Transitioning from ship to shore is a well-worn path for many career yachties, and whilst there are a host of blogs and advice in the public domain covering this very topic, I wanted to develop a series of articles that focus on the practical side of securing a new shoreside role.

Full disclosure; I’ve never worked onboard a yacht so this isn’t a journey I’ve undertaken myself. As mentioned above, there is plenty of direct advice already available from those who have, so the perspective I’m hoping to offer here is that of the professional recruiter. The observations I’ll be sharing are drawn from my experience placing many senior crew, and candidates already established ashore into shoreside roles, and from working directly with the single biggest employment sector in shoreside yachting – management companies.

From technical to operations, sales to charter, commercial to leadership, projects to new builds, the international management landscape is always hiring, and subsequently they are often the starting point for most crew (or non-crew) commencing a new job search.

But why are some candidates more successful than others? How do you evaluate a job opportunity? What do hiring companies actually want? How can you hack the interview process? Do you even need to use a recruiter? These are some of the questions I hope to provide some helpful insights into.

But let’s rewind for a moment and look at the conundrum of crew transitioning ashore and planning to stay in the industry.

Here’s an uncomfortable truth that’s rarely discussed; a great career onboard doesn’t automatically transition you into a yachting role ashore.

That sentence might sting a little if you’ve been sailing as a HOD for the last 10 years. While operational experience and appropriate tickets will usually get you in the room, they’re not a hall-pass to a glut of fabulous 9 to 5’s and a stream of shoreside job offers. I’ve worked with many crew who have fantastic sea-going CVs but struggle to translate that into shoreside currency.

But if onboard and ashore are two sides of the same coin, why is this?

Put simply, it’s driven by a combination of expectations, value propositions, soft skills and occasionally luck or good timing. That’s recruitment speak for: being prepared, flexible and realistic; developing a laser-like focus; and interviewing really, really well for the right roles, not all roles.

Working on all of these elements will automatically level-up your candidacy. I appreciate those recruitment statements are quite vague so I’ll expand further in upcoming blog posts as part of this series and give you some thoughts on how to control the controllables and develop a strategic approach to the shoreside job market. It can be hacked.

Of course, I’d always advocate using a good recruitment partner to help you navigate the job market. There’s a skill in leveraging this relationship that’s misunderstood. Gone are the days where a recruiter was simply a conduit between your CV and a vacancy, and the better you can get at partnering with an agent you trust, the better, faster results you’ll see.

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

In the blink of an eye, September has passed! As the busiest month of the year for events and shows, we’ve attended both Cannes and Monaco yacht shows and caught up with a lot of the superyacht market, hearing first hand how they feel 2023 has performed for them and where they can see themselves growing between now and the end of the year.

Check out the links to our Cannes and Monaco show reports below.

In recruitment news, September started off quickly with a host of new roles coming on board across the business and with the team busily sourcing across our global network for the best talent. We’ve made some incredible placements during the month and are now working through the show leads to understand the full pipeline through to Christmas. The general opinion is that it’s going to be very busy!

Head over to our jobs page to check out the growing list of exciting roles that we’re recruiting for and reach out to the team to find out more.

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch.

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@sy-r.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

Design and engineering always gets busy as we come in to the autumn. The shows bring about a lot more enquiries from potential clients and design and engineering studios find themselves hard at work on concepts and developing confirmed projects through their engineering phase.

Q4 is always a big one for us. In terms of our current roles, we have a strong focus on UK and Italian clients at the moment, with further interest from The Netherlands with some well known names.

Visualiser/CGI Artist – The Netherlands
We’re looking for a super talented Visualiser to work with a leading name in yacht design in The Netherlands. This highly accomplished studio is busy with a wide range of projects at varying stages and requires an individual capable of bringing their ideas to crystal clear digital life through photorealistic visuals of their interiors. If you’ve got extensive experience in this area, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply click here

 

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

We’re into the final quarter of the year, which is traditionally the busiest period for my desk. I’m working on some exclusive opportunities around operations and technical, and also have some opportunities in the new build sector. Therefore, I’d encourage any experienced Yacht Manager, TM’s and those with a strong build CV to reach out for an informal chat. As always, I’d also love to chat with experienced Brokers and those working in charter.

