In the competitive world of luxury yachting, your resume is often your first—and sometimes only—chance to make an impression. Captains, owners, and placement agencies review dozens of crew CVs every week. To get hired, build a yacht crew resume to showcase professionalism, relevant experience, and a strong fit for life at sea.
This guide breaks down exactly how to build a yacht crew resume that gets noticed and opens the door to your next opportunity.
Build a Yacht Crew Resume: Understand What Makes a Yacht CV Different
Unlike a traditional corporate resume, a yacht CV is highly visual, concise, and tailored for a maritime lifestyle. Captains and recruiters expect a specific format that allows them to assess your credentials, experience, and attitude quickly.
Key Characteristics of a Yacht CV
- One page, clean layout
- Professional photo (passport style, smiling, neat appearance)
- Details on certifications, licenses, and sea experience
- Specific mention of service standards or transferable hospitality skills
- Notes on nationality, visas, location, and availability
Start with a Professional Header
Your resume should begin with your full name, phone number (with country code), email, and current location. If you’re available immediately, make that clear.
Include:
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Visa status (Schengen, B1/B2, etc.)
- Height (for cabin compatibility)
- Languages spoken
- Smoking status (most yachts are non-smoking)
Add a Professional Headshot
A polished headshot is essential. Wear a collared shirt or crew uniform, stand against a neutral background, and smile. This isn’t Instagram—avoid sunglasses, hats, or casual clothing.
Your appearance should reflect how you’d present yourself to owners and guests.
Write a Strong Personal Profile
This is your brief opportunity to summarize your experience and highlight your work ethic, strengths, and career goals. Keep it 3–4 sentences long.
Example:
Hardworking and detail-oriented stewardess with a background in five-star hospitality. STCW certified and confident in formal service, laundry care, and guest interaction. Seeking a junior stew role aboard a private or charter yacht where I can grow and contribute to a professional team.
Highlight Certifications Clearly
Certifications are non-negotiable in yachting. Create a separate section near the top of your CV to list yours in order of importance.
Common Certifications:
- STCW (with course dates)
- ENG1 Medical Certificate (with expiry date)
- Food Hygiene Level 2
- Powerboat Level 2
- PDSD or Crowd Management
- Dive certifications (if applicable)
Make sure dates are current and clearly visible.
Showcase Your Relevant Experience
List your most recent and relevant positions first. Include the yacht name, size, type (motor/sail, private/charter), your role, contract duration, and a brief bullet list of your duties.
Example Format:
M/Y Serenity | 55m Private | Stewardess | May 2023 – Sept 2023
- Managed guest cabins and daily turndowns
- Assisted with table settings, formal service, and bartending
- Supported provisioning and restocking duties
- Maintained interior detailing and floral arrangements
If you’re new to yachting, list transferable experience from luxury hotels, fine dining, event management, or service roles—but emphasize relevance to the yacht environment.
Add a Skills Section
This optional section can help highlight what sets you apart. Include a short, well-formatted list of useful skills such as:
- Silver service
- Flower arranging
- Bartending and mixology
- Laundry and delicate fabric care
- Watersports assistance
- Childcare or tutoring
- Multilingual communication
Mention Your Hobbies
Yacht owners and captains want well-rounded crew. Share hobbies that reflect physical fitness, teamwork, or cultural curiosity. Avoid controversial or overly niche interests.
Good examples include: hiking, diving, yoga, cooking, photography, paddleboarding, or team sports.
Keep It Clean and Consistent
Choose a simple, professional font and keep your formatting consistent. Avoid heavy colors or graphics. Save your CV as a PDF with a clear file name:
FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf
Update Regularly
Update your yacht resume after each contract. Include new vessels, updated certifications, and any new skills you’ve developed. Make sure your photo, location, and availability are always current.
Build a Yacht Crew Resume: How The Estate Agency Helps Elevate Your Application
At The Estate Agency, we connect polished, career-minded professionals with luxury yacht opportunities around the world. A strong CV is just the start—we help you refine your presentation, prepare for interviews, and secure roles that align with your long-term goals.
Our Services Include:
- Personalized CV feedback and formatting guidance
- Crew placement for private and charter yachts
- Career development planning for new and seasoned crew
- Discreet and targeted introductions to captains and owners
To join our global talent network or improve your application strategy, visit theestateagency.com.