Anybody still waiting for a reply from CMT?

[Vetinari]

Starting to be a bit of a joke this, really. I had my interview (which went quite well) with Clyde about six weeks ago, the interviewer said it was possible he might be looking at getting me into a September intake, and that if that was the case I'd hear within a couple of days. So a week passes and I'd heard nothing so I assumed they'd put me back for a January intake, which I have no problem with as it lets me save up a bit more money anyway.

The guy had also told me that I'd hear within 3 weeks anyway, if I hadn't heard sooner. So it gets to the month mark and I decide to ring them. They put me on hold for around five minutes and come back and tell me I'll find out within the next week, but to ring back in a week if I still hadn't heard anything. So another week passed and I rang them again. Got pretty much the same thing despite explaining what had happened the week before.

It's now been two weeks since then and I'm starting to give up hope really, its getting to the stage where I need to look at turning my temporary Christmas job into a permanent one else I'll be unemployed come January...

If they had told me it was going to take this long I wouldn't have had a problem with it. Even a letter/call explaining the situation would have been nice. But if I do eventually hear from them and it isn't good news, I am going to be so angry having been left out of the loop for so long. Especially given the interviewer was suggesting I shouldn't have any problem getting in (though I know I shouldn't treat what I was told as gospel!).

Has anybody else had a similar experience/been waiting as long?

[gadget123]

You need to get used to it.


It just how these training agencies work. You wait for your interview you, you wait to hear back, you wait to start collage, then you wait to join a ship, wait to do short courses. All the time being told we'll let you know next week which stops you from ever planning to do anything.

Have your tried applying to companies which run there own cadet programs. From what I've heard they seem to be a bit more organised.

[tommysevenfold]

I had the same problem throughout this year. I first applied in February, told in march to wait for an interview date and was then kept waiting for 'funding' for nearly 5 months. While I know it is very frustrating you'll probably find with CMT that you get nothing for ages then everything all at once. They also kept us waiting nearly 3 weeks into college to find out our sponsor companies so its not just you, you may or may not be happy to know.
All the other Clyde lads and lasses at FNC have had similar stories of waiting games, even heard of clyde changing their minds after turning one of the lads down! Its a case of stay patient, dont get yourself wound up with it and keep pestering them to get a crack on. Good luck with getting a reply. hope its soon

[Vetinari]

Well after ringing them from what I told myself would be the final time about 2 weeks ago, I finally received my offer yesterday! The last guy I spoke to on the phone said that if I hadn't heard anything back for so long it was probably good news so I wasn't quite as bothered about it the past couple of weeks.

Starting at Warsash in January, which I'm pleased with. Though none of the training colleges are anywhere close to me Southampton is definitely the closest so getting to/from home should be slightly easier at the start/end of term.

One thing I've noticed (and I knew to expect in advance) is there are very few sponsoring companies but I'm not so bothered about that. When it comes down to it, its only three years so if I don't like what I'm doing I can stay away from it in the future. I reckon my three choices (in no particular order yet) are going to be: Wilhelmsen, Union Maritime (anybody know anything about them? They look interesting but have no website) and British Marine.

Thanks gadget and tommy, definitely helped ease my nerves a bit!

[MacNeil]

See on CMT's website, have they not updated their shipping companies? What companies have gone?

[Vetinari]

I'm not sure any companies have gone as such, there is just a lesser choice for January intakes. But I was made aware of that. I've been given 10 companies to choose from, 5 of them are offshore. I'd prefer deep-sea of some kind but if all I can get is offshore I'll take it. But I can't find anything at all about Union Maritime or prior experiences besides whats on the CMT site. It'd be quite nice to get one of the bigger companies too as I'm sure there will be more variety in ship types.

[thebrookster]

When it comes down to it, its only three years so if I don't like what I'm doing I can stay away from it in the future.

Don't be too certain on that one!!

I can understand that not as many companies are taking cadets on just now, the economic downturn does have an effect on the shipping industry, if a company is experiencing less cargo's, then obviously the last thing they will want to do is pay for a cadet as well!! Plus, I think some companies only deal with a particular college? I know my old company, Knutsen, only took cadets from Glasgow.

However, on company choice, bear in mind that the ship types you end up on will likely influence what job you get once you qualify. Companies seem to like to see experience in people they take on, particularly in the reduced job market we seem to be in currently. Therefore, if you train say for offshore, you may find you will struggle to gt a job say on tankers, or cruise ships. Not saying you cannot transfer, just saying you might want to consider the prospect of finding a job afterwards. TBH, the only area close to being a dead cert is offshore, since the oil industry can weather pretty much everything.

[tommysevenfold]

One thing I've noticed (and I knew to expect in advance) is there are very few sponsoring companies but I'm not so bothered about that. When it comes down to it, its only three years so if I don't like what I'm doing I can stay away from it in the future. I reckon my three choices (in no particular order yet) are going to be: Wilhelmsen, Union Maritime (anybody know anything about them? They look interesting but have no website) and British Marine.

Thanks gadget and tommy, definitely helped ease my nerves a bit!

Glad I could help ease your nerves, and Congratulations! When it comes to sponsoring companies, they are some good choices though the only one I haven't heard anything about is Union Maritime i'm afraid. Haven't spoken to any cadets at FNC with them but there are a number of FD cadets with Wilhelmsen, and I put them on my choices list but didn't get them. I am, however, sponsored by British Marine, as are 2 other cadets in my group and from what I hear they are a good company, though I haven't spoken to any cadets in other phases who are with them so i'm not sure if they sponsor cadets every few years or what. Other than that, I don't know a thing about them so if you've found any more information about them other than they are bulk carriers and charter a lot of ships, I'd be grateful to hear it myself! Best of luck with getting one of your choices and with starting Warsash in January

[Vetinari]

Yep, well I was starting to question whether I was going to do it even if I got an offer. I'm really enjoying the temp job I've been doing since September and when they offered me a permanent position a couple of weeks back I started to wonder whether to just accept it. I'm glad I held out though as this is definitely what I want to do. The prospect of having that comfortable salary was becoming more inviting but at least I'll have saved up a decent amount of cash for my first phase by the time January rolls around.

I'm trying not to get my heart set on any particular company, and I'm going into it with an open mind. After all its not like anything I've ever done before, so ship types that don't seem as interesting to me now might turn out to a perfect fit. It would be quite nice to be with one of the larger companies like Wilhelmsen or Zodiac as I've heard that they sometimes give cadets a choice of ship type. But overall I'm just happy to be in and have some time to get myself prepared for it.

[tommysevenfold]

Aye, good choice, definately! This is, for me, the best choice i ever made and no matter what company you get, you're gonna get the time of your life in college and then you've got the future ahead of college. For college, ?700 with CMT doesnt last long but once we get our ticket its megabucks, all untaxed so yeah. you've got a great future ahead.

And thats it, I wanted cruise ships, i would never have imagined working on bulkers but im happy with it... after all, cruise ships are the only ships with cargo that argues back! And yes, I know Zodiac do give you a choice. Word of advice with Zodiac, what people say on here about zodiac is, according to phase 3's, a load of crap so dont listen to the negative comments 2 lads in my group put zodiac as a choice and they are the only 2 that got there choices so it's definately a company worth looking further into.