Sold: one of the world's best berths
CV Guidance
Published 07 avril 2025
Here in the Burgess recruitment department, we come across hundreds of CV’s; some great, and some that need a little bit of improvement! Luckily this article will help you craft a standout CV, to help you in landing a yacht job. We understand what the Captains and Head of Departments want to see when looking through a handful of potential candidates. So take a read through our templates and make note of our CV Do’s and Don'ts, which highlight common mistakes we frequently encounter!
Formatting Suggestions
Yachting CVs follow a specific format that differs from the standard CV structure used for land-based jobs. If possible, it’s best to fit everything on 1 page like so:
If you have lots of relevant experience, perhaps from other/land based previous employment, then this can be spread out onto a second page like so:
CV Do’s
DO Keep your location and availability up to date.
We come across many profiles/cover letters stating a different location to that of in their CV. If your CV is forwarded to the vessel and they contact you under the impression you are in a certain location, and then turns out this information was not updated, then it will cause unnecessary delays and confusion, potentially leading to missed opportunities, additional hassle, or a negative impression from the employer and recruiter.
DO state the position you held onboard at the beginning of each previous employment entry.
This is key information which needs to stand out. Recruiters and employers don’t always have the time to read through a long paragraph to find what your job title was exactly.
DO include precise employment dates (mm/yyyy).
We often see CVs that only list the year, which can be ambiguous. This lack of specificity could mean anything from a week of day work to a full 12 months of employment. Avoid misunderstandings by being clear about your experience.
DO clearly state your objective and the type of role you are seeking.
Recruiters may headhunt candidates for specific positions, so it’s helpful to specify what kind of role you’re looking for. This ensures you’re considered for opportunities that align with your goals.
DO prioritize your maritime/yacht experience in the employment history section.
We advise to have your most recent employment listed at the top, and descend in in reverse chronological order, however in the case of your most recent work being land-based, this can come after the maritime experience.
CV Dont’s
DON’T Wear sunglasses, hats, or unnecessary accessories in your CV picture.
A selfie isn’t considered professional, so please try have someone take the picture for you. We suggest the background to be the ocean, in a marina, or on deck.
DON’T Squish lots of information onto 1 page.
Tiny fonts and difficult to read formats are not the way to go. You may have all the right experience and skills, however if the CV is too unnecessarily lengthy & difficult to read, it may simply be skipped all together! Avoid clashing colours and keep to a classic and simple colour scheme.
DON’T Forget to spell check!
Of course, it’s normal to make a few mistakes in your first draft, but please remember to double and triple check this! Nothing detracts from the overall impression like a spelling mistake.
When uploading your CV to online platforms, we highly suggest you do so in PDF format. This keeps consistent formatting, has a professional appearance and is more universally compatible. Word documents are also easier to make unwanted modifications.
Written by: Wendy XXX
Dernières actualités
Sold: one of the world's best berths
A guide to luxury yacht charter in Turkey
Price reduction on CRAZY TEST
