How to write a good Maritime CV?  In our last article, we gave some tips on how to get called in for a job interview. One of the tips was regarding the cover letter and this article sort of builds on that point, since the cover letter must always be accompanied by your Curriculum Vitae or CV.

When applying for a job, a well-structured and well-formatted CV helps you stand out as well as increase your chances of getting the job. This is because it gives the company a good overview of your skills and previous experiences, as well as giving an indication of whether or not the person/qualifications that you have portrayed in your cover letter are true. So, he next time you are applying for a maritime job, try following the guidelines outlined below.

A properly structured CV can:

• Attract the employer to read your cover letter/application ahead of your competitors’.
• Send the message that you have more skills than what is actually mentioned in your CV – structure can give impressions that words can’t.
• Lead the employer to areas of your history that the job requires.
• Most importantly, a good CV can get you the interview you need.

To achieve this, your CV must be presented properly, with all relevant information neatly laid out; ensure that the font used is readable and tidy, and try to keep it under two A4 pages.

If you’re not comfortable with advanced features in Word or similar text programs, then there are several good CV template services to be found online, within Word and other text programs. To help visualize how your CV should be structured, here’s a rough example.

Title (optional)

Name:
Address:
Contact Numbers: (home and mobile)
Email:
Date of Birth: (optional)

Personal statement
This is a statement which describes you to your potential employer. It is a statement, not a biography so keep it between 2 to 3 sentences describing your present situation, your career goals and a summary of why you’re qualified to work for the company. This section of the CV is very important and should be catchy enough to make your recruiters want to read on with interest.

Education
Here you would describe your educational background, mentioning your schools, relevant educational qualifications like; GCSE’s, O and A Levels, NVQ’s, HND’s, GNVQ’s or Degrees. Be sure to outline which schools, colleges or universities you obtained your qualifications from, as well as the start and finish dates you attended.

How To Write a Maritime CV

Previous employments
This section should contain an outline of your previous employments. Mention the employer or company you worked for, your job title, the name and type of vessel you worked in. It could also be a good idea to outline your achievements in the respective jobs, as it will give the employer an indication of what to expect from you.
It is best to start your outline with your most recent job at the top of the Employment section of your CV and work backward. This keeps the most relevant information at the top of your CV (this is also the case with the education section).

Qualifications and Experience
In this section, you would list all other qualifications and experience you may have acquired, including any professional development or affiliations to relevant associations and professional institutions. Also, you could mention other skills such as computer programs you’ve used or any programming languages you have experience with.

Hobbies and Interests
This section must be kept brief however you could mention things like volunteering, sporting activities, weekend interests or even life aims or goals you may have. Again – this will give the employer a more detailed picture of who you are as a person.

References
The reference section is the last section of your CV. A proper reference should ideally have two referees. A referee is a person that can be contacted by your potential employer if they need to find out more about you, your personality or what it is like to work with you.
It is advisable to list one employment referee (manager or senior colleague at your previous company) and also a personal referee (colleague, fellow volunteer, mentor/professor/teacher etc).
**As we mentioned in the previous article, the importance of references can’t be over-estimated, so make sure to get the best references that you have in your network!**

No perfect solution

Creating a good CV is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. It is of course important that it fits the position you are applying for but it’s arguably just as important that you feel comfortable with it – that it reflects you accurately. Some applicants will include photo, use a catchy headline, state their date of birth or their relationship/family status. If you don’t want to share this information in the CV, you should be prepared to share it in a potential interview. Now, some companies will demand this information so make sure to read the job listings carefully and update your CV for the individual application.

We hope that you have found these articles helpful! The Northwest Maritime Academy & SailNord.com are dedicated entirely to sailors and our combined vision is to become the sailors’ preferred job site, so please do share your experiences with us and let us know if these articles have helped you get your dream job!

Good luck with your next job application and subsequent job interview, and when working at sea, remember that safety always comes first!

Maritime Training Classes at The Northwest Maritime Academy