1. Your CV — The Basics

Your CV is the first thing a captain sees. Keep it clean, honest and easy to read. One or two pages maximum.

What to include:

• Full name, nationality, date of birth and current location
• Contact details — a professional email address and phone number with country code
• A recent, professional photo. Smile. No sunglasses, no party photos.
• Your STCW certifications and any other relevant licences
• Work history in reverse chronological order — most recent first
• The yacht name, type, size and your role for each position
• Languages spoken and level of fluency

What to leave out:

• Long blocks of text about your personality
• Irrelevant work experience from outside yachting — unless you are just starting out
• Spelling mistakes. Read it twice. Then ask someone else to read it.

2. Your Photo

It sounds simple but it matters more than people think. Use a photo that looks professional and approachable. A clean background, good light, smart but relaxed clothing. Think less Instagram, more LinkedIn.

3. Your Certifications

List all current certifications clearly, including expiry dates. Captains need to know at a glance that you are compliant. The essentials for most positions are:

• STCW Basic Safety Training
• ENG1 Medical Certificate
• Position-specific licences where applicable

If something is expired, renew it before you apply. It is one of the most common reasons a good candidate gets passed over.

4. Your Cover Message

You do not need a long cover letter. A short, direct message works better. Three to four sentences is enough.

Tell us:

• What position you are looking for
• Salary expectation 
• When you are available
• One or two things that make you the right person for the role
• Any preferences — region, yacht type, charter or private

Keep it personal but professional. Copy-paste messages are easy to spot and easy to ignore.

5. References

A good reference from a captain or owner you have worked with is worth more than anything else on your CV. If you have one, include the contact details and make sure the person knows they may be contacted.

If you are new to yachting and do not have a maritime reference yet, a character reference from a previous employer is better than nothing.

6. Your Online Presence

Captains and owners do look people up. Make sure your social media is something you are comfortable being seen. You do not need to delete your personal accounts — just be aware of what is public.

A LinkedIn profile is a bonus, especially for more senior positions.

7. Timing and Follow-Up

The yachting industry moves quickly, especially at the start of the season. When you apply for a role, be ready to respond fast. A candidate who replies within an hour will always have an advantage over one who replies two days later.

If you have not heard back within a week, a short and polite follow-up is completely acceptable.

8. The Interview

If you get called for an interview, preparation is simple:

• Know the basics about the yacht and the owner if possible
• Be on time — for a video call this means being ready five minutes early
• Dress neatly, even on camera
• Be honest about your experience. Overselling yourself leads to problems on board.
• Prepare two or three questions to ask. It shows you are genuinely interested.

9. Professional Canva Templates

Use these layouts to ensure your CV looks like it belongs on a Superyacht.

1. The Modern Mariner (Clean & Structured): Great for all-around crew members.

2. The Executive Officer (Minimalist): Best for Officers, Engineers, or experienced Chefs.

3. The Polished Steward/ess (Elegant): Focuses on clarity and aesthetics.