If your business offers jobs in the boating industry, you must find candidates who are adept at making the most of boating jobs. You can only be successful if your employees put forth the image that your company and customers demand. If you offer luxury yacht chartering, for example, you need crew members that not only do their jobs, but also leave your clients feeling pampered.

When looking for yacht crews or boat crews, hone in on professionals with experience and the training to do their job well. At the same time, however, seek candidates who can put your company's best face forward and can provide exemplary service. Knowing which candidates can handle the pressure of marine industry careers can be challenging. If you're offering boating employment opportunities, therefore, consider:

1. Learning more about candidates and their approaches to jobs in the boating industry by visiting forums.

2. Placing an ad on boating job listing websites to get a wide variety of candidates.

3. Hiring a recruitment service for access to pre-screened professionals to fill your boating jobs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Fill your boating jobs by making contacts and meeting prospective employees

Forums for job seekers interested in a boating career are the ideal place to recruit. Job hunters often leave many comments on a forum, which makes it easier for employers to gauge applicants' commitment to their boating careers. Many of these forums also allow you to place targeted ads for the boating jobs your business must fill.

I recommend: Work on a Boat's forum for professionals seeking boating jobs is a good place to meet prospective employees online. The forum has a "Boats Looking for Crew" section where you can post your ad, and a "Crew Looking for Boats" section where you can browse for applicants. Cruisers Forum has a "Crew Positions: Wanted & Available" section where businesses can post ads for marine industry jobs and where professionals can post their qualifications.

Post your boating career ad online to draw a variety of job applicants

If you want to draw a wide array of candidates, placing an online job ad is often the surest way to do so. Many job listing sites will replicate your ad and make it keyword-searchable, so that any candidate looking for boating jobs through a search engine can find your ad. If you're looking for very specific qualifications and feel that you need many applicants to fill your specialized boating jobs, consider placing an online ad.

I recommend: SailMiami.com is a job listing site that offers job listings for boating careers as well as resources for those interested in pursuing jobs on boats. Employers can post job ads for free. Jobs on Luxury Yachts has an easy-to-follow application that lets businesses post boating industry jobs easily and quickly at no cost.

Hire a recruitment service to spend less time on filling your boating jobs

For a business, making the most of boating jobs often means not spending excessive time and effort on recruitment. A recruitment or placement service can automatically forward you a list of qualified professionals for your jobs in boating. That way, you can focus on finding the right candidate rather than spending time on advertising your job opening.

I recommend: Crew Unlimited offers a recruitment service--businesses offering careers in boating simply upload their needs and the service finds professionals that match those needs. Elite Crew International is a crew placement agency specializing in staffing luxury mega yachts with qualified personnel.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you post your boating job listings online, keep in mind that your ad may remain online for a long time, as it is replicated across several websites. Consider using a separate, disposable email address for applicants, as your business may be getting responses to your ads for boating jobs long after the jobs are filled.

Boating careers encompass many different opportunities: from working on a cruise boat crew to building vessels. Whether you're an adventure seeker or someone who takes pride in your creative building skills, there's a job for you.

With this guide, you'll learn how to:

1. Emphasize your previous work skills to show you're perfect for certain boating careers.
2. Find the perfect boating job without ever having to leave your computer.
3. Choose marine industry careers that match your lifestyle and goals.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Spend time outlining your qualifications and making a resume

Your resume is a way to showcase what you've learned from each job that makes you a great candidate for boating industry jobs. Even if you've never held boating employment, you've likely developed skills and knowledge that would make you successful in the boating field. Write a resume that emphasizes your technical and customer service skills.

I recommend: Contact Boat Crews USA. It's a large boating jobs personnel firm. Submit a response form and let the company link you up to one of their boating industry jobs. Use this page from Nautic Blue as a guide to writing your boating resume.

Decide what type of boating career you're qualified for

If you have a construction background, building boats may be perfect for you. If your experience is mostly in the service field, you're qualified to work on yacht crews. Then again, if you're a great sales and marketing person, maybe you should sell boats.

I recommend: Crowley Maritime Corporation specializes in logistics, ship escort, salvage and vessel construction. Check out their career page to see what boating careers they offer. Use this cruising crew list if you're interested in boating careers aboard cruising vessels.

Look online for boating careers

How people found careers in boating before the Internet, you may never know. There are dozens of websites that list marine industry careers. Some will even email you daily as new jobs are posted.

I recommend: Indeed allows you to search by a keyword and find jobs in boating. If you're willing to relocate, search for jobs all over the country. If you want to stay local, specify your city. Maritime jobs allows you to sign up for emails every time jobs in the boating industry are posted. Sail Miami offers a list of marine industry jobs and other careers in boating.

Consider other water jobs that may keep you on land more often

Being gone at sea for months at a time may not be your cup of tea. If so, consider marine industry jobs like loading or unloading at a port or studying water samples.

