You’ve got your ENG1, STCW and maybe even a couple of years’ yachting experience behind you, so finding your next superyacht job should be plain sailing, right?
Unfortunately not.
In today’s superyacht sector, we are increasingly seeing yachts demand crew with secondary skills. Having additional specialist skills will not only set you apart from the competition, but also significantly increases the chances of green crew getting a good first role.
Having additional specialist skills will not only set you apart from the competition, but gives green crew a real shot at getting onboard their first yacht.
Here are the most in-demand secondary skills our superyacht clients are after from their yacht crew.
1. Massage & beauty therapy
Beauticians of all kinds are in high demand! Health and wellness have become a bigger priority for owners and guests, ensuring they can enjoy home from home comforts while onboard. Qualified masseuses and beauticians with professional experience will always have options on the job front, even if they are green.
2. Paramedics and Nurses
With yachts increasingly visiting far flung places and / or indulging in risky adventure sports, having someone on board who has hands-on experience of dealing with medical emergencies is extremely desirable.
3. Personal training and fitness
Generally, personal training and fitness skills are desirable assets for yacht crew. Whilst owners have seen the benefit of having a good PT or yoga instructor onboard, increasingly we are seeing crew recruited to provide group training sessions for the crew. The fitter the crew are, the better they perform and the happier they are.
4. Watersports
Lots of yachts have active watersports programs. Bringing an instructor qualification / teaching experience in wakeboarding, kite surfing or scuba diving is always valued. Of course, being an amazing tender driver is always beneficial too!
5. Carpentry
Carpentry skills are also invaluable for yacht crew as they can help with essential maintenance, repair, and renovation tasks onboard. There is always something wooden onboard in need of some gentle loving care. It is a great skillset which will be used very regularly and can save the yacht a fortune over using contractors.
6. AVIT
On smaller yachts, there is often a bit of a gap in knowledge in the AVIT area. Someone bringing skills in this area can often end up picking up the responsibilities onboard. I’ve seen deckhands pivot to AVIT roles over time having started like this.
7. Photography and videography
Capturing memorable moments onboard is an integral part of the yachting experience. Crew members skilled in photography and videography can document guests’ adventures and it’s a great keepsake for the guests involved.
For a charter yacht, having crew producing great content for social media is also amazing from a marketing perspective and will no doubt be appreciated by the charter agents.
8. Security
Security and protection is often a necessity for many Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals. Relevant roles include personal security of owners or yacht security services when docked. In our experience, ex-military candidates are normally sought after as they are likely to be capable of both medical and security assistance.
9. Hospitality
Interior crew are key to creating a happy guest experience and additional hospitality experience is extremely beneficial. If your work history spans time as a professional barista or mixologist, or within high-end environments like Michelin starred restaurants or 5 star hotels you are bringing a lot to the table, pardon the pun.
If you don’t come from a sea-going background, then having a diverse set of secondary skills under your belt can really improve your chances of getting your first yacht job. We’d even go as far as saying that these desirable secondary skills are often more important than primary skills.
From medical to service expertise and watersports to carpentry, each skill plays a role in ensuring the safety, comfort, and satisfaction of guests and owners. As the yachting industry continues to evolve, crew members who continuously hone their secondary skills will remain in high demand and secure the best roles and packages.
If you’re searching for a yacht role, get in touch with the Quay Crew team today.
