Training is an important part of the process to obtain a yacht job. Nearly every yacht job position requires some sort of training, and usually that training is a blend of experience-related and boating-specific training. Depending on your job ambitions, you might choose a boat job that requires minimal training, such as deckhand or steward, or you might choose one that requires significant experience and detailed training, such as yacht engineer or captain. You can apply for boat jobs in the private and public sectors, as well as look for positions that provide the working hours and salary requirements you need. Usually, you’ll learn more about a specific job’s training and experience requirements during the job search and application process.
You’ll need to spend some time browsing all the different boat jobs available. Fortunately, these jobs vary from working as a chef to captaining the yacht, so there are plenty of boat jobs to choose from depending on your interests, skills, and ambitions. Too, you might find openings for both part-time and full-time jobs working on a yacht, as well as seasonal yacht jobs. The work schedule you want might influence the type of yacht job you apply for. Likewise, your everyday life will influence the kind of work schedule you want.
Regardless of the yacht job you’re interested in, most likely you’ll need to undergo some sort of boat-specific training. Generally, this training is part of the International Convention of Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). The STCW mandates the minimum standards all seafarers must meet. These standards include those related to proper training, certification, and watchkeeping. You’ll learn about specific training and certification requirements, as well as how to obtain them, as you browse for openings for the kind of boat job you want.
The kind of training required depends on the yacht job you want to pursue. For example, if you want to work as a deckhand, you’ll most likely need some sort of background in the service industry as well as training specific to properly maintaining the cleanliness and repair of both the inside and outside of the yacht. Similarly, if you want to work as a steward or stewardess, you might need a service background as well as training specific to performing steward or stewardess duties on a yacht.
Other more involved yacht jobs will require additional job-specific training and background. For example, if you want to work as a yacht engineer, you might need training specific to the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems on the boat. You may also be responsible for the boat’s computer systems.
Some boat jobs require a background in other boat jobs. You’ll need to climb a career ladder, so to speak. For example, if you want to become a yacht captain, chances are you’ll need a background working as a mate for a certain number of years in addition to a particular captain’s license. Likewise, getting hired as a mate often requires working as a deckhand first. Having the experience of these lower-rung jobs will help you better perform the higher-rung jobs.
All the different requirements related to training, certification, and past employment might seem overwhelming, but understand that you’ll learn more about these requirements as you learn more about, and look for openings for, the specific yacht job you want. You can apply for a boat job in much the same way you’d apply for any other job. Boat jobs are available in both the private and public sectors. You might find advertisements for a yacht job with an individual yacht owner or with a company that rents yachts complete with a yacht crew. If possible, network with other yacht workers to find out about job openings.
