So you want a slice of the yachty pie?
It is a tough industry to break into and unfortunately a shallow one at that, yes looks will get you everywhere – ‘tits and teeth’ goes a long, long way. Not saying that this is the most important thing, but if you look like you have been hit by a bus, best to put the idea to bed. As soon as you get to your chosen yachty destination, kit yourself out with beige or khaki shorts, a white polo and some boat shoes - if you want to get the part, look the part! Subsequent to this, contacts – you need to get yourself out there and speak to the right people.
Despite the number of times I have been told ‘my mate got his job when he was drunk and met his captain at the bar’, I am yet to see evidence of this. Go to all the yachty hang outs and networking events, speak to as many different people as you can and have a business card at the ready and do indulge in free food and drink but not too much because your next captain really could be opposite you, I am just not too sure whether he will be offering you the job just cause you fluttered your eyelashes at him that night at Tap 42. Crew houses are a great way to meet people and be in line for work. Some of my thoughts on crew houses in Fort Lauderdale are listed below. If you are arriving at any of the ‘perfect times’, particularly at times of international boat shows, book ahead.
What are the basic requirements?
Persistence really is the key to getting a job. Go to the agencies every other day, they all tell you to check in online every morning as this flags on their systems that you are still looking for work, so do it.
You don’t need a four day course to be a waitress or a cleaner so neither do you to quality as a stewardess. Just make the most of your experience on your CV. Most jobs for all positions require yacht or cruise ship experience so if all your skills have been built up on land you need to maximize them to their FULL potential. You can view my CV below, a photograph must be included and this is preferred in front of a nautical background.
Despite the number of times I have been told ‘my mate got his job when he was drunk and met his captain at the bar’, I am yet to see evidence of this. Go to all the yachty hang outs and networking events, speak to as many different people as you can and have a business card at the ready and do indulge in free food and drink but not too much because your next captain really could be opposite you, I am just not too sure whether he will be offering you the job just cause you fluttered your eyelashes at him that night at Tap 42. Crew houses are a great way to meet people and be in line for work. Some of my thoughts on crew houses in Fort Lauderdale are listed below. If you are arriving at any of the ‘perfect times’, particularly at times of international boat shows, book ahead.
What are the basic requirements?
Persistence really is the key to getting a job. Go to the agencies every other day, they all tell you to check in online every morning as this flags on their systems that you are still looking for work, so do it.
You don’t need a four day course to be a waitress or a cleaner so neither do you to quality as a stewardess. Just make the most of your experience on your CV. Most jobs for all positions require yacht or cruise ship experience so if all your skills have been built up on land you need to maximize them to their FULL potential. You can view my CV below, a photograph must be included and this is preferred in front of a nautical background.
The course you do have to complete is an STCW’95 which is a five day basic safety course. I paid $1,000 US to do my course here in Florida with ICT who I found to be a very good school. In the Mediterranean, England and Australia the courses are a considerably more expensive and in some places such as South Africa, incredibly cheap. The other basic requirement is the ENG1 medical, which you can get in any country, in Australia this cost me $165 AUD.
Now you meet the basic requirements for an entry level stewardess or deckhand job on board a super yacht, of course there are a wealth of other courses you can do that may or may not make you more hirable at entry level but are certainly required if you intend to make a career out of it. Requirements for chefs and other positions vary; some chef’s can even get away without an STCW’95.
Where to go and when
Now you meet the basic requirements for an entry level stewardess or deckhand job on board a super yacht, of course there are a wealth of other courses you can do that may or may not make you more hirable at entry level but are certainly required if you intend to make a career out of it. Requirements for chefs and other positions vary; some chef’s can even get away without an STCW’95.
