Navigating the Choppy Waters of Cruise Ship Job Applications

The Importance of Following Instructions

When applying for jobs on cruise ships, it's crucial that your application is completed fully with all your relevant details. The worst thing that can happen is your resume gets trashed before anybody has even looked at it.

A common mistake made by job seekers when filling out applications is not following the simple instructions asked by the cruise companies.

Take for instance the following example of a straightforward request posted in a recent employment advertisement:

'Please include a cover letter, a CV/resume and a 6x4 headshot photograph. Post your application to...'

Pretty simple instructions and you'd think nothing could go wrong here. Not so, unfortunately! Would you believe only 61 applicants out of 322, actually carried out these instructions properly?

Common mistakes included sending the application by email instead of posting, forgetting to include a cover letter, sending a full-length photograph and not having the correct sized photo.

Fewer than 20% of applicants seeking jobs on cruise ships correctly followed the instructions and actually made it to the selection process. Amazingly, 261 hopefuls never even had their applications considered, all because they failed to carry out even the simplest of tasks. Their application packages were binned without being read.

I'm sure this appears slightly unfair, but the fact of the matter is: would you employ a person who cannot carry out even a simple instruction?

Cruise companies receive a vast number of job enquiries and applications each week. Staff are very overworked and most recruiters have a system in place to cut down the volume of applications to a reasonable amount. In fact, this is true in most professions, not just in cruise line employment, so it always pays to follow the instructions right down to the letter.

No matter how vast your experience, how skilled you are or how fantastic your resume is, if you don't follow the basic requests your application package will go straight in the bin.

• No photograph? - Trashed!
• No cover letter? - Trashed!
• No job objective? - Trashed!
• Wrong size photograph? - Trashed!
• No phone number? - Trashed!
• Spelling errors? - Trashed!

It's a simple way for busy staff to whittle down large piles of resumes. A stack of around 200 can be decreased quickly and easily to no more than 30, with the trashed ones only receiving a brief glance.

Don't let this happen to you. Always do exactly as the application requests, even if it seems irrelevant, like the colour of ink or photo size. Don't give recruiters any reason whatsoever to file your application in the bin!

As recruiting staff will tell you, your resume is the most important part of any application for cruise line employment.

This can be the deciding factor in whether or not you make the interview stage, so it's vital your resume not only looks good but also sells yourself to your best possible advantage.

Follow these tips to create a resume guaranteed to get a second glance.

• When applying for several vacancies onboard, or with different cruise companies, slightly tweak your resume so the focus is on parts relevant to each individual position or company.
• Make sure your resume is laid out in a simple format. No fancy font such as Comic Sans MS or Gothic. Instead, use a clear text like Times New Roman, Ariel or Tahoma, which are distinct and easy to read.
• Don't include reams of pages. A maximum of two is sufficient.
• When outlining your job history, use bullet points, again making it clear and easy to read.
• Don't rely on an automatic spell checker. Check it thoroughly for spelling or typing mistakes and then ask someone else to recheck.
• Keep sentences to the point without rambling. Short and succinct is the key. Finer points can be discussed in more depth at the interview stage.
• Avoid jokes or humorous content. A recruiter will not share your sense of humor, even if you're applying for a comedy act position!
• Always ensure you can back up any data or claims made. This is relevant if you're quoting sales revenues, figures or statistics.
• Don't leave gaps in your employment history. Always give full details even if the breaks were for travelling, for instance.
• Promote your strengths but don't exaggerate. Always make yourself appear highly employable but going over the top will not impress recruitment staff.

Creating an eye-catching, well-written resume is important to make sure your application does not get thrown away.

Follow all instructions carefully and there is no reason why your application won't be among the 20% in with a good chance of being offered jobs on cruise ships!