Interviewing 101: Tips and Tricks From Crew Agents

Be Responsive

This may seem obvious, but make sure you’re easily reachable and respond quickly when an agent or captain reaches out, said Don Mckee, co-founder of YOA Crew. Chances are no one is waiting around for you if you’re hard to reach.

Be Prepared

Sharon Rose, head of recruitment at Bluewater, recommends that you have a solid career plan. “Know your career path and goals.”

“The three most important things in this industry are longevity, longevity, and more longevity,” said one crew agent who preferred to remain anonymous. “I believe the best way to achieve longevity is by being intentional when looking for a job and knowing the grass is not always greener on their buddy’s boat.” 

Research and perform due diligence on the vessel before the interview, especially if the job comes from Facebook or an unverified site, said Lauren Cotton, president of Cotton Crews. If you know the vessel, Erica Lay, director of EL CREW CO, also recommends looking into the captain and your potential head of department. LinkedIn can be handy for this research. 

Most agents also recommend crew have questions prepared in advance, and several included examples of good questions: 

1. What’s the crew dynamic on board like?
2. Can you share details about the yacht program and upcoming itinerary?
3. Are there crew training incentives?
4. Does the yacht have good crew retention or crew longevity?
5. What are the job  progression possibilities on board?

Cotton also recommends asking what the yacht owner particularly enjoys on board, but tread carefully here. Rose advises crew not to ask personal questions about the owner. A few agents cautioned against asking, at least in the initial interview, about salary, package, or time off. Even worse, “Do not ask for time off requests prior to getting an offer,” said Diane Leander, crewing manager at the Fort Lauderdale office of The Crew Network.

This might seem unfair, considering this is vital information to know before accepting any new job, but appearing overly interested in money can be perceived negatively.

“Remember that most things are negotiable, i.e., salaries start at a given or advertised point but can be adjusted depending on how well the candidate does in their trial period,” said Mckee. “Just because a job is advertised at a certain rate, that does not mean it will stay at that rate.” 

Update your CV and photo, and check over your social media profiles to make sure nothing is showing that could hurt your chances. “Check your WhatsApp/caller ID picture,” said one agent. “You think this is your private, non-professional item, but this is how 90% of the captains or crew agents contact you. The little circle picture you choose is the one we see when we are on the phone to you. A photo of you and your buddies in Thailand may not be what you want your potential employer to see.”

Lay suggests you bring your resume, certificates, and references. “Get yourself a nice folder to keep them all smart and presentable. Don’t leave them in a pub somewhere either!” 

Be Professional

“Look presentable and put effort into your appearance,” Cotton said. “Don’t show up late, disheveled, and reeking of alcohol.”

“Having to terminate an interview after five minutes due to the crewmember having to vomit in my office’s bathroom has gone down in EL CREW CO legend for all the wrong reasons,” Lay said. 

All crew agents agreed that professional dress is essential. A few had more specific tips, like Rose, who cautioned crew not to interview with sunglasses pushed up on their heads. Do not chew gum or smoke — and don’t show up stinking of smoke, either.

Other no-nos that make you look unprofessional: Don’t ask about your partner’s prospects, Rose says, and don’t get your parent or friend to call in for you, or worse, show up to the interview with you. Do not hit on the crew agent either, Lay said. She also cautioned against using casual slang in conversation, like “mate” or “dude” or similar. 

Always be polite and courteous — consider the interview a test to showcase your grace under pressure.

Be on Time

It pays to be on time or early — but not too early. “Show up 5 to 10 minutes early and no earlier in case they are doing a number of interviews back-to-back,” Cotton said. 

If you’re new to the area, Lay suggests familiarizing yourself with the location the day before. “If you have the opportunity, wander down there the day before to do a recce. [This] helps get rid of nerves, too,” she said. She also recommends interviewees keep their interviewer’s details and contacts handy in case there’s an issue reaching the boat or the building. 

If you’re interviewing over the phone or online, don’t be that person who has password issues, can’t log in, barely has time to open Zoom or Teams, or worse, is late. 

“We arrange a time and base a lot of our process around being able to interview crew at specific times for various roles given the time differences we work with, so being prompt, responsive, and having good time management is something we always look for in a candidate,” Mckee said.

This shouldn’t need to be said, but “Don’t do a video call from your bed,” Rose said.