Where to go and when
The chances of you getting a job without moving your feet are very slim. You have to be in the place to get a job. You will see on this chart the yachting hubs and when is the best month to get there. I would advise studying your STCW at your destination, as it’s a great way to meet people and get your bearings. Basically the prime summer season from the Mediterranean runs from June to September and the winter season goes to the Caribbean with most yachts crewing up in Fort Lauderdale. If you want to jump on down under or in Kiwi land, yachts are likely to be there November to May before heading to the pacific islands. Some jobs are for year contracts, i.e. starting in Med and going on to do a winter season in the Caribbean and other jobs will be just for a season.
Check for dates of boat shows as this is a great time to get day work and enjoy all the free parties and start building up your contacts. The Fort Lauderdale show falls on the last weekend of October.
Going to a new place to look for a new job is really fun, especially in this industry as there is so many people to meet and yachties certainly know how to have fun.
Things to be aware of if you are not a resident of the country you intend to job search in
If you choose to jump on board from Florida, or are hoping to come from the Mediterranean over to the USA for the winter season chances are you will need a B1/B2 visa (if of course your not already a citizen of the United states). This can be difficult to obtain without proof of a job but after all the stress I encountered the process was reasonably painless. First you must fill out an online application, pay your fee and make an appointment with the embassy. Print out everything you have to prove that is why you are heading to the country, CV, confirmation of course booking, bank statement to prove sufficient funds, invoices from accommodation deposits, job descriptions and be sure to say that you are going to work on a non US flagged vessel. If approved the embassy take your passport and mail it out to you within 7 days so be aware of this time when booking your flights. I haven’t seen this requirement missed off a single job advertisement, so especially if you are ‘green’ this is one big fat tick that you can display proudly on the top of your CV. If you don’t manage to get your visa before you arrive, you can always hop out of the country and back again with boat papers secured.
The reason the visa application is a touchy subject is because it does not give you the right to work in the US, or the permission to look for work, simply to just to be within their waters on a foreign flagged vessel. Swot up on what the visa entitles you to and its limitations before attending the embassy. This brings me to one of the popular job searching methods – dock walking. There is much stipulation over the subject. This used to be the way that most people got their jobs, you would walk the docks first thing in the morning and ask each boat if they required day workers in the hope that you would gain a day or two of work and then get hired full time. This is illegal if you are not a green card holder or an EU citizen in the med. That doesn’t stop people doing it, agencies telling you to do it, or captains saying that they would much rather hire this way as the candidate has shown dedication and willing to take a risk. Personally I was very wary and used it as a last resort and was very happy to secure my job that afternoon- through an agency. Some people tell you to wear yachty clothes so that you look like you already work on a boat, but I have heard of a friend who was walking to a secured day work position and got picked up and sent straight to immigration and has since suffered problems every time he enters the country. Others tell you to look like a tourist taking photos of the yachts to avoid officers, but also to help you gain access to the marina’s as most are curtained by gates and security guards. My advice - just stick to the website daywork123.
How much will I earn?
There are two different types of yachts, private or charter, sometimes a combination of both. Charter means that you will have different guests renting the yacht and its services for x amount of time. This can be very tough work with fast change arounds and guests can be more demanding but the financial rewards pay off. You will earn your basic wage plus anything from $1,000 tips per week and there is no upper limit. A friend of mine received an $8,000 tip after a two week charter. The second option is private, here the owners will be less inclined to consistently exploit everything available to them and there could be more downtime. If you get a nice owner who values their employees you might receive bonuses. For a green stew on a private yacht you would expect to earn from $2,000 -$3,500 per month.
As with everything - itinerary, pay, benefits and whether or not you are seen as a slave or as an employee differ from yacht to yacht. I have been lucky enough to score a job with wonderful owners, a lively world wide cruising itinerary and excellent benefits.
