Experience

[jackdb1996]

Hello Everyone

Just wondering and getting some things in order for applications later this year. I have heard that sponsoring companies and shipping lines look for previous sea experience, and things such as D of E. Unfortunately for me, sea experience is difficult to come by as living in the most inland town in the UK, and also I have missed school opportunities to take part in DofE. Does anyone know how important these things are when applying for a training position and how many people got in without this experience?

Also apparently you can do DofE outside of school, can anyone reccomend any companies or organisations that do this (Bedfordshire).

Thank You

[tlloyd1983]

I don't have a DofE, and my only previous sea going experience prior to this was working a summer on a crab fishing boat, in fact only one person in my year/group was a seafarer proper before this (ex-RN), a few were weekend wafi's. So I wouldn't let it put you off.

[alistairuk]

Hi, firstly very few people will have any experience at sea - with the exception of being on a cruise ship or ferry as a passenger... A few might have done a bit of sailing but I would say even this is rare...

More important is showing you can work as part of a team, either through employment or belonging to various clubs etc. (sea cadets probably wouldn't hurt your chances)

[dannyboy]

try taking some RYA shorebased like the dayskipper and yachmaster navigation courses, at least shows you are interested

[GuinnessMan]

try taking some RYA shorebased like the dayskipper and yachmaster navigation courses, at least shows you are interested

Waste of money and relatively useless for someone wanting to go in to this industry. Alistair and the others have already hit the nail on the head for this one.

[ETwhat?]

I'm with GM whilst navigation is navigation and the same principles apply the college time will teach you what you need to know, so its a waste of money learning it before hand, also it doesnt really show any thing other than you threw ?500 at it to do a short course, far better to get osme real team work, away from home life experience that shows you arent just sitting waiting for it to be given to you.

[Hatchorder]

My son has no sea experience, did not do Dof E, or have any work experience at all. We also live in the middle of the country (so you cannot be far from us) and yet he had one application, one interview and one job offer.

Your CV / application and how you perform in the interview is more important. Shout if you need some help. I helped two people this year and they had 3 job offers out of 3 interviews.

Ian

[jackdb1996]

Thanks everyone, that's kind of reassured me a bit, I am finding ways in school activities and in the world of work which display teamwork so thanks for the reassurance

And thanks for the offer Ian, its strange a few people from this area have followed the same path and have chosen to do the same training, I have been putting bits together for the last couple of years now, open days, contact with sponsoring companies and cruise lines, and online research, so I think I am starting to understand everything a lot better now. No doubt I will post a question about something I have forgotten to consider on here again soon.

Thanks

[Dazzle]

Just to reinforce what has already been said by others, sea going experience is not needed, however it does help. I would advise any young person intending on a career at sea to join the sea cadets, it is a fantastic youth organisation. The one thing new cadets must remember regardless is that you need to be prepared to spend a fair bit of time away from home. My first sea trip was almost 5 months, to many it is a big shock to the system. The one thing I can guarantee however is that it is well worth it when after 3-4 years training you walk out of the Coastguard offices with that piece of paper with 'PASSED' stamped on it. You will enter into a very dynamic way of life, work with people from all over the world and experience much more than anyone doing the normal 9-5 in the UK.

I wish you the very best for the future and good luck with the application process!

[Snorey8]

I started my cadetship in warsash. Was a completely out of the blue and random thing for me as I have never had any intention of going to sea. I had zero experience and absolutely no knowledge about anything I would be doing. 90% of the questions that I was asked at my interview was about teamwork and real life experiences. If you can talk confidently about that you shouldn't have a problem. For the record, I absolutely loved my first phase and I cannot wait to go to sea. All the best buddy!

[ramfeild66]

Yep, no experience here aside from a few ferry trips as a passenger. Did spend a lot of time researching the career mind, most of my employment history is team based and while I am naturally quite a diffident person, I can phone in confidence and assuredness in interviews and in the workplace. I used to play sports, so that can be a boon, unless you hate sports, then obviously some other form of team based activity might be a good idea. I'd suggest going to college and doing a gap year somewhere, but do something useful. Projects Abroad are pretty good, you'll do some teamwork and show you can work outside of your comfort zone.

[Ducki52]

National citizen service could be a good way to get the teamworky, meeting-new-people, community spirit hexperience built up.

[GuinnessMan]

National citizen service could be a good way to get the teamworky, meeting-new-people, community spirit hexperience built up.

As our token squaddie/donkey whalloper, would you really want the chavvy scum from the local estates in the army?