I recommend: Water-people is a great resource for marine industry jobs like scientists, waste water specialists, accountants and hydrologists. Check out Atlantic Coast Boating for a list of boating jobs available on the Atlantic Coast. This includes sales positions and technicians.

If you want to launch your own boating business, you must have contacts as well as an inside view of jobs in the boating industry. Many entrepreneurs who run their own marine businesses start by training for marine industry jobs. Whether you intend to apply for boating industry jobs or just want to increase your knowledge of boats and boating before launching a business, training for boating jobs helps you develop the skills you need to succeed in the industry.

To find training that will help you grow your own boating business, look for traditional courses that let you meet with professionals in the industry. Alternatively, look for online courses that you can complete at your own pace. When mulling over jobs in the boating industry and considering the training necessary for those jobs, also consider:

1. Securing your state's boating license so you can train on a boat and qualify for more boating employment.

2. Learning about boat maintenance and repair to increase your desirability on the boating jobs market.

3. Earning a hospitality management degree to build your customer service and entrepreneurial skills, both crucial elements of a successful boating career.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain a boating license to kickstart your training for boating jobs

Not all boating jobs require you to have a license, but a license allows you to operate a boat legally and safely in your state. Most of the more desirable jobs in boating do require a license and having your license allows you to qualify for a wider variety of jobs, including high-paying jobs, in the industry.

I recommend: Boat Ed allows you to get state regulation manuals or to sign up for online classes that will help you meet your state's licensing requirements. America's Boating Course offers online classes as well as an online certification exam for your state. Study your state's complete boating safety manual and take your boating exam through Boater Exam America.

Find the right technical training to boost your boating career

Even if you're not interested in technical boating careers - such as jobs involving maintenance or repair - it makes sense to get some technical training if you want to run your own boating business. The right technical training will help you to understand boats more fully, to better determine which boats to include in your fleet and to effectively oversee repairs of your valuable boats.

I recommend: Boatma.com offers programs to prepare for various types of marine technician certification, including the Marine Trades Basic Certificate and the Marine Technician Certificate. The Withlacoochee Technical Institute offers a program in marine service technology. The school's courses give students the expertise to become marine engine mechanics and other types of boating professionals.

Get training in hospitality and management to further the business side of your boating career

If you want to further your boating career by starting your own business, you need management as well as business skills. A hospitality management degree can help you prepare for starting a business in the boating tourism industry. The right training will give you the tools you need to succeed in the highly competitive boating industry.

I recommend: Ellis University offers hospitality management degrees that allow students to prepare for jobs on cruise ships and for other positions in the boating industry. The program's courses, through which students learn about the hospitality industry and about offering exemplary customer service, can be completed online. Ashford University offers an online bachelor's degree in Organizational Management and Hospitality Management. Students study communication skills, human resource management skills, industry-related legal and ethical concerns, strategies for group dynamics, decision-making strategies and other skills needed for careers in boating industries.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Marine businesses, like marine industry careers, rely on personal contacts. If you decide to take a temporary boat job before launching your own business, stay in touch with co-workers and even customers. If you take a course, get to know your instructor and your fellow students. You never know what these individuals can teach you about the industry and about your business.

If you want to pursue boating jobs, knowing some key industry terms can help you plan your marine career and select the positions that are best suited to your talents, interests and skills. Familiarity with boating jobs key terms can also help you succeed with interviews and applications. Knowing the various jobs available and understanding some of the basic jargon can prepare you for a successful career aboard a boat or ship.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Crew

A crew is the group of workers on board a ship responsible for running it. A crew includes the deckhands, stewardesses and stewards, chefs, assistant engineers, bo'suns, ship's officers, pursers and others.

I recommend: YachtingCrews.com offers a detailed description of what crews are and what they do on board a ship.

Boat mechanic

The boat mechanic, also known as a marine mechanic, repairs and builds boat engines as well as other critical boat systems, such as fuel injection systems, steering systems, propellers and plumbing.

I recommend: The GuideToOnlineSchools.com offers a description of the boat mechanic position, including educational requirements and job details.

Captain

A ship captain is responsible for steering a boat and taking care of most management tasks, such as hiring crew and keeping ship logs. On most boats, the captain is the most senior officer and the ultimate authority on board.

I recommend: CareerPlanner.com has a useful guide to the ship captain's position, including details about education requirements and a full description of what captains do.

Marine engineer

Marine engineers, or ship engineers, are responsible for ensuring that all the electrical and mechanical systems on a ship are safe and working well.

I recommend: BrightHub has a description of a marine engineer, written by an actual ship engineer.

Yacht

A yacht is a recreational boat. It can be a racing boat or an expedition boat meant for travel. Boating jobs aboard a yacht usually mean that you will be working for the boat's owner.

I recommend: The Capital Yacht Club has a detailed description and definition of a yacht.

Cruise staff

Cruise staff works on larger cruise ships, coordinating guest activities and ensuring that guests have a good time while on their cruise.

I recommend: CruiseLinesJobs describes what cruise staff do and expected salaries. JobMonkey offers a detailed description of cruise staff positions.