“As green crew, is it better to be honest about where your skills do and don’t lie, or fake it until you make it? Specifically regarding the interview process.”
Oh, this is a good one! Don’t lie, it will show through in your abilities. However, your CV and the interview is your time to sell yourself, to shine, to let the boat know why you would be the best candidate for the role.
I frequently see CVs where I know crew have left off previous jobs that they think aren’t relevant, but they are. For example, if you were a bartender or a server in the past and leave that off of your CV, that is a huge disservice to yourself. Those skills are a huge asset to any program. Or if you are applying for a deck position and you used to detail cars, share that! Again, your CV and the interview provide the opportunity to convince that person on the other side of the table why they need you. But don’t lie. I will know right away if you haven’t had experience with silver service or working the deck on a larger boat.
And that’s OK if you don’t have the experience, you can be taught. Speaking from personal experience though, it’s very frustrating when I find that a crew member has oversold themselves or lied to get the job. I lose trust in them immediately, and that is never a way to start. It’s often a matter of safety too. If you tell me that you have tremendous experience running tenders and then can’t, someone can get badly hurt. I would rather you be honest with me so that I am aware of your shortcomings and allow me to teach you. In doing so, this lets me know that I can trust you from the start and that is worth its weight in gold.
It’s a fine line. Don’t lie, but don’t undersell yourself either! Interviewing is an art that should be practiced. And one more thing: don’t forget that you are interviewing that program just as much as they are interviewing you. Make sure that you are a good fit for them and that they are a good fit for you.
To send a question to Captain Kelly, message her on Instagram @captain_kellyjgordon