Application success rates

[endure]

I realise that this sounds like a cynical old git moaning, but it is sadly very true - shipping companies will never show you any loyalty, they will always do what is best for them when it suits them to do it, so forget everything you have ever been taught about playing fair and doing the right thing, do what is best for you and what best suits your own interests.

Out of all the companies I've ever worked for in my lifetime, both ashore and at sea, P&O Bulk were by far the best. They treated everyone on board all the ships I sailed on really well - that's both crew and officers. Have I just been lucky or am I easily pleased?

[condeh]

I had been advised in the more recent past to pad out your CV with lots of buzzword nonsense in the header/footer in white font (i.e. invisible), so when searched by a computer program it will select your CV, but be invisible if/when a person actually looks at it.

I don't think this is a good idea, and can easily go horribly wrong, but does go to show the methods in use these days.

[Lewis]

I wouldn't advise that. In fact I'd stay away from alot of formating all together just because it looks good on what ever word processor you used doesn't mean will look good on the one they use. In worst cases it might be unreadable.
In fact if possible I would post it rather than email it. I think people take physical letter they can hold more seriously than emails. Maybe am just old fashioned. That being said if they specifically request an email send an email you don't want them thinking you can't follow basic instructions.

[condeh]

.... are you suggesting my WordArt CV isn't going to work for me.


Doh.

[Lewis]

Yip keep it simple use bold, underline, enter and tab keys for formating. That's it no tables, no changing the margins etc.

[Midge]

I thought if you convert it to pdf it keeps all the formatting making sure they get what you type not what whatever version of word they are using. But I'm not a PC guru with this sort of stuff!

[Clanky]

Out of all the companies I've ever worked for in my lifetime, both ashore and at sea, P&O Bulk were by far the best. They treated everyone on board all the ships I sailed on really well - that's both crew and officers. Have I just been lucky or am I easily pleased?

To be honest, I think that many companies used to treat their sea staff like individuals, however, those days are long gone. For P&O this happened when Geoffrey Sterling took over, and to be honest many others have followed their lead although it was probably inevitable anyway.

While many will treat their staff reasonably well, none will not drop them at a minutes notice when it suits them. Many companies now operate on a voyage contract basis, where you effectively sign a new contract every time you join a ship which expires when you leave so if they decide that you are not returning then they simply don?t offer you a new contract. These same companies will then react with shock when you leave at short notice and demand that you show them some loyalty.

[Scott]

I thought if you convert it to pdf it keeps all the formatting making sure they get what you type not what whatever version of word they are using. But I'm not a PC guru with this sort of stuff!

I'm with you on this one. Converting to pdf will keep the document as you intended plus it will open on just about any system including most phones and tablets.

[Lewis]

To be fair Clanky I think that cuts both ways how many of us would drop our employer if we got a better offer.

[Clanky]

To be fair Clanky I think that cuts both ways how many of us would drop our employer if we got a better offer.

I think that is more a symptom of the way companies treat seafarers, I know a lot of guys who were at sea in the 60’s, 70’s and even the 80’s with some companies who were fiercely loyal to their company.

[Lewis]

I think it's just a reflection of modern world. In our parents and grand parents generation it was common for people to spend all their career with one company. That's just not the case any more. I am not entirely sure that's a bad thing and it certainly doesn't just apply to our industry.

[endure]

I only ever worked for 4 companies. With Sea Containers you had to bring your own 10 gallon hat and 6 gun. Fyffes I still have nightmares about but BP Tanker and P&O Bulk were both the biz. I loved working for P&O. BP (and Shell) even started a cadetship scheme for Sparkies knowing full well that they might be paying a wage and college fees for someone who might fail their exams at the end of three years at college and thus they'd get no return on their investment at all.

[Clanky]

I think it's just a reflection of modern world. In our parents and grand parents generation it was common for people to spend all their career with one company. That's just not the case any more. I am not entirely sure that's a bad thing and it certainly doesn't just apply to our industry.

It used to. I know people who spent their entire career with one company, but yes it is a reflection of the modern World. Companies in general have gone from viewing their employees as personnel to human resources, something to be used and exploited and in return people, quite rightly, no longer feel loyalty to a company.

[Scott]

I must say I've always disliked the term human resources. Images of exploitation do indeed come to mind.

[zuluonezero]

From what I can remember, I applied to Clyde, SSTG, Maersk, Royal Caribbean, RFA and BP. I got offers from Clyde, Maersk and the RFA.