• Where to find a Job
• Crew Agencies Information
• Scam: General Notes
• Registering online
• Listed Crew Agencies
• Facebook Pages & Groups for Yachting

Where to find a job

There are many options for finding a job on a yacht:

Crew Agencies  

Dock walking 🖰 http://www.dockwalk.com

Facebook Groups SuperYacht Jobs, SuperYacht Jobs and Crew, Yacht Crew Recruitment 

Internet sites 🖰  https://www.yacrew.com/ (dozens more)

Magazines and Newspaper Ads

Through a friend

Yacht Club and Crew House Notice Boards

Brokers for Princess, Feretti, Sunseeker, etc

Crew Agency Information

How to choose a Crew Agency

• Speak to experienced crew members and find out who gives the best service.
• Research websites and look at reviews posted on crew agency services. You can also look at the jobs on offer and see if they are more for senior crew or entry-level.  
• Select an agency that specialises in your level of work i.e. deckhand, chef, etc.

Who pays a Crew Agency? 

• The key point here is agencies are paid by the vessel for placing a crew member. This means every time an agency recommends a crew member, their reputation is on the line.
• Most crew agents now ask for a registration fee (this varies from $35-$55). After registering, go and visit the agencies in person once you arrive in the country.  

Pros and cons of Crew Agencies

• 🗹 Crew Agencies can be very helpful. It can take some time to build a relationship with a few of them but try to stick with them. ⌧ Some are so big that you are just a number to them.
• Do not ask them for a job when you first join. This may sound absurd but the idea is to be a stand-out crew member and have an understanding of how the industry works. Crew agents are the ones ultimately responsible when they put forward a crew member to a vessel. This means that if the yacht is not happy with you and they fire you it is the crew agency that recommended you they are angry with. As a result, you will become a representative of that agency when they place you. Knowing all this you want to use this information to your advantage. Meet the agent, introduce yourself, and show a positive mindset going forward. You are in this for the long run and must showcase yourself and accumulate experience through day work until you are ready to represent their brand as a professional and productive crew member. You will come in to see them again with an updated CV. You will also be working constantly toward your next level of qualification. This way you will have made an impression!
• ONE AGENT PER AGENCY: Always try to deal with one crew agent at an agency so that s/he recognises you when you check in. ⌧ This can be difficult, as some agents want you to only check in online.  
• When you do go and see them, you can easily build a relationship with a specific crew agent. Get to know them by name. The advantages are:
  🗹 They know the current salary for day work, weekly & monthly potential, benefits, and perks.
  🗹 They can be the ‘go-between’ and ask questions you may feel unable to ask the interviewer.
  🗹 They can follow up on interviews and get feedback on your behalf.
• BUILDING REFERENCES:  New crew need to impress that they are willing to put themselves out there to build up more experience and references through day work, thus creating a paper trail of references from Captains and First Mates. You should not be looking for an easy ride as a ‘greenie’ crew member. ⌧ PLEASE DO NOT BUG/HARASS crew agents! Meet them first and only go in again once you have built up your CV, references and extra qualifications.
• The impression you want to leave the agencies is that you are willing to do the hard work and show you are committed to the job. If agencies have the chance to place you, you must work tirelessly to leave a good impression on the crew and guests that will only enhance that crew agency’s reputation for placing top-quality crew.  
• Do not limit yourself to crew agents: find daywork, network, speak to other crew, look for magazine ads and on notice boards, crew houses, etc.

Registering with Crew Agents 

• REGISTRATION PROCEDURE: Standard procedure but this can vary from agency to agency
  ❶ You will complete a registration form online or in person.
  ❷ Send/or hand in your CV + photo.
  ❸ Book an appointment to see the agency.
  ❹ Your information is added to an agency database.
  ❺ When they find a job for you they will contact you and explain the position.
  ❻ After you have accepted, they will send your CV to the yacht for consideration.
  ❼ They will then set up an interview if you are shortlisted.
• REGISTER ONLINE: Registering online from South Africa before you leave will save time and money. You will have easier and cheaper access to internet while still at home. 
  ⌧ Once abroad, you will have to go to a costly internet café and sit there for hours registering with the companies.  
• DATABASE:  Once registered:
  ❶  Keep a record of all the agencies you joined.
  ❷  Note who the contact person is.
  ❸  Note what your login password is for their site.
  
