Would you tell your whole life story on a first date? Actually, a few in the Superyacht industry probably would, but that's not the point...

Lets start with why we actually write a CV in the first place? It’s not a trick question, but I’m sure most people will probably say "its going to get me a job on a Superyacht." That's not untrue, but the reality is that your CV gives you the chance to win an interview for a job, it doesn’t get you the job! 

More often than not you will need to win an interview with a crew agent first, and after a successful interview with a crew agent you will then be put forward to interview with either a Captain or other decision makers onboard. Its in your interview with them that you can continue telling the whole story of what you started successfully, albeit briefly, on your CV. Therefore there's no need to tell your whole life story from the start, in your CV.

So why is your CV like a first date then?

• You need to make a great first impression: a neat well structured CV with a professional looking image will do this.
• Second, you need to make the most of your time together: clear presentation and concise information. Don’t ramble on about things that aren’t relevant, like previous job skills that do not cross over into yachting. 
• Thirdly, you want to leave your date wanting to come back for more: “you’ve got the skills we need, and you look like an really interesting person I'd like to get to know you better… Boom!" 

Therefore your CV will give you the chance to win an interview, and then its up to you to turn those dating opportunities into a relationship and a full time job on a Superyacht! 

So take the time to prepare a successful CV, like you would when preparing for a successful first date.

• present yourself well
• make sure all contact details are correct
• use simple but specific stories
• talk about only things that are interesting for the both of you

Enjoy the courting period and good luck. 

If you have any friends that are having trouble with their CV, forward them on the post with the easy to share buttons on the side of the page.

Importantly if you haven’t changed your Facebook privacy settings then you must do this now. Before you start spreading your personal details out there amongst everyone in the world.

Don't ignore what is staring you in the face. You are the only one that cares about your wellbeing when it comes to getting your first job as a new crew member to the Superyacht industry. Not the crew agents.

Why:

• You have nothing to lose when starting out in yachting and are willing to try anything with no experience.
  
• Crew agents have everything to lose. If they place someone with no experience onto a yacht and it doesn't work out its on their head. Therefore with no experience its difficult for them to place you. Its pretty simple really.

This is why as new crew to yachting you will continually get the same answer back from crew agents. Which is "go and get some experience" or "go and find some daywork to put on your CV", and then we can look at placing you… Sound familiar? That's what almost every response back to How To Get Into Yachting has been over the last few months when people have contacted us for our help and guidance. But, its all easier said than done we know. (read below for the unseen value)

So, where do i start? How do i get Daywork? How do i get a permanent position?

Our advice is get networking now! Meet someone on the dock, network. Meet someone at the bar, network. Meet someone that works on a yacht, network. Meet someone that knows someone that works on a yacht, network. For this type of networking Facebook can be your best friend. 

• Become Facebook friends with as many people in yachting as possible, and stay in touch regularly. 
  

Facebook can be your passport through the yachting network, for work experience and opportunities for new crew.

Why:

• Its the easiest way to stay in contact with new friends and continually network with them, which could help lead you to work
  
• You can see which friends are where in the world, which could help lead you to work
  
• Your posts or updates on Facebook will keep you fresh in the minds of your yachting friends, which could help lead you to work
  
• When Daywork is available, or a positions pops up onboard (or on another yacht) then your friends can contact you quickly, which could help lead you to work
  
• Plus hiring crew members can check you out visually. This is the truth (Facebook stalking happens everywhere), and it can be a far more beneficial step-up into the industry than just a crew agent interview.

Here is the unseen value!

Having multiple friends within the yachting on your Facebook page can be the perfect "reference" without you having to interview, daywork, or have a long list of experience. 

Why? Because everyone wants to work with good people. 

Crew compositions are hugely important onboard, and longevity can be achieved by a group of people with similar interests and friends. Can you see the angle we're talking about?

For example: When a hiring crew member (Captain, Officer, Chief Stewardess) does a little "reference" check of their own (and they will) everyone will check Facebook. Therefore there is a possibility they may see friends that you both have in common or with other crew. 

This could be viewed as 

• "well if they're friends with 'them', we could give them a chance...?" 
  
• "he looks like a pretty cool surfer, we're all surfers…" 
  
• "he knows Smithy, i'll PM 'John Smith' to check out what they're really like...?" 