Fort Lauderdale Crew Houses
Marys crew house – she will get you day work if she likes you and the accommodation is clean with a little pool and very centrally located. Mary does run a very tight ship when it comes to having visitors, noise levels and upkeep of the facilities
Sams crew house – curtained windows and 25 yachties all bunked under one roof, one friend that stayed there didn’t find any work through the hostel and had had enough of the hostel living situation after a week, the other loved how many people she got to live with and meet. At busy periods sam puts you on a waiting list and when a bed becomes available you must pay from that date to reserve your bed, this put me off completely
Yachtie rentals – saw one fantastic property with very happy housemates but I would never go with them again, in my experience the organisation was terrible and they first placed me in a house with people that were not even yachties
Smart move – wide range of centrally located accommodation, they really do seem the way to go. Excellent facilities and obove all the most popular choice among people I have spoken to
Cheryl’s guesthouse – great for getting people work and very popular among South Africans
Ok, I want to do it – what exactly shall I do?
· Decide on your season and destination
· Apply for your B1/B2 visa (if applicable)
· Book your ENG 1 Medical
· Enrol onto a course for your STCW’95
· Have a look at crew houses
· Start on your CV and business cards
· Apply to the agencies, like them on facebook and join any industry groups on Facebook
- print out anything you can to help you pass the interview at immigration and to avoid a grilling at the airport!-
When you get there
· Check into your crew house and find out if there is any yachtie nights on that night, it’s time to socialise
· Get yourself a bicycle, especially if you are in Fort Lauderdale – these American roads are big and it is haaat!
· Print your CV and business cards, leave the cards wherever they might be seen
· Keep active online through the agency websites, daywork123, dockwalk.com and social media pages. Check if there are any parties that you need to register for
· Do your STCW and make friends with everyone, take all of their details when the week ends. Your teachers will all be x captains or well connected in the industry so suck up to them too. Tell them your eager for any work and to consider you if they hear of anyone needing a help
· If you haven’t already, then get your self kitted out with a white polo, beige shorts and boat shoes, just wearing them around opens you up to all kinds of opportunities
· Go to ALL of the agencies, tell them you’ve registered online, some will give you an appointment. Go in every other day with your smiling face and professional attire asking them if there’s any new jobs in
· Go out every night and make friends but don’t ever make a fool of yourself and drink to much that you don’t wake up fresh and productive the next morning. Girls remember that most of the time, ‘I know someone looking for a stew’ is nine times out of ten an empty chat up line
· As soon as you get any day work, add it to your CV and just keep sending them out
· Keep at it, if you want it enough – YOU WILL GET A JOB
Check for dates of boat shows as this is a great time to get day work and enjoy all the free parties and start building up your contacts. The Fort Lauderdale show falls on the last weekend of October.
Going to a new place to look for a new job is really fun, especially in this industry as there is so many people to meet and yachties certainly know how to have fun.
Things to be aware of if you are not a resident of the country you intend to job search in
If you choose to jump on board from Florida, or are hoping to come from the Mediterranean over to the USA for the winter season chances are you will need a B1/B2 visa (if of course your not already a citizen of the United states). This can be difficult to obtain without proof of a job but after all the stress I encountered the process was reasonably painless. First you must fill out an online application, pay your fee and make an appointment with the embassy. Print out everything you have to prove that is why you are heading to the country, CV, confirmation of course booking, bank statement to prove sufficient funds, invoices from accommodation deposits, job descriptions and be sure to say that you are going to work on a non US flagged vessel. If approved the embassy take your passport and mail it out to you within 7 days so be aware of this time when booking your flights. I haven’t seen this requirement missed off a single job advertisement, so especially if you are ‘green’ this is one big fat tick that you can display proudly on the top of your CV. If you don’t manage to get your visa before you arrive, you can always hop out of the country and back again with boat papers secured.
The reason the visa application is a touchy subject is because it does not give you the right to work in the US, or the permission to look for work, simply to just to be within their waters on a foreign flagged vessel. Swot up on what the visa entitles you to and its limitations before attending the embassy. This brings me to one of the popular job searching methods – dock walking. There is much stipulation over the subject. This used to be the way that most people got their jobs, you would walk the docks first thing in the morning and ask each boat if they required day workers in the hope that you would gain a day or two of work and then get hired full time. This is illegal if you are not a green card holder or an EU citizen in the med. That doesn’t stop people doing it, agencies telling you to do it, or captains saying that they would much rather hire this way as the candidate has shown dedication and willing to take a risk. Personally I was very wary and used it as a last resort and was very happy to secure my job that afternoon- through an agency. Some people tell you to wear yachty clothes so that you look like you already work on a boat, but I have heard of a friend who was walking to a secured day work position and got picked up and sent straight to immigration and has since suffered problems every time he enters the country. Others tell you to look like a tourist taking photos of the yachts to avoid officers, but also to help you gain access to the marina’s as most are curtained by gates and security guards. My advice - just stick to the website daywork123.