• AGENCIES: 
  ❶ Crew agents will check your references.
  ❷ Supply professional, substantial information to agents. 
  ❸ Be well-presented and professional. 
  ❹ I always sent flowers, wine or a small gift when an agent landed me a job – it is the small things that make a difference!  

• TRIAL PERIOD: You will mostly be awarded a job on a three (3) month trial period. The yacht pays the agency fees for your placement, and they are obliged to supply the yacht with a replacement for free if you do not work out in those three months.  

Dress Code for Crew Agency Interviews

First impressions are extremely important in the yachting industry. Always look the part! Remember when you arrive at an agency they will also be making an initial pre-selection on your first visit. 

• EUROPE DRESS CODE: When you go to European Agencies, dress neatly – long pants and a smart shirt with deck shoes are best!
• US DRESS CODE: When you go to USA Agencies, dress in a polo shirt and neat Bermuda or khaki pants and deck shoes.  
• VIDEO DRESS CODE: Some crew agencies also offer video conference interviewing. This means you also need to make sure you have the correct shirt on.
• DON’T BE CASUAL: If everyone is dressed in shorts, and flip flops and you show up in deckhand clothes (white shirt, khaki shorts, deck shoes), you will come across as the right fit. 
• CLOTHES MUST FIT: Get the right size clothing. Clothing that is too tight or revealing can leave a poor impression. Clothing that is too loose can make you look like you borrowed them.
• DON’T LET YOUR ACCESSORIES STEAL YOUR THUNDER: Wacky shirts, loud patterns and oversized jewellery can cause the interviewer to spend more time wondering about your outfit than your skill set. Solid colours and clean lines are your best bet for interview attire.
• PIERCINGS: We advise you to remove visible body piercings like nose rings, lip rings, or other piercings for your interview to avoid unnecessary questions and attention.  
• PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS: Make sure shoes are clean and polished, clothes are wrinkle-free and nails are manicured. Be mindful of your choice of belt, tie clip, socks, etc. 

What to tell a crew agent/agency when you visit or phone them:

No crew agency will place a brand new crew member; their reputation is on the line. You need to build up experience through daywork and add to your qualifications. Start by building a relationship and creating a good first impression then promise to pop in with an updated CV.

Information to give agencies

• Boat size
• Salary expectations
• Charter or Private Yacht
• Availability for interviews & start date of the job (can you start immediately?)  
• Available for daywork/freelancing
• Type of vessel (motor or sailing)
• Position you are applying for on board 
• Short description of your previous experience (keep yachting-related experience). Don’t tell them that you were head Gardener at a fancy estate in Hermanus. There is not much gardening on yachts!!
• Tell your agent when you have found a job! This kind of communication goes a long way as you never know when you will need them again.

Recruitment Agency Scams 

• Don’t be fooled by glossy photos, fancy websites and dollar signs. 
• There are various kinds of recruitment fraud, but they almost all advertise job offers that require no qualifications that promise to pay high wages or attract large tips.
• Trust the old saying, “if it looks too good to be true it probably is!”
• This may be disguised as fee or payment for a medical examination, visa, passport processing or bank transfers that is only asked for when you think you’re on the verge of getting the job.
• It might look like something you have to pay a government department, clinic or bank, or you may be asked for money for airfares to join a yacht and promised you’ll get the money back when you arrive. You won’t.
• Payment to have your job application or CV circulated to prospective employers, often with a guarantee that if you don’t get a job, you’ll get your money back. You can usually be sure you won’t get either.
• Job offers that arrive by email that you have not applied for and they arrive 3 or 4 times a day. This is spamming. Check the agency staff email address. If you see the following, alarm bells are ringing – @live.  @yahoo.  @gmail.  @hotmail.  All agencies will have their company name as the email domain address.  
• Research the agency and their website and be aware of fake URLs (websites). Scammers often use fake URLs to mask themselves as big, well-known corporates. Double check the URL or web address of the company. You may think you are visiting a well-known company website when you are actually on a bogus website. Always check the URL first.