With another successful MYS behind us it’s clear that the wider industry is in good health. Lots of projects and opportunities for the candidate pool to look forward to, and I’m looking forward to making progess on all fronts going into 2024.

Head of Sales – Flexible work locations (London, Monaco or Dubai)
The client isn’t just another yacht brokerage firm; they’re reshaping the industry. Amongst the fast growing companies in the international yachting world, they’re pioneering change through fresh ideas and positioning themselves uniquely in the market, catering to a new age of UHNWI by leveraging technology with a forward-thinking approach.

With a luxury portfolio of bespoke experiences covering yachting, aviation and F1, the company is crafting a reputation as the market leader in luxury experiences.

To apply click here 

 

CURTIS | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Skilled Trades | curtis@sy-r.com

There has been an influx of new jobs across the skilled trades desk, thanks to our repeat business and a successful yacht show season.

After building up a strong network and targeting key markets within the yachting industry, SYR is working with some of the best talent and brands across Europe and the UK. I am looking for various trades for contract work, Carpenters, Laminators, Boatbuilders and Yacht Riggers. Also, we have some fantastic permanent opportunities for Warranty and Test Engineers in both production and marina environments.

The skilled trades desk also supports the natural career development of people in this market and this is something I particularly enjoy, helping people make that move into management or more senior roles. One of these positions is featured in my “job of the month” which came from SYR attending the Monaco Yacht Show.

As we come closer to the end of 2023, now is a great time to think about what is next for you. If you want to make a change or take that next step in your career it would be great to speak with you. If you are looking to hire and feel like you are missing out on the best talent within the industry, SYR is here to support you, so do reach out if you’d like to see if we can help.

Yacht Technician & Service Manager – Spain
This is a brilliant opportunity to join a growing business in Spain. With a lot of investment in the area, the company is looking to hire a skilled Warranty/Test Engineer who can perform a wide range of tasks on board motor yachts.

You also need to be able to handle the planning of work, both costing and resource management, and be comfortable dealing with customers and clients.

This role will require Spanish and English speaking skills and the right to live/work in Europe.

To apply click here

 

See you next month!

Monaco… The jewel in the crown of the yacht show calendar. Four days of excess, very big boats, sun and partying. A chance for global yachting to meet in one of the world’s most elite settings to buy, sell and charter yachts, as well as discuss a whole raft of services and products. We love it yet it leaves us broken and sunburnt and in most cases with a very busy end to our calendar year.

SYR Shoreside Superyacht Recruitment visited the show for the third time. Having grown as a business year on year, our brand name and logo are known by many now and thanks to some savvy social media work, we continue to build our brand awareness during shows as well.

Off the back of a busy and positive show in Cannes a few weeks prior, we arrived in Monaco positive and excited about the coming days. Getting the week off to a start this year as sponsors of the now very popular Arrow Monaco/Oceanco Cocktail Party on the incredible pool deck of Monaco Yacht Club, we had a chance to meet and network with industry leaders, gather their thoughts on the coming days and also their opinions on the market’s current performance.

General opinion at the event and indeed during the week was that yachting remains stable and buoyant. The heady heights of 2021 and 2022 have cooled but we’re still ahead of pre-covid times and across design, build and refit everyone is enjoying a busy time with a host of challenging and exciting projects. Clients are keen to build something individual but still there is no real appetite to really push design concepts too far outside of the envelope and likewise, is the appetite to build greener yachts really there within the yacht owning fraternity?

Here are a few things we learnt at this year’s show:

Yachting startups are on the rise
We’ve seen and heard of a huge number of new startups in yachting this year and the wider investor market has an appetite for new business, new tech and new products. From charter software to low-emissions transport. it was great to see a whole host of new companies and products coming in. Likewise, speaking with other entrepreneurs, our CEO Ed discussed a lot of new ideas. Innovation is thriving within the SME market. There’s a lot to come in the next 12 months.

