Money or Experience?

[TAL]

Just wondering what the general consensus is for junior officers....

Would you take a Job/or look for a job that pays above average OR a job which would give you invaluable experience and look good on your CV, for a future position?

[jcwilson91]

Money probably if it was substantially more than the competitor, personally I'm looking for future job securit.

[GuinnessMan]

personally I'm looking for future job securit.

I'm sorry to say but that is rather unlikely at the moment (even in the RFA). The market is sh*te and everyone is trying to cut costs left, right and bloody center and with that a lot of ships have been sold off and even some of the big owner's have gone bankrupt!

Best thing you can do, is to try and be the best you can be and not break anything too expensive, that way a company is more inclined to take you on for another contract.

[Ducki52]

Money. The shipping companies don't generally care for experience (apart from the whole 'first trip' phenomenon). Just take the money and run. Obviously, take the money from the company that's gong to give you the most.

And I don't know how many ducks I could duck. What breed of ducks are we talking?

[GuinnessMan]

Money. The shipping companies don't generally care for experience
And I don't know how many ducks I could duck. What breed of ducks are we talking?

Actually we do care about experience in the Tanker sector! It all goes towards a crew matrix and experience requirements set down by OM's.....yawn....

Ducks? I don't know. Mallards?

[YoungMariner]

Most jobs offer experience, in fact all ship types I have sailed on have given me different experience, often in the most unexpected ways. Financially, its always good to try and secure a position which pays well. Job security isn't really a big deal in the industry once you have that first trip as OOW under you belt, and the higher your ticket the easier it is to get work. There is just so much work around at the moment, although not all of it paying fantastic salaries, it is there. Never be afraid of any ship type, a ship is just a ship at the end of the day.

[Steve]

(even in the RFA)

Dunno where you get your info from GM, but the short and medium term likelihood of junior and middle ranking certificated officer redundancies is pretty damn small.

[Lewis]

Would you take a Job/or look for a job that pays above average OR a job which would give you invaluable experience and look good on your CV, for a future position?

What are these jobs that pay well but are bad for your CV? Unless your gunrunning for the IRA or smuggling coke surely the jobs that pay well are the ones that look good on your CV?

[TAL]

In my opinion, no Job looks bad on your. Nor did i mention 'jobs that pay well but are bad for your CV'....

My point was, for example, If i was a newly qualified OOW and your long term goal was to end up on cable ships/drill ships.... given the choice once qualified , would you take a position that paid substantially (passenger ship/private yacht etc) ....or would you take a position on say a coastal bulk carrier/dredger that would pay standard but the experience would be more favorable when a perspective employer looks at your CV

Personally, I think experience is highly regarded....and can pay dividends down the line...

I don't think the IRA are doing much 'gun running' these days!

[IFHP]

You would know with a name like that

[HarmlessWeasel]

You would know with a name like that

woah now

[YoungMariner]

Passenger ships pay less then industry standard, but provide good experience. Private Yachts pay far higher but are incredibly difficult to get onto. DP pays well, but is also quite hard to break into. I've seen people transfer in all directions from these ship types.

[Clanky]

Forget experience, go for a job which pays well, gives you the leave ratio that you want (whether that be 1 for 1 to spend time at home or 2 for one to get sea time and get you tickets) and which you aren't going to hate every minute of the time which you spend at sea.

And you might want to consider a user name change, there are some that could find TAL a little offensive.

[GuinnessMan]

And you might want to consider a user name change, there are some that could find TAL a little offensive.

I must admit, it did raise an eyebrow or two here....

[bobofinga]

Initially I was more inclined to go for big bucks and better leave ratio so I could take my money home and have a ball.

After about a year of working in a job I really didn't enjoy very much and going daft when I was home I changed.

I get slightly less money and slightly less time at home than before but I'd say im a much happier person when I am home and 100% happier in my job.