A CV reads one way when you’re just starting out but as you move up, your CV needs to move with you.
At junior level, a CV is a snapshot of where you’ve been. Once you step into senior ranks — captain, chief stew, chief engineer, officer — it is no longer just a list of duties. It’s your leadership statement, your brand, your elevator pitch to the people who are about to trust you with their yacht, their family and their safety. The foundations of a good CV still apply: clear structure, no waffling and honest experience. But senior crew need to fine-tune. The expectations are higher, the competition is sharper and the people reading your CV will form an opinion in under 20 seconds. Here’s how to make those 20 seconds count.
Start with the Photo (Yes, It Matters)
Once you’re senior, your photo should look senior. Dress like you already have the job — crisp shirt, clean presentation, no aviators, no heroic sunset silhouette and definitely no Batman suit. Save that for the crew party.
Reframe your Experience
You’re not “helping with” anything anymore. You’re leading, overseeing, implementing, negotiating. Swap junior phrasing for senior, strategic language:
- led a team of eight
- oversaw multimillion-euro refits
- implemented new safety procedures
- negotiated with shipyards and contractors
- delivered charter seasons
- ensured compliance across ISM/ISPS/MARPOL
This isn’t fluff; it shows your thinking has shifted to big-picture management. Your reputation isn’t something to fear losing, it’s something to keep building. When you approach it with confidence, integrity and a clear sense of what you want your name to stand for, you’ll never need to worry about who’s talking.
Trim the Fat
Senior CVs should not read like your autobiography. Two pages max. Your early roles? One line each. No one hiring a captain needs to know you polished cutlery to a mirror shine in 2013.
Focus on the experience that shows the following:
- leadership
- accountability
- safety management
- complex operations
- guest experience at scale
If it doesn’t serve the narrative of “this person is ready for the big chair,” it can go.
Tailor to the Job You Actually Want
Your CV should be a mirror of the position you want next. Looking to move from charter to private? Say so. After rotation? Make that explicit. Targeting new builds? Let your CV reflect it. Ambiguity helps no one.
Qualifications and Skills: Keep Them Sharp
List all major qualifications with expiry dates. It shows attention to detail and saves agents from playing detective. In your skills section, go beyond basics:
- advanced tender driving
- planned maintenance systems
- languages
- drone photography
- crew training
- Ice Class or expedition experience
These are the details that make you stand out when the competition is tight.
Make it Readable (Your Future Boss is Skimming)
Clean formatting, professional font, logical layout, no boxes, no color gradients, no WordArt circa 2002. Use bold sparingly and leave enough white space that hiring managers don’t go cross-eyed.
Don’t fall into the ChatGPT trap; you don’t want to sound like a bot wrote it.
Quantify Your Value
Numbers turn vague claims into concrete achievements. Include:
- size of budgets you handled
- crew numbers you led
- tonnage or operational range
- guest capacity
- number of charter weeks
- size of project cost savings
If you steered a €2 million refit on time and under budget, say it loud.
Final Tip: Get an Honest Pair of Eyes on It
Preferably someone who actually hires senior crew. A good agent can spot weak points, tighten your profile, flag missing details and stop you from accidentally sounding like a malfunctioning LinkedIn bot.