An Unconventional Technique for Getting a Cruise Line to Hire You
Neil Maxwell-Keys
Taking the time out to go and visit a few cruise line companies at their own offices and actually speaking to the staff in charge of hiring can go a long way to increasing your chances of landing a job onboard. And in many cases, when executed correctly this technique has proved itself to be much more effective than mailing in a resume or applying online. Now this is obviously not a technique that everyone can use, but it's perfect if: a) You live within an hour or two of the offices of a cruise line company. b) You happen to be on vacation close to a popular cruise ship port (Florida being a good example). The reason this technique can work so well is because it practically FORCES a cruise line employer to give you some serious consideration. You see, it's so much easier to trash a resume, delete an email or fob you off on the phone. But when you professionally present yourself in person, you're not quite
so easy to ignore! But more so, it also gives you a much better opportunity to sell yourself and show some of your personality instead of having to rely on a faceless resume or a bland application form to do your selling for you. There are steps you can take however to ensure that you're fully prepared and ready to make the most of your visit. Here are some suggestions: Before you venture out, it's worth doing a little pre-planing. For starters you should make an effort to get the names of the people in charge of the hiring for each company you plan on visiting, so that you know who you need to speak to when you arrive.To learn a great technique for getting the names of any cruise line hiring staff then read this article: http://www.workoncruiseships.com/members/456.cfm Next do a little background research on each of the companies you're visiting and write a few points down about each one. Include, how many ships they have in their fleet (write down the names of their ships). If they're a concessionary company, then which cruise lines are they affiliated with?Prepare some professional looking copies of your resume package to hand to each person you visit.Consider the timing of your visit. What days and times of the week is the person you need to speak with most likely to be available? Think about lunch hours, busy periods, etc.Look professional. Be sure to dress and act as though you were going for a job interview. Be confident and cheerful when you walk into their office. You must come across as a warm, friendly person - someone who would fit seamlessly into any team. You'd be very surprised at how many hiring decisions are made within the first few minutes of an employer meeting someone!Keep the meeting brief! Talking for too long or annoying a potential employer in anyway will not do you any favors. You need to introduce yourself and sell yourself within a couple of minutes. Consider yourself a walking, talking cover letter! But one that will have a much greater impact than a simple letter.Drop them a nice friendly follow up email a few days later thanking them for the meeting and re-emphasizing your personal qualities once more.This is a very powerful and effective technique that has been proven to work on countless occasions by many crewmembers. By taking advantage of it you can quickly and easily force yourself to the top of cruise line employers list by ensure that YOU get full attention over the huge pile of resumes and emails awaiting them. For a more detailed look into this method, including several extra tricks, tips and techniques you can use to increase your chances of success then read this article: http://www.workoncruiseships.com/members/482.cfm
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