A shift in industry power
As with many industries, a lot of the time the power is held by the few and dictated by those with the biggest pockets. Yet in certain areas, it’s being noticed that the small and medium sized organisations are using their ability to be more flexible to their advantage, introducing new projects, products and services that take the fight to their larger competitors. Will we see a different playing field this time next year? Yes, absolutely no doubt.

The late night party might be on the decline
In years gone by, Monaco has been fuelled by all night partying in the many venues in and around the show. It’s rare you see a whole show hungover but we’re fairly sure we’ve seen it in the past. Yet this year, this seemed to take a turn. Earlier nights mean earlier starts, better business decisions and ultimately more business. Could it be that we need to work harder to generate our incomes? Is the appetite for long and indeed expensive nights out wavering in the face of rising livings costs?

Across the event there were some incredible debuts too, including the obscure ‘This Is It’ from The Italian Sea Group, ‘Bolide’ by Victory Design, Project ‘KD’ from Falcon Tenders and ‘O’Rea’ from Golden Yachts. Yachts were fully booked for viewings and the water awash with sea trials throughout the four day event.

Team SYR came home from the show with a busy pipeline of work. Blue collar work dominates with clients in Europe and the UK baying for new staff to keep up with a growing problem of resource availability. Closely on its heels however is design and engineering. Expansion plans at a couple of major studios mean a strong push for new design talent and a consideration to cherry pick engineering from other sectors. Brokerage and Management is of course not left out either, with existing working relationships swelling further and new paths being formed with new clients.

As we enter the final quarter of 2023, we’re hugely positive of both the industry’s performance and our own. There’s a lot to be achieved before the Christmas break and we’re confident that market appetite will continue to grow along with a shifting jobseekers marketplace in our favour.

Want to hear more about the show? Drop us a line to hello@sy-r.com

At the last time of checking, yachting employs over 500,000 people both directly and indirectly globally, with the industry valued at multiple billions and touching most countries in the world in some way, shape or form.

It can also be one of the hardest industries to gain entry to, be this at graduate level or even at a senior entry point. Yachting has long been focussed around who you know and how you know them, rather than what you know.

Thankfully this reputation is starting to fade, with employers increasingly (from a point of necessity as much as anything else) looking to employ not only from yacht-related education but also from other relatable luxury markets.

However, if you’re coming towards the end of secondary or higher education, it’s daunting trying to secure your first employed position. We’ve experienced the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to how candidates approach the jobs market for the first time and, on occasion, getting it wrong can potentially alienate you from your desired career path almost before you’ve even started.

Here are a few tips to consider when preparing yourself for the jobs world as a graduate, though a lot of these points can also be referred to any point in your career.

What is your USP?

In a world of big characters and high luxury, you need to stand out to be noticed. Before you even consider making an application you need to work out and define why an employer would choose you over someone else. Is it:

• Your results in education?
• Your past experience?
• Your achievements relevant to their line of work?
• Transferrable skills?

Knowing these answers already puts you ahead of so many other applicants when submitting those first applications. Now you need to put it all down on paper.

Preparing your CV

When building your CV for the first time out of education, the chances are you won’t have a long list of employment history to include, so you’re going to need to be a bit more creative when it comes to making your CV stand out. Some tips from our side:

• Start with a strong summary:

This is your call to action, your chance to explain who YOU are and why YOU should be the chosen candidate. Keep it to a maximum of 2 paragraphs.

• Weigh in on your education:

If you’re coming out of higher education, explain a little more about it. Don’t just include dates of education, mention key modules, projects and results, especially ones relevant to the job in question.

• Showcase relevant professional experience:

Maybe you’ve done a placement year or have gained some short term experience relevant to your intended role. Include it, make it sounds great, it could be the difference between you and the next applicant.

• Include your interests:

We see more and more that people aren’t including their interests on CVs and clients are asking why? Company culture is important, so seeing if applicants share similar interests can be a real bonus for a hiring manager.

As always, we suggest a maximum of two pages for a CV and in most cases it’s a single page for a graduate. You can go way overboard by including GCSE results and going into too much detail on education, so aim for a happy middle ground!

Research your market

We ALWAYS recommend you research your market prior to applications. There’s nothing worse than having to relinquish an application because the commute’s too far, the company don’t do what you think they did or their culture doesn’t work for you.

