Making the decision to pursue a career at sea is the first step in landing your dream job, but now what do you need to do? Developing an action plan will help you specify the necessary steps to achieve your goal.
Before jumping in head first and sending out a slew of application packages, you should educate yourself as much as possible about the cruise industry. What cruise lines are the major players? What cruise jobs do you think you are most qualified for? What is life onboard really like? Are you really sure you know what you are getting yourself into?
Once you understand the basics, it’s time to decide on which cruise job is best for you? Are there any job vacancies? What skills and experiences do you have that closely match what is required by the hiring cruise company?
At this point you may think you are ready to send out your resume and cover letter. Have you customized them for the job you are applying for, or are you sending out the same application package to each cruise line. (Better to customize and find the name of each hiring manager).
The follow-up phase of the application process is one of the most important stages. Don’t just send your resume and cover letter and expect someone to get back to you. They won’t. You must follow up, ’cause the competition is fierce.
For more information, WorkOnCruiseShips.com members can read the 16-lesson tutorial on getting a cruise job.
