Take a leap and become a yachtie

Ever wondered what it would be like to board a luxury superyacht? Ever dreamt of working on such yachts? Did you know that at MaritimeMT there is a Superyacht Academy that can prepare you to become a crew member and start making use of your sea legs?

Yachting is a cool way to earn boatloads of money and travel the world, but nothing comes easy. So, what does it really take to become a “yachtie”?

1.????The right training and a good command of English

Like any other job, without the basic entry level skills, you cannot land a starting job in yachting. The Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Basic Safety Training is a 6-day course that can be easily attained at MaritimeMT. This course includes four certificates combined in one - Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities. You also need to be certified by your family doctor as healthy and able to work.

?A yacht has 4 main departments falling under the responsibility of the Captain, and each department has a spectrum of positions which require a number of prerequisites to be able to be considered for employment. Crew positions and number of crew at each position vary by the size of the yacht, but in general the departments would be split as follows:

Although each position has its own qualifications, a “green” crew starts from the bottom and works their way up through experience and training. MaritimeMT facilitates and provides training for the different levels and positions. Length and duration of the courses vary, however as a European Union national you can benefit from financial aid (such as the Malta Enterprise Get Qualified and Jobsplus schemes) that will make this career route more affordable for a “green” crew.

?English is the official universal maritime language, so having a good command of English will give you a head start in this career. However, even those who don’t, can undergo a Maritime English course that can help you get in line with the basic requirements.?

1.????The right personality

If a 9 to 5 office job bores you and you don’t have an issue with sharing your personal space, then yachting might be the answer. However, you need to be a jack of all trades, hardworking, intuitive, spontaneous, and able to work under pressure in order to satisfy this very demanding industry. The service given on these luxury superyachts is very high-ranking, so you cannot have a crew member with anger management issues. It is important that you understand your personality to be able to assess whether you fit the yachting life or not.

In this industry one must not fear change, because change is the only constant. This is because this career calls for changing jobs, so don’t expect to be returning to the same job and yacht after the end of the season. You must always be on the lookout for new opportunities.

?2.????The right attitude

A highly opinionated individual might come across as cocky, which can cause issues. It is not that your opinion doesn’t matter, but ultimately, it’s the guests’ and owner’s opinion that matters most. One must be able to accept cultural diversities and cannot be scrupulous.

Moreover, if you enjoy partying and the good social life, the yachties are known to work hard to party hard! So, this might be your calling.

?3.????The right age

Start young and start today. Don’t wait too long to being your maritime training. Although ageism might not necessarily be a stumbling block, the industry is dominated by young driven individuals. Let’s face it, at 40 years old you don’t necessarily want to be sharing a cabin with a 20 year old, because the priorities at both ages will be different. Conversely, working your way to becoming a captain means a number of years’ experience and in this position the more sea time the better.

?4.????The right resume and networks

If you tick all the boxes mentioned above, you still have the last step to master. While an interior steward on land barely scrapes the minimum wage, a junior interior steward on a yacht earns three times as much. A simple google search can easily show you the demand for crew and wages within the yachting industry. Hence, since the salaries are so competitive, your resume must make a very good first impression to crew agencies and the respective employers. Moreover, since it’s a growing industry, it is imperative to keep up to date with where the crowd is heading. Superyacht shows in some of the largest marinas are a must visit.

Ultimately, yachting is not for everyone however, one can understand that entering this industry has its perks. So, if you’re interested in changing your career, MaritimeMT Superyacht Academy can be your passport to cruising the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas this coming summer.??