The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Seafarer Resume

Feb 01, 2024 · 8 mins read ·

Job Seeker Tips
hands holing a paper resume

Is it time you sat down and updated your seafarer resume? Maybe you’re just starting your career at sea and need to write your very first CV for a seaman. Whichever one it is, writing a maritime resume can be a daunting task and you might not know where to start. So we’ve written this blog post to help you!

In this post, you’ll find resources that will help you craft the ideal seafarer CV that will get you noticed, as well as some handy hints and tips to help you get the maritime job vacancies that you really want.

Let’s get started.

Everything you need to know about your seafarer resume

From avoiding clichés to resisting the temptation to tell untruths on your resume for a seaman, there are a number of things you need to take into consideration when you write a maritime CV.

Here are a number of blog posts that we’ve already published on a few different topics that will help you avoid the numerous traps that many people looking for a job at sea fall into.

Check them out if you think they’ll be of help - after you’ve finished reading this blog post!

Why Trash Talking Former Employers on Your Seafarer Resume is a No-No

How to Sell Yourself in a Maritime Resume without Showing Off

Why Lying on Your Seafarer Resume Will Always Backfire

How to Write a Resume for a Seafarer Without Using Clichés

How to Write a Great Seafarer Resume & Cover Letter

What You Should & Shouldn't Include on Your Seafarer Resume

10 Big Mistakes Not To Make in Your Seafarer Resume

But why should you take the time to write a really great seafarer CV? After all, won’t your experience, certificates and licenses speak for themselves?

Yes, of course, employers and manning agents who are looking to fill their crewing jobs want seafarers who hold the right qualifications and documents, but in a very crowded job market, having a stand out seaman resume will make you a lot more noticeable than all of the other men and women fighting over a limited number of Bosun, Deck Cadet, First Officer or Third Engineer jobs!

Why you should take the time to write a good resume for a seaman 

Taking the time to write a good maritime CV is like laying the foundation for a successful job search. It can significantly increase your chances of getting an interview and ultimately, the job at sea that you want. 

Here are some reasons why investing effort in your seafarer resume is crucial:

It's your first impression with a crew manager

In most cases, your CV for a seaman is the first thing a potential employer or a manning agent sees. It gives you the opportunity to make a strong and memorable impression, showcasing your skills, experience, and achievements in a clear and concise way. 

A well-written maritime resume will grab the crew manager’s attention and make them want to find out more about you.

It highlights your value to a shipping company or manning agency

A good maritime CV isn't just a list of jobs and qualifications. It's a document that demonstrates how your specific skills and experience make you the perfect seafarer for the position. By tailoring your resume to each job at sea you apply for, you can highlight the relevant aspects of your background and achievements, convincing the manning agent or crew manager that you will add value to their crew.

It opens doors to interviews for seafarer jobs

Manning agents and recruitment officers often have limited time to review each application. A poorly written or generic seaman CV can easily get lost in the pile. Taking the time to craft a compelling and well-formatted maritime resume increases your chances of standing out from the crowd and securing an interview.

It boosts your confidence as a crew member

Putting effort into your CV for a seaman shows potential employers that you're serious about your maritime career and passionate about the opportunity to work onboard their vessel. This can translate into increased confidence during the interview stage, as you'll be more prepared to discuss your skills and experience in detail.

Read more: How A.I. Can Help You Write Your Seafarer Resume

It saves you time in the long run - more about that later

While writing a good seafarer CV requires upfront effort, it can save you time in the long run. A well-crafted resume that gets you interviews for relevant seafarer ranks means you won't need to spend time applying for jobs that aren't a good fit.

It's an investment in your future maritime career

Your seaman CV is a living document that evolves throughout your career. By investing time and effort in building a strong foundation now, you'll have a solid base to update and tailor it in the future, making your maritime job search process smoother and more successful.

Remember, your CV is not just a piece of paper; it's a powerful tool that can open doors to exciting seafarer career opportunities. So, take the time, invest in crafting a high-quality CV, and watch your job search set sail!

How can Martide help you write a seafarer resume?

If writing your maritime resume still sounds like something you really can’t be bothered to do, don’t worry because Martide is here to help.

Creating a seafarer resume online is easy when you have a Martide account.

All you need to do is to create a free Martide account and then fill in your seafarer profile - your education, personal details, work history and so on, and then when you apply for one of our maritime jobs the manning agent, crew manager or recruitment officer will see all of your details in a CV format.

Then all you need to do is to update your profile each time you’ve finished a contract or gained a new license or skill. It’s a lot easier than having to manually update your actual seafarer CV everytime and then print it out or email it to employers or manning agencies.

Find out more about creating your seafarer CV online with Martide in this blog post:

Your Guide to Creating a Seafarer Resume Online

And learn more about making sure your seafarer documents and maritime CV are stored safely and securely online in this article:

How to Store Your Seafarer Resume & Documents Online

Finally to get the lowdown on how Martide can help you create your online seafarer resume, you should really check out this page about our maritime resume builder.

Get that resume for a seaman sorted on Martide and we look forward to seeing you onboard one of our clients’ vessels soon!

And don’t forget to download our seafarer job app for iOS or Android from the Apple App Store or from Google Play either!

Eve Church

Eve Church

Eve is Martide's content writer, publishing regular posts on everything from our maritime recruitment and crew planning software to life at sea. Eve has been writing professionally for more than two decades, crafting everything from SEO-focused blog posts and website landing pages to magazine articles and corporate whitepapers.

UK

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