Training process in detail

[Unregistered]

Hi

I have recently become very enthusiastic about joining the MN and have gone as far as making applications.

However, I'm still not really sure of the entire process, from interview stages through to being in a full time job.
I understand the principal of a cadetship, through a sponsorship company, but for example, I have applied to Maersk, who are a shipping company, so if I were to go through them, would that guarantee a job with them upon completion of my training? Or would they just pay for my training and when finished, I'd be on my own looking for work?
Also, if for one reason or another I did not finish my training, would I be expected to pay back the fees that had been paid up so far? Nowhere really explains this fully and I'd like to know what it is I'm getting in to.
Finally, during training, I would have to relocate as I live in the midlands. How would living expenses be paid? Would I be expected to cover these or would whoever was paying for my training cover this? Would I have enough money to live on?

Would appreciate any advice anybody could give me with all of this, as I am struggling to find any information outlining the process as a whole.

Cheers

[The H]

I am sure someone will be along soon with answers to your questions. In the mean time have you read the article: http://www.officercadet.com/content....etting-Started

[electrolytic_coffee]

Hi there,

I'll help with what I can to start you off, there are some really knowledgable folk on here so they will give you more details, but something to keep you going.

First, which will answer a few of your questions, are you applying as a Deck or Engineer? There is a 3rd discipline which is fairly new the Electro-Technical route (which is what I am) but Maersk dont recruit them (im assuming your going to know the difference between all of them!)

Your choice of what you want to do will in some way determine where you are going for college. In either case you will need to relocate as its compulsory you spend the 1st college phase living on campus. Secondly the main colleges are at Warsash, Fleetwood, South Shields/Tyneside, Glasgow. So you will end up going to one of them, and dont assume they will send you to the closest one, the general impression is they send you away from home to get you used to the concept of being away for when you are at sea.

guarantee a job with them upon completion of my training? Or would they just pay for my training and when finished, I'd be on my own looking for work?

With maersk I believe you have a job after completion, but some maersk guys will be along to correct me if I'm wrong. I will say dont solely rest on your one application, apply to a few companies for your best bet. You only need to have a read through some of the latest threads that have been started to realise just how tough some interview process can be and how few cadetships there are. Look up other companies such as Clyde Marine,Carnival UK, SSTG, Viking Recruitment/Chiltern Maritime or even the Royal Fleet Auxiliary....there are more but theres a few to get you started. If you end up with some companies you are simply sponsored for your training and on completion you have to find your own job, but they will help you look.

Also, if for one reason or another I did not finish my training, would I be expected to pay back the fees that had been paid up so far? Nowhere really explains this fully and I'd like to know what it is I'm getting in to.

Some companies require you to complete your training and work a certain "clawback period" this can vary with each company but from what ive seen 2-3 years after your cadetship is usually the norm. This also means you cannot leave said company to work for another one either, so it goes both ways. And yes, if you drop out and have this kind of contract you will be required to pay back money to the company, again the finer details can be filled in or check with the company and they will tell you.

How would living expenses be paid? Would I be expected to cover these or would whoever was paying for my training cover this? Would I have enough money to live on?

Again, some companies pay cadets more than others. Equally some companies pay for your accomodation for you and you have a regular pay each month to boot. My company pays me a relativley good but I have to pay for all of my living costs, from accomodation to food and bills etc.. But any expenditure I incur from medical appointments, jabs, other consultations to do with work I get paid back, including all of my travel wether its to ship or from home to college at the start and end of each phase, my company is Chiltern Maritime. This however differs by company, but the guys on here will share their experiences too so you can get a good grasp, but you will need to check this out with any company you apply for too.

I hope this has been of some help, Im afraid I can only give you my experiences with my company and lots of details about other companies the other guys can hopefully fill in for you and of course asking the companies themselves too is a good way to find out.

I'll say it again though, think about applying to more than one company, because if you rely on one application and it fails for some reason it can sap your morale a little bit!

Anyways good luck!

[Unregistered]

Thanks very much for the quick response!

This has certainly clarified the whole process for me, hopefully some others will post here later with their experiences with different companies as well, but that has cleared everything up for me for now.

Thanks again!

[Chiefy]

Pretty much what the Coffee Monster said with one real caveat.......

NO ONE guarantees you a job at the end of the cadetship. However it is very possible that everyone for several (many) years is taken on automatically so it gives the impression this is the case but in reality it isnt, the contract you sign to start with is for training only.That said most companys who direct recruit do so because they see the need for you and your calls mates in the future. This has caught people out before, not that long ago when the big slow down came and some companies reduced numbers and let thier cadets go after finishing college. (has to be said it wasnt a PR success!)

You will have to attend a college away from home, though I wouldnt call it relocating as such, no different to my mind that going to Uni away from home, your home is still home with parents or whatever (unless you are a more elderly cadet with family of your own already etc) you are in college for term time home for holidays and then at sea and home on leave.

Other than that, I would also suggest apply to more than one company (though I never did but we dont talk about that ) have a right good read around here, and if need be ask more questions.

Good Luck

[Steve]

NO ONE guarantees you a job at the end of the cadetship. However it is very possible that everyone for several (many) years is taken on automatically so it gives the impression this is the case but in reality it isnt, the contract you sign to start with is for training only.

Of purely historical interest, the RFA training contract used to guarantee you a job as an officer when you qualified, with the proviso that it was subject to satisfactory reports during your cadetship. Don't **** up = get a job.

But they changed it a couple of years ago to go along with a slowdown in recruitment.

[Unregistered]

Maersk let a good few Cadets go about a year and half ago at the end of their training, and I know from a friend who was a junior officer there at the time that it was made clear that there wasn't much of a future for British officers in the company

From my own experience, and from what I have heard from friends, I'd recommend BP and Shell as the best training companies. The money is good, the training is second to none, and providing you pass your exams and get decent reports, you'll have a job at the end. Worst case scenario, you don't get a job, at least you'll have a well regarded company on your CV and have benefited from their training