engineers, and members responsible for keeping the yacht in a functioning state. Then there comes the service crew which is responsible for the cleanliness and general maintenance of the mega yacht.
Time is of the Essence
The timing of the job hunt is the most crucial part of the process. The job market to join the crew of a mega yacht is slightly different from the traditional services industry. The opportunities to join a mega-yacht arrive in certain seasons due to the prevailing yachting season. The norms and traditions of the yachting industry dictate when these mega yachts are prone to hiring new members to their crew.
There are generally two opportune seasons when a mega yacht would like to take on crew members. Both these phases are generally known as the low season as it is the time when yachts make repairs and hire crew and stock up on provisions. The high seasons are generally when the yachts are out in the oceans and hence there are limited full-time jobs available.
Target a Location of Job Search
Your job search must be targeted towards specific locations to get the most lucrative and easy targets. Like any other industry in which the location of that industry will dictate your job search, the yachting industry follows a similar pattern. Although yachts and superyachts are common all around the world, there are still two major hubs for recruitment to become a crew member.
The two locations are Fort Lauderdale and Antibes on the French coast. Both these locations are prime for job search. Florida is especially great for looking to get hired to a superyacht due to its less expensive housing and living expenses. Serious candidates who want to ply their trade in the yachting industry should look to be close to the action, and live in Florida for one to three months during peak season.
Sort out Money Matters
Ideally, you should move to the south coast of the United States in the low seasons to find the perfect job. These include spring and fall seasons when yachts are looking for crew members to hire. There are certain technical requirements such as having an SCTW 95 certification to be able to works as a crew member on any yacht. This certification is your ticket to becoming a yacht crew member.
The week-long training costs around a thousand bucks and takes just one week. Now it may seem straightforward after getting the certification that you will get a job immediately. However, a shrewd job hunter must give themself a contingency of at least three months. Working professionally on a mega yacht is a dream job but it requires patience and hard work.
Budgeting your stay for three months must be thought of as an investment. You shouldn’t be disheartened by this initial investment as the dividends at the end of this phase will be huge. You can always opt for daily work which involves chores such as cleaning and mopping the floors. These still pay around 200 bucks a day and can keep you afloat until you find a permanent job.
Acquire Effective Trainings
Working professionally requires a certification, specifically the SCTW 95 training which teaches basic safety of the yacht including fire and water safety. There are other additional options to get trained including interior training for an extra one thousand bucks. This training is not mandatory and hence must be done if you have some spare finances. On the job training with the chief stewards will probably yield far better results than this course.
Build a Yacht-Specific Resume
Building up your resume to cater to the yachting industry means you’re serious about pursuing a long-term career in the field. It is important that you don’t ignore the lowly paid works in the yachting industry as such work will make your resume look even better. Moreover, a yachtie resume differs from the traditional trades resume, thus you should take help from online websites or resume templates. Follow the best yacht recruitment agencies regularly to find the best opportunity for yourself.
A Dream Job Can be Yours
The perks associated with joining a crew of a mega yacht are undoubtedly several. The allure of traveling to your favorite destinations and enjoying countless sunsets on the vast seas is an opportunity many would take without blinking.
However, the best assessment of your suitability comes from within you, and you should be the first one to judge whether you can stay at sea for prolonged periods or not. Only then you should follow the steps mentioned above and make an informed and calculated move to join the yachting industry. If you play your cards correctly, you could soon be traveling around the globe in luxury.
Still debating? The read about the 10 Reasons Why You Shouldn´t Work on a Yacht.
Want to know how much you can earn working on a Yacht? Check out our Salary Guide.