How much will I earn?
There are two different types of yachts, private or charter, sometimes a combination of both. Charter means that you will have different guests renting the yacht and its services for x amount of time. This can be very tough work with fast change arounds and guests can be more demanding but the financial rewards pay off. You will earn your basic wage plus anything from $1,000 tips per week and there is no upper limit. A friend of mine received an $8,000 tip after a two week charter. The second option is private, here the owners will be less inclined to consistently exploit everything available to them and there could be more downtime. If you get a nice owner who values their employees you might receive bonuses. For a green stew on a private yacht you would expect to earn from $2,000 -$3,500 per month.
As with everything - itinerary, pay, benefits and whether or not you are seen as a slave or as an employee differ from yacht to yacht. I have been lucky enough to score a job with wonderful owners, a lively world wide cruising itinerary and excellent benefits.
Fort Lauderdale Crew Houses
Marys crew house – she will get you day work if she likes you and the accommodation is clean with a little pool and very centrally located. Mary does run a very tight ship when it comes to having visitors, noise levels and upkeep of the facilities
Sams crew house – curtained windows and 25 yachties all bunked under one roof, one friend that stayed there didn’t find any work through the hostel and had had enough of the hostel living situation after a week, the other loved how many people she got to live with and meet. At busy periods sam puts you on a waiting list and when a bed becomes available you must pay from that date to reserve your bed, this put me off completely
Yachtie rentals – saw one fantastic property with very happy housemates but I would never go with them again, in my experience the organisation was terrible and they first placed me in a house with people that were not even yachties
Smart move – wide range of centrally located accommodation, they really do seem the way to go. Excellent facilities and obove all the most popular choice among people I have spoken to
Cheryl’s guesthouse – great for getting people work and very popular among South Africans
Ok, I want to do it – what exactly shall I do?
· Decide on your season and destination
· Apply for your B1/B2 visa (if applicable)
· Book your ENG 1 Medical
· Enrol onto a course for your STCW’95
· Have a look at crew houses
· Start on your CV and business cards
· Apply to the agencies, like them on facebook and join any industry groups on Facebook
- print out anything you can to help you pass the interview at immigration and to avoid a grilling at the airport!-
When you get there
· Check into your crew house and find out if there is any yachtie nights on that night, it’s time to socialise
· Get yourself a bicycle, especially if you are in Fort Lauderdale – these American roads are big and it is haaat!
· Print your CV and business cards, leave the cards wherever they might be seen
· Keep active online through the agency websites, daywork123, dockwalk.com and social media pages. Check if there are any parties that you need to register for
· Do your STCW and make friends with everyone, take all of their details when the week ends. Your teachers will all be x captains or well connected in the industry so suck up to them too. Tell them your eager for any work and to consider you if they hear of anyone needing a help
· If you haven’t already, then get your self kitted out with a white polo, beige shorts and boat shoes, just wearing them around opens you up to all kinds of opportunities
· Go to ALL of the agencies, tell them you’ve registered online, some will give you an appointment. Go in every other day with your smiling face and professional attire asking them if there’s any new jobs in
· Go out every night and make friends but don’t ever make a fool of yourself and drink to much that you don’t wake up fresh and productive the next morning. Girls remember that most of the time, ‘I know someone looking for a stew’ is nine times out of ten an empty chat up line
· As soon as you get any day work, add it to your CV and just keep sending them out
· Keep at it, if you want it enough – YOU WILL GET A JOB