Scams: General Notes

Here is some information on how to recognise a scam job email. Unfortunately, hackers sometimes steal your CV information from crew agency websites, etc. and you might be contacted by them. This is what you should look out for:

• Lots of SPELLING mistakes in the email, bad grammar, and typos

• Offering a SALARY of $/GBP/€ 5000 and higher per month

• Offers of SHIFT WORK – yachts do not work in shifts as you sign a permanent work contract and work 12-month contracts

• The email is sent from a 🖰 GMAIL or 🖰 HOTMAIL address or something similar – a proper company would never send you an email from one of these addresses. A legitimate email address should look like this company email address 🖰amy@crewunlimited.com  

• They ask you to pay MONEY before you can join the yacht/ship

• They ask for personal details like PASSPORT/ID NUMBERS, HOME ADDRESSES, etc.  DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION!!

• PLEASE  🖰  EMAIL US immediately if you think your job offer might be a SCAM!!

Example:  Scam email

From: Lee Smith < lee.smith71@yahoo.com >

To: Kylie Potgieter 

Date: Sat, Aug 21, 2010 at 3:37 PM

Dear  Kylie Potgieter,

We appreciate your interest in working with us and we have open an application file with reference number 0020/UK/AUG/AU/4084. We have gone through your CV and We found the post of Stewardess for you with salary amount of 5,500 GB Pounds per month. The destination is always from London to France, Ireland, Belgium, Norway, Wales and USA.

Benefit:  The Company will provide free accommodation, Insurance (NIN), Flight Ticket, Tax Free and many more benefit you will see in your Appointment Letter.

Working Schedule: Working Days & time: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00PM (GMT)

Saturday & Sunday:  Off Day

Shift Time: There daily shifts, Morning, Afternoon and Night.

Contract Period: 2 Years contract and it can be extended if only you to remain with our company

Vacation: 3 Month Vacation Interval for you to visit your love ones and family back home

As a notice of acceptance of job offer , we send you appointment and invitation letter for you to sign and return the sign copy back to us for record purpose . so therefore kindly let us know if you are satisfy with the salary rate above in order for us to proceed further.

We wait to hear from you ASAP.

Regards

Mr Lee Smith

Register Online

• RESEARCH: Go to each agency’s website and read their particulars 
• ATTACHMENTS: Make sure the documents you want to attach are small (less than 50KB)
• CV: Should be in Word format
• PHOTOS:  Photo of food presentation in JPEG format
• CV PHOTO: Photo of yourself in JPEG format
• CERTIFICATES: Copies of your relevant certificates – STCW, Chef Diploma, Stewardess Cert., Massage Cert., Tender License, Diving Certificate, etc. – scanned and in small format
• REFERENCES: Copies of written reference letters – Word format

A FULL LIST OF WORLDWIDE CREW AGENTS CAN BE FOUND AT:  🖰WWW.SYSA.CO.ZA

Listed Crew Agencies

Facebook Pages & Groups for Yachting

What to look out for on Facebook pages

• NETWORK: Only sign up when you get there and when you arrive at the crew house
  ⌧ DO NOT SIGN UP IN SA
• SOCIAL MEDIA: DO NOT POST YOUR SPECIFIC TRAVEL PLANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES. 

                 Why? Authorities/customs will often check these out. Your post can end up getting so many “likes”   that within 24 hours it’s linked to their friends, and their friends’ friends, etc.