Navigating the Challenges of Becoming an Aspiring Yacht Crew Member
Entering the yachting industry as a green crew member can be both exciting and challenging. As a newcomer, it's essential to navigate through the hurdles and stand out among the competition. In this article, we will explore the specific challenges faced by green yacht crew and provide practical solutions.
Recorded Issues and Challenges for Green Crew:
It is essential to be aware of the common challenges faced by green yacht crew in order to proactively address and overcome them. These are industry reported issues from Captains & HOD’s having experienced working with green crew. Some of the reported issues include:
1. Lack of Experience: Many green crew members lack practical experience when starting in the yachting industry. This can hinder their chances of securing a job. Gaining hands-on experience in your courses and daywork will help you put some experience on your CV but gaining daywork also shows commitment to your desire to work in the industry.
2. Limited Industry Knowledge: Green crew may struggle with understanding the intricacies of the yachting industry, including protocols, procedures, and the specific expectations onboard. Green crew are expected to know the jargon used during radio conversation as soon as they join the team, so brushing up on the terms is important to joining seamlessly. Respecting the hierarchy is also one that is often mentioned by HOD’s, respecting your HOD’s is expected of junior crew.
3. Lack of realistic expectations: Many enter the industry under the pretenses of what others have said and posted on social media, but do not truly understand what is expected of them. You need to be aware of the long hours with minimal time off, the speed you need to work at, the positive mind-set you need to maintain, the repetitive nature of the work, challenging guests, strict HOD’s and minimal empathy for exhaustion & personal issues. Realign your expectations with the reality of yachting.
4. Always thinking this grass is greener: The turnover of green crew is exceptionally high, also a reason many yacht agents do not want to place green crew who have not yet provided themselves. Many green crew stay in contact with the other yacht crew they have met in their crew house or out and about. In these continued interactions, they share stories of which some may think that their current situation can be better if they move on to another boat, as their friends are all getting gifts and big tips. However, what green crew fail to realise that a well-run vessel & supported and happy crew are more important than all the other bonuses of yachting. This creates a cycle of “Boat Hoppers” a term used to describe someone who is always looking for greener grass, and professional and well-run vessels will not hire boat hoppers.
5. Challenge free yachting/Work-life balance in yachting:Such a phrase does not exist in yachting, yet many green crew think entering the industry once they have their certificates will be easy, because they are now qualified, this is not the case. There is huge competition between green crew every year, and many give up because of the competition, ups & downs, employment rejections and the length of time it takes to find work. The key is to not give up, change the process if it doesn’t work, don’t do what everyone else is doing to stand out, and know that it is not easy, but it will be worth it.
Other Barriers:
- Competition in yacht employment
- Training and certification barriers
- Navigating yacht recruitment
- Work-life balance in yachting
- Financial challenges - Visa, accommodation...
- Mental health in the superyacht industry
Tips for Effective Networking with Yacht Crew:
Networking is a crucial aspect of succeeding in the yachting industry. Here are some tips to help you network effectively:
1. Attend Yacht Shows and Events: Yacht shows and industry events provide excellent opportunities to meet experienced crew members and industry professionals. Introduce yourself, ask questions, and express genuine interest. Be proactive in building connections.
2. Utilize Social Media: Join professional networking platforms and social media groups dedicated to the yachting industry. Engage in discussions, share relevant insights, and connect with fellow crew members. Create a social media page only for yachting, use this as your portfolio of evidence, of what you can do & have learnt.
Overall, green crew face challenges from the word “Go”, but the ups and downs build character and grit, it teaches you that things in life worth having are also worth fighting for. But most importantly, this article is trying to show you that the more prepared and educated you are about the industry and what is to come, the more successful you will be at it.
