How to Find Job Openings on Cruise Lines
Your dream job: Working on a cruise ship and getting paid to travel to exotic tropical locations and traverse the vast seas. But, how do you land the job? Any thorough job search starts with research. Narrow your search by asking yourself crucial questions like who, what, where, when and why. Use your information wisely and make real attempts at developing contacts. If you follow a few easy steps, your new job on a cruise ship might be a dream come true.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Internet access for research
- Updated resume
- Customized cover letters
- List of your personal goals: long-term and short-term
Instructions
-
-
1
Know why do you want to work on a cruise. What kinds of skills do you have that a cruise line could benefit from? Be honest with yourself and your skills and experiences. If you don't know how to cook and have no experience cooking, don't think you will be hired as a cook. If you just graduated from college but plan to return for a graduate degree within a year, be sure you will be able to commit to cruise scheduling.
-
2
Research various cruise lines, locations and staff opportunities. A simple on-line search for cruise lines can yield many results. Weed through various opportunities by identifying the locations they travel to. Limit your search to the geographic locations that interest you. Most large cruise lines post their jobs on-line, or feature a career section on their website with directions on how to apply. A few sites to start you off: royalcaribbean.com, carnival.com, dcljobs.com, and princess.com.
-
-
3
Identify contacts. Use networking skills to identify the people hiring and the actual name of the person or people the job would entail as your direct supervisor. A cover letter addressed to an actual person versus to a "to whom it may concern," can speak volumes in a sea of applications. If you're applying for a position as a ship bartender, find out who the restaurant manager is and address your letter to them. A little research into the mechanics of the cruise operation and staff hierarchy can go a long way.
-
4
Write a separate cover letter for each job you apply for, whether required or not. A cover letter is a chance to express what makes you perfect for the job. Specifically address what qualifies you for this role on the cruise. Avoid expressing your love for the sea and dream of working on a cruise, and stick instead to concrete examples of why you're a good candidate for the actual job.
-
5
Be patient, but follow up! If you have a contact at the cruise line company, follow up about the posted opportunity about two weeks after you have applied. Always be polite, and don't overdo this. It's easy to go crazy waiting to hear back, but waiting two weeks then following up with a short email is a good rule of thumb.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit cruise ship image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com
