Finding Success on Land After Life at Sea

Working as a crew member on a cruise ship can be a unique and exciting experience, but the transition back to land can be challenging for many former crew members. Finding a job on land after working on a ship can be especially difficult, as former crew members face several unique obstacles that make the process harder.?

One of the biggest challenges is the fact that crew have spent years, and in some cases decades, away from their home. It is estimated that 85% of jobs are found through networking, therefore when a crew member has spent so many years abroad this separation creates a huge gap in their "work network" and proves their reintegration into the job market a challenge. Not to mention how drastically the hiring market has changed in the last 10 years. From paper resumes on crisp paper to LinkedIn profiles and “connections”. Today, many crew get off a ship excited about what the future holds and then hit dead end after dead end in this new hiring world. This stress can tailspin them into feelings of isolation and loneliness, which ultimately impact their confidence and overall success as they are trying to present themselves to the job world.

The next challenge they will face is the lack of recognition and understanding of the skills and experience gained while working on ships. Employers typically do not understand the unique challenges and responsibilities faced by crew members, and may not appreciate the skills and experience those skills bring to the table. For those outside of the industry, on a daily basis a 3+ stripe officer typically manages over 100 employees, budgets in the millions, safety operations, business operations, customer service, and health standards. Their first meeting is at 8:00 am and then they step away from their computer at 11:00 pm, only to do it all over again, every day for 4-7 months straight. This level of grid or really excellence, can be difficult for land-based employers to understand. This unique work ethic, skills and experience is rare in other industries, but it is valuable. Understanding it and what it can provide you as an employer can propel your company to the next level with top tier talent.

All of this said, I know collectively we can make the transition to land easier for former crew. We can support them by sharing their resumes, by offering to do a free coaching call with them, or by just liking a post. Many have been floating around since COVID looking for something to fulfill them as much as the cruise industry did, so let's collectively see how we can support them. Whether you work at a cruise line, are a former crew that already transitioned - it all makes a difference. Let’s collectively #supportcrew.?

-Barbara Cobas, [email protected], IG @barbaracobas1

Ship2Shore Employ connects former crew members to virtual positions with cruise lines. Crew and Cruise Lines can sign up online at https://www.ship2shoreemploy.com. As of February 15, 2023, we are actively seeking crew & cruise lines.

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