Social media has become a huge part of our lives over the past decade. You will struggle not to find a yachty on some platform whether it be Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat. However sharing your life experiences online – such as boozy nights out, photos of beautiful locations or even becoming friends with high profile guests might look great from the outside, But it could land you in a world of trouble or even cost you your job! Here’s a few bits of advice to avoid being that person:
Limit the amount of posts to Facebook!
You would be surprised how many potential employers, chief officers, captains and even owner’s representatives scroll through your Facebook to see what you have been up to! The one bad photo of you drunk or up to no good may earn you a visit to the captain’s office or give you a bad name for future employment. Keep the content clean and lock down any photos which may give you a bad look. One controversial status is all it takes!
Don’t share your location
Checking yourself in online with your fellow crew onboard may actually conflict with the disclosure or social media agreements you may have signed when joining. That one Facebook check in at Nikki Beach may mean you have jeopardised your guest’s privacy along with a number of people turning up at the back of the boat trying to take pictures. I once experienced a kayaker come to the back of the yacht to spot a celebrity, He had seen us drop this famous guest onshore in a tender with the yacht name written on the side! You would be surprised how far people will go to spot their favourite celeb. Trying to shoo a dad and his son away from the back of the boat wasn’t the finest moment for me, I don’t own the ocean!
Guests are guests, no matter how friendly they may seem!
Becoming friends on Facebook with guests or following the owner’s daughters/sons or even the charter guest’s girlfriend, boyfriend etc is a disaster waiting to happen. Not only does it become a conflict of interest, but months down the line when you post a lovely photo of the crew enjoying the Jacuzzi after a busy charter, does it then become a problem. No matter how hard you’ve worked on your charter, if the owner spots you loving life in their expensive Jacuzzi it won’t look good. These moments are best kept on board, not social media!
Be careful what you take photos of
Snapping away pictures of the interior of a yacht, the brand new tenders, or even the high profile guest may seem like a good idea, but again, it really isn’t. If you really have to take a selfie with Bruce Willis or Lewis Hamilton keep it for yourself on your phone! Show your close family and friends when you are home on leave. Don’t plaster it all over Facebook, Instagram and snapchat. Obviously if you have their permission, then maybe choose just one platform to post it on, but be aware of the knock on effects.
All of these points sound like serious business, and in some cases it can be. Make sure you know what you’ve signed on to and are fully aware of any privacy details. I know from first-hand experience how one photo can land you in some mud and I have spoken to many candidates that have felt the rough end of a stick from one innocent photo or friend request. You’d be surprised the lengths yacht owners go to in order to avoid being in the paper or have their holiday spoiled by paparazzi. You don’t want to be the one to get the blame!
