Taking the leap


Make sure you partner with an


experienced and proactive recruitment company as part of your career progression, whether climbing the ranks onboard or even if you are thinking of moving ashore Words: Claire Griffiths


E


xperts estimate that there are around 12,000 active superyachts of 24m+ currently cruising the world’s seas. A conservative estimate of the number of jobs that represents is approximately 48,000 which doesn’t


include the 1,200 yachts in build or on order, due for delivery between now and 2027. Factor those jobs into the equation and we can add between 6,900-11,800 additional new jobs. That’s a lorra jobs.


As the Mediterranean season prepares to kick off, ONBOARD Magazine calls up the agency experts to find out the whos, wheres, whys and whats that will come into play to source the crews that will cruise this summer.


One big change to the season this year is the easing up of Covid 19 restrictions and vaccinations. But what else is afoot this year? First up, have owner requirements noticeably changed over the past twelve months?


Monique Dykstra is Managing Director of Saltwater Recruitment. Both she and Cara Lees, founder of Cara Lees Yacht Crew Ltd don’t see any particular change to make their ears prick up; longevity is always the number one most desirable factor in a candidate’s CV, followed closely by the desired experience level on a relevant size vessel Dykstra explains. Lees adds, “One aspect that I’ve observed on some occasions, is the request for crew to have qualifications that are higher than are actually required for a particular role.” She adds, “The crux of effective crew recruitment lies in identifying the perfect match for each position, not solely based on qualifications and staffing requirements, but also on how they could elevate the overall experience for owners and guests. The underlying emphasis is on versatility.”


All agents chime with Jacob Hardy’s observation, Managing Director of One Ocean Marine, that skill set requirements have changed: owners, (and therefore captains and management companies) want more bang for their buck; crew with additional niche skills, such as yoga instructors, nutritionists, hair stylists, water sports instructors, etc. “This is particularly the case with charter yachts,” says Hardy.


Don McKee of YOA Agency regrets that the number of crew that match these criteria appear to be currently quite low. Says Frankie Mason, of Bespoke Crew, “We recently placed a stewardess that was a professional makeup artist and this has helped her land her dream role.” Other additional skills in demand are photography/videography, dive masters, florists, musicians and personal trainers. Having that additional ‘superpower’ is an asset to any crew and will help a CV stand out from the crowd.


40 | SPRING 2023 | ONBOARD


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