Saving time, money and unwanted surprises: Reasons the industry is turning to online recruitment

With the fluid nature of the superyacht industry, and with the ever-improving capabilities of internet technologies at sea, it is no surprise that more and more captains are turning to online crew recruitment services to fill positions aboard the world’s finest superyachts. 

Yachting Pages spoke to Vanya Chubatarova of DockJobCrew.com, an online job community that is seeking to change the way that crew agencies work.  Read on to find out about changing trends within the crew recruitment sector, and the reasons why the industry is turning to such online services.

How would you describe DockJobCrew.com? How did it all start?

DockJobCrew.com is an online yachting job community with the primary aim of facilitating online recruiters in meeting their chosen candidates face-to-face before hire. No third party is involved in our service, and so all crewmembers send their CVs directly to the decision-makers on board; captains, chief mates, chief stews, etc..

All DockJobCrew employers have the opportunity to recruit crew by themselves and to meet the candidates before they hire them, although, we can of course assist in this matter if the captains do not have the time.

What are the biggest challenges that you face in your industry and sector?

A big challenge for the yachting industry currently is crew visas as many candidates do not always approach yachts with a valid visa in place. We would therefore like to find a reputable company that can work with us and our growing candidate database to help us overcome the issue.

I would say that the biggest challenge in the crew recruitment sector itself is finding professional English and Russian-speaking crew. Many Russian boats are looking for experienced crewmembers that are not only qualified to work aboard, but also speak fluent English and/or Russian. We are always therefore hoping to expand our crew database with these candidates.

What trends do you see emerging in the crew recruitment sector at the moment?

By its very nature, the yachting industry is fluid; land-based crew agencies are always very helpful, but bear in mind that the industry is not based in one port – the boats are moving all of the time and it’s therefore easier to look to the internet for recruitment solutions; available 24/7, you can handpick candidates yourself.

Some recruiters may argue that this move to online recruitment is more time consuming for them, but the service offers captains the opportunity to pick their own crew. If, shortly after hiring, they realise that the candidate is not the right fit for the yacht, at least they have not wasted money that can then be spent in recruiting another candidate for the job keeping the boss happy. 

In the long-term, I would therefore argue that online crew recruitment makes hiring easier – a trend that is becoming more and more noticeable within the industry.

Which crew jobs are you currently seeing the biggest demand for? Are you seeing a shortage or surplus of applicants for any position within the sector? 

Currently, I would say the most-wanted crew are stewardesses and deckhands – these are the two positions that crew can make very good money in with the least qualifications. 

Of course, the more qualifications required for a position, the harder it becomes to find appropriate crew. There is usually therefore a shortage of quality captains, chief engineers, bosuns, etc., so, for these positions, it’s worth remembering that personality and qualification go hand-in-hand, giving you the edge over the competition at interview stage. 

What is new with Dock Job Crew? Are you working on any new developments at the moment?

DockJobCrew.com is currently working on an app for iOS and Android to make it easier for recruiters and crew to check up on their application progress while on the move. The app is still in the development stage at the moment, but we hope it will be released to the market very soon.

DockJobCrew is also focusing on growth. With networking a great way for crew to find a yacht job, we are trying to attract crew training schools, captains, yachting communities, uniform suppliers, yacht service companies and crew agencies as partners, sharing crew data and available positions with them. We would also like to begin a partnership with ex-yachties that are looking to develop land-based services for yachts and boats.

What are your top tips for recruiters using online recruitment services?

My number one tip for recruiters turning to online recruitment services is, give a full description of your boat – current location, whether it is private or charter, motor or sailing yacht, overall size, etc. Add good descriptions of what the candidate will be responsible for, what is expected of him/her, and what the salary is. All of these are very important details that can attract very highly qualified crew. 

Looking to the other side of the service, what are your top tips for crew using online recruitment services?

For crew using online recruitment services, it is very important to add a current CV. In our experience, most crew working with the industry do not keep their CVs up-to-date. When using DockJobCrew.com, crew can also update their status, make friends and add files and photographs to attract more captains to view their profile. 

Applying for the yacht job is just the beginning; it is also really important to hang around in the yachting community; online so that captains can contact you directly – as with DockJobCrew.com, which is just like Facebook for yachties, and to network on shore at marinas and popular crew spots.

For more information, visit DockJobCrew.com.

Superyacht News
March 28, 2024
Tried & Tested - Best Yacht Mattresses: Product Review
Tried & Tested - Best Yacht Mattresses: Product Review

In the realm of maritime luxury, the quest to offer yacht charter guests the perfect night's sleep has become an art form, one which luxury bed and linen supplier, CC Design, has fully committed to.</

By Yachting Pages
March 15, 2023
Best Yacht Crew Jackets: Product Review
Best Yacht Crew Jackets: Product Review

A jacket completes any crew member's uniform so it's an important garment to get right. In this Tried & Tested, Sea Design pits eight popular jackets against one another to determine which one is best for superyacht crew in 2023.

By Nathan Bees
April 19, 2023
iAQUA Sea Scooters: Product Review
iAQUA Sea Scooters: Product Review

iAQUA creates high-performance, technologically advanced underwater scooters. In this Tried & Tested, a team of experienced testers have rated and reviewed the AquaDart Pro and AquaDart Nano series to reveal the stand-out iAQUA sea scooter.

By Holly Sanderson
Singapore Yachting Festival and ICOMIA Boating Industry Conference to proceed in April

Singapore Yachting Festival returns for its 2nd event from 25th to 28th April 2024! This years event will showcase an ex...

By Jody Paisey
March 27, 2024
Singapore Yachting Festival and ICOMIA Boating Industry Conference to proceed in April
MB92 Group launches new client portal “The Bridge by MB92”

MB92 Group, a leading name in superyacht refit and repair with shipyards in Barcelona and La Ciotat, has introduced "The...

By Holly Sanderson
March 27, 2024
MB92 Group launches new client portal “The Bridge by MB92”

Finished reading? Now find your perfect supplier.

Search our industry-leading directory for over 20,000 superyacht suppliers, providers and marinas.

Search now