Finding a job on a superyacht is now more of an online process than ever, which makes crew more susceptible to scammers and, well, those people in the yachting industry with nefarious intentions… so whether you’re brand new to the scene or a seasoned and salty sea dog, here are a few warning signs to look out for…
1. Any request for money. Ever. This is a HUGE no. As a job seeker you should never, ever be asked for money. It might be loosely disguised as fees for visas, background checks, or travel costs…etc. And if they’re feeling clever they may even tell you they’ll reimburse you when you arrive on board. Spoiler alert: they won’t. Because there’s no yacht. And they’ve disappeared.
2. Brand new Facebook profiles. It’s like those “win a holiday to Bora Bora by sharing our post!” type posts that crop up, copying established business pages, just to phish for your info. If someone crops up on socials asking for yacht crew check out their profile. Do they have zero friends? Is the profile a week old? No photos? No posts? Hmmm.
3. Dodgy email addresses. Ok so sometimes to avoid giving out the boat email people will set up a new generic type address for the initial first sweep of CVs and applications (e.g. [position] @emailaddress.com). But then, down the line, if they can’t give you a proper email address or any official documentation of the yacht, that’s a warning. Ask for it!
4. Unrealistic promises. If that 40m MY is promising salaries like €10,000 a month for a green deckhand, then it’s fake. Sorry. But it is.
5. Lack of detailed information. If you’re emailing or chatting to someone who is evasive, won’t give you simple information like the age and build of the yacht, how many crew on board, itinerary, where the other crew are from and so on, that’s highly questionable. Fair enough at first they may not give out too much info but if they want to interview you then by that stage, they need to give you detailed info. Which leads us to:
6. No interview. Hang on, they’ve reviewed your CV and qualifications and have offered you the (highly paid) position immediately without so much as a call? Oh, and it’s a senior position but this is your first job in the industry? Run.
7. Inappropriate language/behaviour. You’ve applied for a job and the person hiring is now whatsapping you and asking you inappropriate questions? Flirting? Mm-hmm that’s a delete and block right there… Don’t be pressured by weirdos.
8. Pressure to respond quickly. If they get aggressive or pushy and demand you make a decision without giving you full information, a contract to review, or any details then take a little pause. If it’s mid-season and they’re replacing a crew member, ask why. Could be innocent (injury, family illness etc) or not. If they can’t be honest with you, flee!
9. Unprofessional or strange job titles. Doesn’t sound like a legit yacht position? Probably isn’t then. And some incel is making it up from their parent’s basement/shed.
10. Requests for too much personal information. We’re not talking certification and experience. We mean anyone who asks you for pictures in a bikini or anything other than a yacht uniform.
So many red flags to watch out for in the job-hunting process – this list barely scratches the surface! If you ever get that gut feeling that perhaps something isn’t quite right, listen to it. There are some terrible people out there. If in doubt, ask someone you trust – a respected crew agent, a captain, a family member. Sometimes you just need that reassurance that it’s not you… because it usually isn’t. Stay safe out there!
✨ For more no-nonsense tips and honest advice at every stage of your yachting journey, check out Superyacht Life: How to Start, Succeed, & Stay Sane by Erica Lay - available 1st October on Amazon.