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A yacht crew CV is your personal marketing brochure. It’s the gateway to your future and provides a shop window to showcase what you have to offer to potential employers.

A weak CV which is badly laid out, contains spelling mistakes and is difficult to read creates a bad impression. After all, would you entrust your valuable superyacht to someone who was not even professional enough to take the time to spellcheck and read through their CV? So, maximise your chances of success by taking a look at what potential employers look for in a CV.

1. The basics

Remember that first impressions count. Make your CV easy on the eye and don’t be tempted by outlandish fonts which may be difficult to read. Less is more, so remember to leave lots of white space. Underline headings so that they stand out and make your contact details easy to identify. All this helps your CV to flow well.

2. Smile please

You should be smiling in your photo, but avoid photos that have obviously been taken during social occasions such as visits to the pub or a party. Look neat and tidy, without a hat or baseball cap and no sunglasses.

3. Professional Experience & Qualifications

If you already have yachting experience, ensure that you give this section prominence and don’t forget to list start and finish dates, the size and name of the yachts, your job title and the exact nature of your duties.

If you have yachting related qualifications, place them at the top followed by academic and any other qualifications you hold.

4. Capabilities & Goals

When writing this section, think about what you can offer and how you can add value to your future employer instead of considering what you want to gain personally from your next superyacht job. For example, instead of saying that you want to ‘gain experience as a deckhand on a superyacht,’ think about your previous experience and how you can show what it brings to the employer: ‘My previous experience as a barman in a luxury hotel gave me valuable skills to provide impeccable service to discerning clients.’

5. Personal Interests / Hobbies

There’s no need to write a full length novel but interests and hobbies show that you’re a rounded and social person. Don’t forget to include any voluntary / humanitarian activities and any clubs or societies, especially if you hold committee or management positions.

6. References

Some employers may have specific requirements for references, but in general, include up to three references that can be contacted by future employers. Don’t forget to give details of your connection with the reference. If you don’t have three work-related references, then include former teachers / university tutors, or anyone else who can attest to your abilities – close family members not included, of course.

7. Show off your hard work

Once you’ve polished your yacht crew CV, you’re ready to apply for yacht jobs. Leading crew recruitment specialist YPI Crew has a fast and easy online registration process for candidates where you can upload your gleaming new CV. A YPI Crew expert will review it and put your application forward for appropriate superyacht jobs. You can also check out the newly launched Crew Advice pages with more hints and tips.