Be Engaged

The goal is to impress, so you want to look interested and alert. As Rose recommends, smile and keep eye contact. If in person, keep your handshake firm — but don’t aim to crush the fingers. Don’t cross your arms or appear too relaxed. Ask careful questions.

“Listen carefully and be interactive without interrupting,” Leander said. “Be outgoing without being overbearing.”

Rose advises that you need to highlight what you can bring to the team. This is where your research comes in, but don’t be afraid to emphasize your skills and why you think you’d be an asset to the team. You need to be confident in your abilities but not arrogant.

Most agents included a point about mobile phones — do not look at them, don’t have them in sight, and keep them on silent mode for the interview’s duration.  

Be Honest

Things happen, and jobs don’t work out. “Be honest about why you left your last boat, what you are looking for, and what type of job/program you feel you are suited to,” Mckee said. “We are there to help crew get what they want just as much as we are trying to find our client the best possible crewmember. The more honesty, the better.”

Let’s face it: it’s a small industry, and if there was a spectacularly awful reason you left your position, chances are crew agents or captains will hear about it. It makes sense to tell the tale in your own words and mitigate any potential damage. While honesty is good, don’t take the opportunity to badmouth your former employer, Leander said.

Diplomacy should be your watchword. As Lay advises, “Channel your inner politician — always try to make negatives into positives.” She recommends using phrases like “difference in opinions” or “different ways of working that weren’t complementary” if asked about a negative experience.

Honesty extends to your resume and references. “Unfortunately, we regularly catch crew out who have embellished longevity, etc., on their CVs, for example,” Mckee said.  

You want to be yourself in any interview. “This can be a double-edged sword, but we would prefer to get to know the ‘real’ candidate as soon as possible,” Mckee said.  

Be Brave

Once the interview nears its conclusion, gauge how you think it went. “If you feel the interview is going well, do not be afraid to ask for the job!” Cotton said.

As much as you’re being interviewed, you’re also making sure the boat is a good fit for you. Pay attention to the information you receive, and stay alert for any red flags. If the job isn’t the best fit for you, it’s best to know early so everyone can move on.

Networking Dos and Don’ts

It’s no secret that who you know can make all the difference in finding work. While the yachting industry has no shortage of opportunities to network and socialize, these events should be considered work.

Prepare:

Have business cards. Even better, “Make your own business cards with a QR code link to your CV,” said Lauren Cotton of Cotton Crews.

Look interested during conversations and ask questions about the industry, Sharon Rose, head of crew recruitment at Bluewater, advised. “Look professional and always smile. Use these events to get to know everyone and make yourself stand out in a positive way.”

Dress appropriately — check the weather, and “modesty goes a long way, too,” said one agent who preferred to be anonymous. 

Mingle:

“Go to every event you can, and be confident,” said Diane Leander of The Crew Network. “Speak to as many people as you can. Lots of crew will be in the same situation as you are, so as hard as it is, ignore that shyness and get chatty.” 

Sometimes, it’s easier to cling to people you know. One agent advises that if you attend with friends, split up. “You have already maximized those contacts, make new ones,” she said. Don’t be shy to mingle and meet new people — after all, “you will meet a whole bunch of new people every time you join a new boat.” 

Best Behavior:

“Remember who may be watching you,” said Rose. “Crew agents and captains could be out and about.” As one agent noted, “Never assume the person you are talking to is just what their name tag says.” They may have friends who need crew or are working aboard a yacht and have good connections. 

While the alcohol is likely to be flowing freely, be careful. “This is not a party — it’s a professional opportunity to make a good impression,” one agent said. 

“Control your alcohol — hold on to one beer while networking,” Cotton said. 

Don Mckee, director of YOA Crew, concurs. “Networking is vital. I always encourage crew to do so, but there is also a fine line between going out to bars and getting drunk versus going out to bars to meet and interact with potential employers. Mindset and intention are key here.” 

As Leander puts it: “Being memorable is great, but not if it’s because you partied too hard and fell over the snack table and took out the DJ.” 

Follow Up:

Making connections is key, so after you’ve been introduced to someone new, follow up with an email and social media message, Cotton recommended.

“Play the long game,” Leander said. “Take contact details for people you meet, and even if they can’t help you right now, maybe they can help in the future.”

Images by Alexander Haubrich of YachtieWorld. 

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