To get your first yacht crew job you need to go to a "hiring port" where yachts are based, crew placement agents operate, and yacht crew find jobs. Without connections, referrals, or being able to introduce yourself in person, you will never get to the next step: an interview with a captain, owner, or crew placement agent.
No one will interview and hire you solely through the Internet, over the phone, or from emails. Captains and owners don't (and won't) search online for people who posted their resume on a general crewing site. They have plenty to choose from who are actively looking for work and just minutes away once they call them.
If you are serious, you actually must go to a hiring port in person with plans to stay until you get a job. Fortunately, although you are competing with other people for jobs, not everyone can back up their story with the right skills, background, attitude, consistency, and professional appearance. It is only a matter of your persistence to find the right opportunity.
The best year-round place to find work in the US (and perhaps in the world) is Fort Lauderdale, the yachting capital of the US. There are other places too, like Newport, Rhode Island, and San Diego, California, but Fort Lauderdale is your best bet for success plus the possibility of securing some day-work to keep money coming in while networking. "All roads lead to Fort Lauderdale" and any yacht that travels will go there at some time.
Focus here first, especially if you are starting from scratch. Trust me...
I jumped on a 121 foot sailing yacht as a deckhand for a one-way delivery to Europe to build sea miles and experience, and then hunted like a hungry dog to find work in the Cote d'Azur (Europe's yachting mecca) for 4 weeks. Once my delivery earnings were nearly evaporated and desperation was around the corner, an unexpected phone call from a crew placement agent I met in Fort Lauderdale saved me and brought me back directly to a job! This was a hard lesson learned...
Remember: go where the action is, have a "last resort" back up plan, and network, network, network in person at every opportunity.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your free instant access to 7 of my most sought-after "Professional Yacht Crew Strategy School" e-lessons at:
Subject: Hi all im Max 
Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:18 am
