Previous experience

[BanterMan]

Hey guys, potential deck officer applicant here. New to the forums.

My main query is how much emphasis do recruitment companies place on having previous experience at sea? My previous experience is non-existent, aside from being a passenger on several ferries. I've just never really had the opportunity.

(I guess it's worth saying that at this point I'm extremely open minded as too who i will be applying too, and what kind of vessel i wish to work on.)

Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Martyboy]

Re: Previous experience

Heyy

They dont look for any experience at all usually. Only one person on my course of 30 has been to sea........... hope this helps

[minchmermaid]

Re: Previous experience

If you don't have any experience then why exactly do you want to go to sea? Do you have any family at sea or anything? I don't mean to be rude or anything but it sometimes baffles me a bit how people chose the career. There was a cadet on my class who saw a Clyde Marine stand at a careers convention and just signed up there and then with no research or anything!

[BanterMan]

Re: Previous experience

Cheers for the feedback.

I'm not going to lie, going to sea never crossed my mind until about 9 months ago. So it's not been a long term dream of mine. Having said that, I've done some serious research for months now, and now it just kind of feels the right thing to do. (Hard to explain, but i sort of get a minor buzz of excitement every time i think about it )

Though I guess I've always loved the sea (from the land, admittedly), and love going down to the river at every opportunity to watch the ships sail out.

Spent a great deal of time researching a wide range of potential careers (I've only just turned 19) and this is always what i keep coming back too. And, aside from the lack of sea experience, i feel I'm very well qualified

Merchant Navy (and Fishing) go way back in my family also. Though no one i know is currently serving.

[Martyboy]

Re: Previous experience

I've never been to sea either and I feel I have chosen the right career path I Guess time will tell

[Jacen]

Re: Previous experience

Its impossible to have previous experience at sea unless you are an ex-fisherman or you are working your way up from a deckhand, its really not something that companies look at. The right attitude and the required academic qualifications are what they really care about. Dont ask me what these qualifications are though because they have changed even since I started my cadetship 2 and a half years ago :s

[stronglead]

Re: Previous experience

I don't think its a requirement but i think it would help for example of myself i have been a sea cadet for 8 years and have done voyages at sea etc and its all ive wanted to do for the past 8 years is go to sea and you can tell this from what ive done so it would help, but as stated above attitude and academics are a big thing