Are you new to the yachting industry and have never worked on boats before? Even though you have not worked on yachts before you need to show potential employers that you have the necessary qualities to do so. Here are a few tips to get started and give you an edge to make you more appealing to yacht captains and owners!

Getting your first Yachting Job
The key to getting your first job is to network, network, and network. In addition to registering and checking-in regularly with the agencies, it is important to walk the docks at the local ports and marinas asking for day work, talk to people at the local crew houses, yacht training schools and Internet Stations. At all times it is important to have a professional appearance whether interviewing or walking the docks. You should be clean shaven, well groomed, hair pulled back and presentably dressed. Tattoos need to be covered up and piercing removed. An overall clean and smart appearance says a lot about your attitude and work ethic.

Yachting Seasons
The main yachting season in the Mediterranean runs from April until September and the majority of our employment vacancies arise between May and July. However during October/November, many of the yachts prepare to go to the Caribbean for the winter season, therefore a substantial number of vacancies generally occur. November through April is the Caribbean season. The best time to start looking for your first yachting job would be between April and May in Antibes or Palma de Mallorca

Your Curriculum Vita

1. While writing your CV, there are many ways to aim your skills toward the yachting industry.
a. If you are applying for a Steward/Stewardess position, emphasise any hospitality experience or customer service you     may have had, such as waitressing, hostessing, silver service, bartending, cooking, nanny/au pairing, babysitting, flower-arranging, cleaning, and/or laundry experience.
b. If you are applying for a Deckhand position, include all woodwork/carpentry and mechanical experience in addition to     painting, polishing, varnishing, diving, sailing, fishing (all water sports), and rope handling if applicable.
c. For an engineering position include all mechanical experience and qualifications including all work done in     refrigeration, air conditioning, engines, electrical work, electronics and computing.

2. Additional qualifications that are appealing to yacht captains and owners are Languages, experience in Hotels,     Resorts, Cabin Crew and Cruise Ship, CPR, First Aid certification or any emergency medical training, Nursing, and     Masseuse/ Beauty Therapy licenses.

3. Activities such as travelling, sailing or diving can be helpful on your CV, so stress any sailing experience, even      non-professional, and briefly list any recent travels.

Yachting Qualifications
There are many different qualifications throughout the yachting industry, many of the boats we deal with are MCA flagged, and therefore require certain certification from their crew. The qualification that is becoming increasingly important is the STCW95 Basic Crew Training. It is a 5 day course that covers modules for Elementary First Aid, Basic Fire Fighting, Personal Survival Techniques and Public Safety & Social Responsibility. This course is often required for deck & interior crew, and is demanded more and more. For information about STCW95 Basic Crew Training and other courses to begin and further your yachting career, access the Blue Water Training website.

Accommodation
Our new candidates arrive in Antibes from all over the world, so we have a list of possible accommodation ready for you, ranging from apartments, to crew houses to hotels. Give us a call before you arrive in Antibes, or just pass by our Antibes office when you get to Antibes, and we will give you all the details necessary to find a nice place to stay!