HOW TO GET HIRED IN THE CRUISE SHIP

Junrey Tisbe
Jul 21, 2020
4 min read

Updated: Aug 22, 2020

What is a Cruise Ship?

According to Wikipedia, a cruise ship is defined as a large passenger ship used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, which are used for transport, they typically embark on round-trip voyages to various ports-of-call, where passengers may go on tours known as "shore excursions."

One of Royal Caribbean ships. — Get to work in this beautiful ship just keep reading until end.

Of course just like any other organization or company, the cruise ship industry also needs manpower. These massive luxury ships won't be able to sail alone. Over time the increasing number of ships being launched every year in each cruise line have brought a huge impact when it comes to manpower onboard. Imagine an average sized ship needs approximately 2000 crews and that comprises different nationalities.

The Philippines holds a big role in this industry. The country is employing and sending numbers of seafarers everyday. "Some 325,000 Filipinos work aboard cruise ships in jobs ranging from management, entertainment, food and beverage, and housekeeping."

Even though we are in the middle of a pandemic and the cruise line industry has been greatly affected, ship owners and companies boldly confessed that in the coming years the industry will kick back. And that would mean more employment to fill in as companies continuously are launching new ships annually.

Challenges Filipinos Struggle In Getting Hired As Crew

The fact that cruise lines hire crews of different nationalities, Filipinos are challenged to compete. And with the high numbers of aspiring Filipinos wanting to go aboard, competitions get more intense. Aside from that, there are numbers of manning agencies in the country and they are only required to have a specific amount of manpower demanded from international cruise ship companies. An aspiring and hopeful crew needs to make themselves marketable or attractive to their potential employers.

Starter Pack For An Aspiring Seafarer

Just like in a war zone, before getting into the battlefield an army needs to equip himself with essentials to achieve victory. Aside from caliber ammunition, a soldier has to be ready in all aspects, so as one seafarer.

Now, what could help an aspiring seafarer get an advantage over his enemy? Here is a list of few things he needs to gear up on:

a. Experience

b. Skills

c. Training

d. Travel Documents

e. Manning Agency

f. Professional Resume

A cruise line cannot take chances in a crew with less experience of the position he is playing onboard. A passenger would expect a flawless and fine service in exchange of the expense spent for his vacation. And company would definitely make sure that his manpower would not jeopardize that over one inexperienced crew.

The required experience manning agencies set in the Philippines is, at least 1 year in a 5 star Hotel or Restaurant related to the position you're applying for. Of course you have to make sure that you have a good performance record as they will be making background checks during the application process.

Being an expert in the skills of the position applied is an edge. During the series of interviews you will be asked of what skills you can confidently perform. Some in fact, let's you undergo a trade test to validate your skills.

Training comes in two categories, one is in-house and the other is from outside maritime training centers. In-house training will be conducted after you officially get hired and it is in expense of the manning agency. Here you will be taught your daily routine, job description, company standard, duties and responsibilities onboard. While training done at maritime training centers are courses that focused on safety onboard the ship.

If you have available and ready travel documents, your chances to get hired is higher. Main travel documents include your passport, seaman's book and visas.

Manning agencies are the ones who will process all of your documents after they are officially hired. They will guide you all throughout the process.

An attractive and professional resume will put you at the spotlight. This gives an impression of you, especially when hiring is done online. This will be your ticket to get invited for an interview. You should never underestimate what a well pronounced professional resume can do to your career.

It is with assurance and guarantee that you will get hired after you accomplish these starter packs. This is proven and tested of all the successful seafarers who are now enjoying their career and the perks that come with working onboard.

Take Action Now

As a former seafarer I totally understand how hard it is to apply. Not mentioning the numerous agencies you need to locate. Some of them do not welcome or entertain walk-ins, initial application needs to be done online. And so, initial assessment will be based on the resume you are sending them. You won't get the opportunity to present yourself well before the interviewer or assessor. Hence, it is imperative to come up with the best laid out professional resume.

TISBE Virtual Assistance provides resume creation that will help you produce your ticket to winning over a personal interview in a manning agency. That includes details of manning agencies in the Philippines. We will provide you additional tips that will help boost your chances of getting hired.

Aside from a good pay, I was able to cruise around the world for free. I did not have to spend any amount to enjoy such an opportunity. That for one is many perks of being onboard.

I already have my fair share of being a seafarer. Now is the time to give back and help the people who I used to be back then.

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