Your CV is the first contact you have with a prospective employer, and it is your chance to make a good first impression.
So Make It Count.
A well-constructed CV could be the difference between getting an interview for your dream job or not being considered. So knowing what you should write and how you should do it is paramount to your success.
The point of a CV is to show your prospective employer why they should hire you and what the benefits of having you on their team will be.
Think of a resume as an essential piece of personal marketing to promote yourself to an employer so that you stand out and they want to meet you.
Use your CV to let the employer see what there is to know about you, your education, previous employment, achievements, skills, and abilities.
Here are my Top CV Tips for Superyacht Crew
1. Your CV and Cover Letter are your marketing tools; think of your cover letter as an advertisement for yourself and your CV as your sale page.
Ensure both of them are oriented to the position you are applying for. For example, if you submit your resume for a Chief Stew role, everything in it and your cover letter should highlight the skills and qualities the vessel will look for in a Chief Stew role.
Doing this shows that you are a detail-oriented professional crew member, which are attributes employers look for in a job that requires you to be meticulous about every little detail.
2. Use a recent photo. You may not realize it, but you have changed a lot in the last three years, so update your crew photo annually.
How to take a good photo:
Shoulder length
Smile on your face (it will make you look more approachable!)
Tidy hair
Minimal to no jewelry
Natural makeup
High-quality lighting and resolution
Avoid selfies or vacation photos, sunglasses, or hats.
3. Keep it concise. Short and sweet is the trick – potential employers will read through numerous CVs and don't want to read unnecessary information. Your CV should be at most two pages if you are a senior crew member. For junior crew, please keep it to one page.
4. Make your profile information visible at the top. It should include contact information (email and phone), location and availability, passport nationality, and visas. Do not add your address or passport/visa numbers. This is confidential information only shared with the employer when you receive a contract.
5. List your yachting certificates and education; this should include STCW, ENG1, etc., and university degrees.
6. Add a brief profile including your objective, summarizing your experience and unique selling point (2-3 sentences max.). Detail your strengths and why you are suitable for the role.
7. On your work experience, your yachting jobs should include employment dates, position held, yacht name, size, built, and location, with a list or summary of duties. Jobs should be listed in reverse order, with the most recent first.
Example:
May 2019- November 2020
Chief Stew | M/Y Amarula Sun | 164’ Trinity | Bahamas/Caribbean
Active private yacht with (1-12 guests). Responsibilities included:
Managing & setting up the new vessel.
Implementing a new interior work system.
Training the interior team.
All applicable chief stew duties, provisioning, guest relations, and the overall success and advancement of the crew and the vessel program.
Managed and coordinated parties with over 50 guests onboard.
Overseeing all aspects of guest activities.
Assistance on deck with lines and fenders; watch duties during passages.
If you are new to yachting, list all your relevant experience/jobs and transferrable skills from your previous careers.
8. Use a professional email address. No sexyfox@gmail.com, please!
9. Save your CV under a professional file name, e.g., KarenSmith_yachtCV, as it will appear that way for potential employers to download.
10. List your references, at minimum three, and always send 2-3 written references when applying for a job.
11. Spell-check your CV and ensure it is grammatically correct. Write professionally and avoid using slang. You can use the Grammarly app; check it out here.
12. Print your CV before sending it off. Sometimes, the layout and format may appear different once printed. Most potential employers will print out the CVs they are interested in, so make sure you are happy with the printed version.
13. Always send your CV and any other doc. in PDF format. This will ensure your resume is readable on all platforms and gadgets while maintaining its structure and design.
14. Introduce yourself in the email when applying for a job; this can be a shorter version of your cover letter. Attach a cover letter along with your CV, reference letters, and any other information they have requested.
Remember, it is all in the details. You are not the only one applying, so you have to make yourself stand out.
15. And finally, check, check, and check again! Make sure your CV is accurate. I highly recommend getting feedback from an expert. Click here to get my feedback.
If you need help creating a Winning CV, click here for my resume services.
And if you're in the door, shaking hands, and the interview is about to start… get my tips for face-to-face or online interviews here.
