Holding Position As the 2021 Mediterranean season ramps up, we listen to some advice from our recruitment agency friends on how best to land your next job oboard or even how to manage the transition ashore after a career on the open seas Words: Claire Griffiths
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ike lanternfish in the murky depths, recruitment agents have a way of separating the seagrass to get a glimpse of what lies ahead. It’s in this market sector where the rippling effects of hire & fire, energetic activity or industry slumps are netted and noted to give an idea of what’s really going on beneath the glistening surface. And here is what our experts have to say about the coming year ahead. Niske Haremaker of MYyachtcrew based in Holland is in buoyant mood and says, “Based on what I hear I am expecting a very busy Med season where a lot of charter clients will charter a bit extra and owners will want to use their yachts a lot: Kind of to catch up on last year’s miss. Regular testing will hopefully relax the restrictions in popular yacht hubs.” But she thinks the yachtie events and shows will and should wait another year. “Even though I miss these immensely. To me it sounds like a far off thing from the current locked down Netherlands.” Searchlight Crew is looking forward to a brighter year ahead with more movement of crew, job openings as more new builds are released. Says Searchlight’s Tara Broomhead, “Hopefully the EU gets a move on with the vaccination schemes so more crew are protected and can therefore join quicker and not have problems with travel and quarantines.” Chloé Collet at YPI Crew
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says this year has kicked off well with activity across the board. Sam Thompson warns that we should expect more of the same uncertainty as last year, “The owners are still hiring but delaying and being more localised in their hiring patterns.” “I’m expecting to see big surges in recruitment within the shore based yachting industry in response to a surge in spend in the market over the remainder of 2021,” says James Ward, CEO of Marine Resources. He adds, ‘I think there will be skill shortages in technical roles like Boat Building, Design and Engineering until businesses become more competitive in the salaries that they pay against competing industries. But overall a lot of opportunity for people looking for a new job.” BENDS & TRENDS Tara Broomhead at Searchlight Crew and Chloé Collet at YPI Crew both notice that current recruitment placements are very much right-time, right-place focused, so luck plays a role in that longed-for leap up the metaphoric mast. Says Tara, “Yachts want crew that are located close to the boat or in the region/ country for ease of employment and travel restrictions.” Adds Chloé, “So if you’re surfing in Costa Rica, make sure you tell us. That just might be where you land your next job!” Zoom
