Landing My First Yachting Job
This summer was one of the most challenging and rewarding seasons of my life. After completing my STCW in Mallorca, I spent months sending out countless job applications, refreshing my inbox, and holding onto the hope that one day, someone would say yes.
At times, it felt like rejection after rejection. I’d wake up early, polish my CV, send off applications, and then wait — often with silence on the other end. It was discouraging, but I knew that breaking into yachting isn’t easy (As everyone continually told me). Yachties I met always said the first job is the hardest to get, and I quickly realized how true that was. Most boats do not want to hire green crew.
Still, I refused to give up. I dockwalked in Denia, Valencia, and Mallorca. I was introducing myself to crew, handing out CVs, and soaking up everything I could about the industry. Not to mention I was dockwalking in Spanish which is not my native language. Every “no” only fueled me to keep pushing harder. I kept showing up even on the days when it felt pointless.
And then FINALLY it happened. Someone said yes.
Interestingly, I ended up booking a job based out of Alicante, not where I’d been dock walking. It proved to me that all it takes is one person to take a chance on you, especially if you’re green, like I was. That one “yes” changed everything. It wasn’t just a job offer, it was the validation that all my hard work, persistence, and determination were worth it.
Now that I’ve booked my first job, I’m excited to share that my role is wider than just stewardess duties — which is perfect. I’m gaining hands-on experience across deckhand, stewardess, and bosun responsibilities. In yachting, knowing a wide range of skills is invaluable, because you never know exactly what will be needed on board. I could not have found a better first job.
Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the struggle. The waiting taught me patience, the rejections taught me resilience, and the process taught me that in yachting — and in life — perseverance always pays off. All the no’s made the one yes 100 times more validating.
This is only the beginning of my journey, but booking my first job reminded me that you don’t have to be the most experienced or the most connected. You just have to be the one who never gives up.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that success rarely comes overnight. It’s built through confidence, courage, and showing up even when it feels impossible. So if you’re chasing your own dream, whether in yachting or elsewhere, KEEP GOING. One “yes” could change everything.