Green Crew Pathway

Create your CV

Your CV is your selling tool. It is the first impression that a Captain/Management company will have of you and you will need it to make an impact in such a competitive industry.

• Ensure you include a smart, professional head and shoulders photograph
• Double check all contact details are up to date, including a professional email address
• Include all relevant work experience, starting with your most recent
• Keep an easy to read layout
• Include all relevant Qualifications
• Include all relevant hobbies and interests including watersports, team sports etc
• Provide up to date contact information for x 2 verbal references
• Keep CV to a maximum of 2 pages. Make it concise and ensure it sells YOU to the potential employer!

Our yacht placement team are always on hand to assist with enhancing your CV and chances of gaining a suitable role within the industry.

Certification Required

To start work in the yachting industry, the main certificates requested by the vessel or management company are usually:

• STCW Basic Training- The aim of the course is to give seafarers the essential education and training in Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid and Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities, with an additional Proficiency in Security Awareness
• ENG1 or Equivalent Seafarer Medical- This can be completed at any MCA approved doctors’ surgery.

We also receive many requests for:

• Proficiency in Designated Security Duties
• Powerboat level II

Any additional relevant courses that could benefit yourself or the yacht. These could include, but not limited to:

Dock walking

Yachting is a very competitive industry to break into.

Every year, there are large numbers of crew who are keen to gain their first experiences in the industry and most entry-level crew gain their first experiences by dock walking.

With pre-season preparations and last-minute turnarounds, there are often a number of yachts looking for enthusiastic crew to help with getting the boat up to suitable standards for their owner and/or charter guests.

Dock walking is essentially, travelling to “yachting hubs” such as ports and shipyards in South of France, Italy or Palma and will involve approaching and speaking with the crew (where possible) and handing over your CV to an onboard crew member,  with the aim of securing day-work, seasonal role or even a permanent position. Nowadays, marinas and shipyards have much higher security, so dock walking can be difficult at times, but it is still possible to find day work.  We recommend getting started early in the morning as a much better time to see and approach crew.

Booking into crew houses or shared accommodation in the area makes networking with other crew members easier,  and expanding your network allows for more awareness of potential job opportunities. Facebook pages are also another way to find entry level positions.  Vessels often post opportunities on pages such as Antibes Yacht Crew and Palma Yacht Crew.

Dock walking Hints and Tips

• Make sure your CV stands out from the crowd, in a good way!   Make sure you take enough CV copies with you! Follow our Green Crew CV template below for help
• Gaining that first role is about being in the right place at the right time for the right boat. Do not be disheartened by rejections, it’s competitive. Don’t give up!
• Be presentable! Neat and tidy.  Look like you could come aboard straight away and join their crew
• Be open minded when it comes to the position/rank on offer, the most important part of dock walking is getting that first experience to build on your CV and skills and then who knows where it can lead.
• Be polite and patient. Crew are busy and working. Smile, show some personality, but do not be overbearing.
• For Dock walking in the USA, ensure you have the relevant visas