Yachting & Instagram

Social media can get a lot of bad press, so I thought I would share how useful I find it, as an interior crew recruiter, when yacht crew make ‘professional’ use of their Instagram account. It is a superb platform from which to showcase your skills, so if you are considering starting a ‘career-focused’ Instagram account then please do so!

When a CV includes a link to a candidates Instagram account, you can guarantee that I will check it out! It can be a fantastic platform for yacht crew to show off their talents and what they are capable of. I find it especially beneficial when yacht chefs post photos of their culinary dishes or when interior crew post photos of their elaborate tablescapes and floral arrangements. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and I couldn’t agree more, as there is only so much you can put on your CV and just a couple of photos at the most, which is why I think that Instagram is a great option to have a “portfolio” of your work.

There are also many yacht crew that I find via Instagram without having seen their CV. If I find a profile showing professionalism and skill, it’s likely that I will reach out, through a direct message (DM) to ask if they are looking for their next great yacht job. It is worthy of note that this is a proven way to be seen by captains and crew recruiters without you having to find us first.

If you are a green stew or junior stew trying to get your foot in the door of the yachting industry, then it is certainly beneficial for you to showcase your “extra skills”; simply post photos that could be useful to finding a yacht job. For example, if you are a beautician, post images of nails that you’ve created or a mixologist would be well advised to add photos of cocktails. Not only can Instagram be helpful when it comes to searching for your next role, you never know what you may end up in your next career. A healthy number of followers is your existing client base if you end up deciding to launch your own business, for example.

You may have noticed that there are quite a few “Yachtie influencers” nowadays so if you are consistent with your posts then who knows all the many opportunities that will open up for you!

It works as a catalogue too or a source of inspiration. If you are suffering from creative fatigue towards the end of a busy charter season, you can remind yourself of a table setting, a theme night or a cocktail you prepared, all from your own library. It is also pretty nice to get a few extra “likes” and comments on your photos (work) because we all know that the guests may be so accustomed to beautiful dinner setups that they don’t even bat an eyelid upon walking to the table to sit down for a glamorous evening.

Housekeepers can take photos of a perfectly presented cabin (who doesn’t love a good before and after?) and towel/toilet paper folds etc. Let’s not miss out the deck crew …. are you a sailor, a dive instructor, or a surf instructor perhaps? Then strap on a GoPro and take some epic photos to share. Even just sharing helpful tips with your fellow deck crew is always eye-catching for a recruiter or captain.

However, always be aware that you are being paid to work and contribute to the safety and operational activity of the yacht. Spending all day capturing the artistic angle of a shiny cleat, perfectly wound mooring rope or dinner table laid to perfection is not your main focus! Also, do take great care with the privacy of guests and the yacht itself. No faces unless you secure written permission first, no yacht names unless you have permission and always bear in mind your NDA.

The Med season has just begun so consider it a perfect time to start that Instagram account. You certainly won’t be short on content since you will be setting at least three tables per day for at least three meal services. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. Good luck! ??

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Written by our interior recruiter:?[email protected]