This happens all the time and its social weight to your cause without continually being rejected on the docks.

This is an easy and powerful way to look at your networking which you can do from day one! It can be so important to add strength to your limited profile (and social CV) when your work experience is in its infancy. Plus its a natural unchallenging thing to do, becoming new Facebook friends with as many people as you can, easy...

So, if you're new to yachting and looking to find daywork that will hopefully lead to a permanent position, this could be your golden ticket without you even knowing it. Get networking!

But first check out our post on Don't get caught with your pants down on Facebook and forward it on to your friends that are doing the same!

A huge congratulations to The Crew Grapevine for taking the honors in our Facebook poll for Best Crew House in Antibes, 2014. The poll was conducted on our How To Get Into Yachting Facebook page and promoted across a huge range of superyacht Facebook community pages.

Honorable mentions must go to Amma's Crew House and The Crew House who were very close in the running and between the three, collected a majority of the votes polled.

• Why new crew should start their yachting career by staying in a crew house first: And the importance of crew houses to the Superyacht industry

We've already had a huge response from our new members thanking us for the guidance, and we pass the thanks back to all of those who voted and contributed to promote our post. That's what these communities are for!

View our page for Crew Houses in Antibes here

Have you read our previous posts?

• Don't get caught with your pants down on Facebook: How your Facebook profile could be holding you back from getting your first job?
• The Exact Guide on how to enter the Superyacht industry as new crew

Feel free to comment or share your story and experience below

Feel free to comment or share your story and experience below

Crew Houses play a fundamental role in the development and initial education of new crew to the Superyacht industry, as well as their primary function of crew accommodation. A good Crew House can make or break the initial push by a new crew member when starting out in the yachting industry, and be the difference between them getting daywork, a full time position, or spending all their time and money with no direction and sending them back to square one.

That is why we are running a Facebook poll to help find the best Crew House in Antibes, so that all our new crew followers can have the best direction for their start in yachting.
 
Vote by clicking here for the Best Crew House in Antibes 2014

The importance of a quality Crew House can not be dismissed:

• They are the essential starting point for all new crew in the industry.
  
• They allow new crew to network with fellow new crew, and also freely mix with other established yachting crew.
• They allow a place for new crew to get access daywork which can be very elusive.
  
• They can direct you of the local do's and dont's. Not only for, what-to and what-not-to do within the industry, but just as importantly to the new town, country and culture that you are starting in.
  

This is why they are incredibly important to the framework of yachting and especially so, to new crew starting out. 

Have you stayed in a Crew House in Antibes? Please vote by clicking here for the Best Crew House in Antibes 2014

It is so important for new crew to the Superyacht industry to start out in a good Crew House, and this is why we have run this Facebook poll to gauge the industry perception of accommodation in Antibes, and best direct the new crew to the leaders in accommodation there. 

After you are established and comfortable with your position within the industry then definitely explore other types of accommodation if you wish, but as a starting point we'd always direct new crew in yachting to the Crew House experience first. As they are much more than just a place to put head down.

Have you read our previous posts?

• Don't get caught with your pants down on Facebook: How your Facebook profile could be holding you back from getting your first job?
  
• The Exact Guide on how to enter the Superyacht industry as new crew

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that once a CV goes across someones desk, the employer without doubt will look you up on Facebook to see if they can get a better understanding of your life and personality. It's no different in the Superyacht industry and most likely it's even more common, as their need to know about your behaviour is heightened by the fact that they will not only work with you, but also live with you. 

So, if drinking too much, jumping on cars, swearing at friends, or giving the one fingered salute to the camera isn't your persuasion then thats a big bonus. But i'm sure you've still got some friends that do. Therefore I'd strongly recommend checking your privacy settings. Share this with them now >

The 3 most important privacy setting changes you need to make on Facebook to get a job!

It's not only what you post on Facebook that will be taken into account when your credentials are being reviewed, but what your friends post about you, can be just as critical. View these options and make your own decision!

SHARE THIS post with any of your friends that you think might be in danger of making this simple but crucial mistake! 
- easy share options at bottom of page or left hand side!

PREVIOUS POST: The exact guide on how to enter the Superyacht industry as new crew

If you have any other Facebook security tricks then please comment below or share them with us on Facebook!