With everything available at the touch of a button online, you can research employers, hiring managers, company details and current news so so easily. Within 10-15 minutes you can clearly ascertain how a business operates and if it’s for you.

Target your approach

Making your first foray into job applications can be done in one of two ways:

Apply yourself: If applying for a position yourself, we would strongly recommend reaching out to the hiring manager directly to make them aware you’re applying or to ask questions. This will show resourcefulness and will ensure your name catches their eye when they are going through applicants. Luckily in the yachting sector the world of big corporates is still rare, so engaging with the hiring team proves a lot easier.

Once you’ve made your introduction, ensure that your application is relevant and addresses personally to the hiring manager and includes a covering letter. Mention your call, include any very relevant CV comments in the covering letter and if you’ve managed to secure their email address, send it to them direct rather than to a ‘careers’ or ‘info’ email inbox. Your chances of success are greatly improved.

Use a specialist recruiter: It was always going to feature somewhere in this article wasn’t it? Whilst our hints and tips comment on direct applications, working with a relevant and experienced recruiter can also be of huge benefit to your chances of success. Recruiters will act as that central contact point between you and the employer and, if they’re good, will be able to both tell you a lot more about the employer and also be able to push your application during the review process. Again though, be aware that for every good recruiter there are bad ones, so ensure that the one you’re working with is engaging, shows clear knowledge of their sector and also of the employer. If they don’t, look at using someone else!

Prepare for interview

You’ve made your application look great, you’ve been shortlisted for interview. Some of the hard work is done but now you have to impress in person or on video.

• Dress to impress:

Whether you’re meeting in person or on a video you need to make sure you’re well presented. Neat hair, tidy facial hair and, if on video, with a neutral background and no distractions.

• Research:

Have an understanding of what the employing business are currently working on and reference this when giving answers or asking questions.

• Listen:

Ensure that you listen when the interviewer is talking, they will probably reference something specific later in the interview. This is one of the most critical skills.

• Prepare questions:

There’s nothing worse than not having any questions to ask at the end of the interview. If the hiring manager has been that good and answered them all, bring them up nonetheless but reference where and when they’ve been answered.

• Ask when a response should be likely:

This’ll show willing and strong interest in knowing when you’re likely to know your fate. It also holds the interviewer to account.

Job Offers – The bigger picture

You’ve aced the application, you’ve nailed the interview and an offer’s come in for you. At this stage we urge you to take a moment to breathe and consider what’s been offered to you. What are the terms, what’s the package and when do they need you to start?

We’ve seen it time and again when applicants will refuse an offer based on salary. Sure, salary is important but always look at the bigger picture:

What’s the growth potential?

How soon may you get a payrise?

Longer term, could it propel you to a higher point in your career by taking a slightly slower starting salary?

Take a few days, 48-72 hours we suggest and respond ideally over the phone, however as backup email will suffice. Questions of course will be welcome, however taking too long to respond starts to sow the seeds of doubt! Beware!

At SYR Shoreside Superyacht Recruitment we work with employers and jobseekers of graduate level on a daily basis, so if you’d like to discuss anything about graduate employment further, we’d welcome a call or email

E: hello@sy-r.com

T: +44 (0)23 8235 0930

If you had a choice of the annual boat shows to attend, which ones would you choose?

Yes, you could attend all of them, jet off around the world from February to November and meet the same people time and time again. Or…you could be savvy and look at where your key markets lie and attend those close together, saving on travel, carbon emissions and cost.

SYR is a business that services the larger side of the leisure market and we have long discussed whether to attend Cannes or Southampton shows. In the end, looking at our current and intended customers, Cannes was elected as the more suited venue with Ed dispatched to the event for its duration!

Long mooted as the best show for the mid-size yachting market, Cannes Yachting Festival spans two locations, the Vieux-Port (Old Town) and Porto Canto. One focusses on sailing yachts, the other on motor yachts and tenders, serviced with a shuttle that transfers you between the two.

Not just due to the lovely warm weather, Cannes is one of our favourite shows. It welcomes one of the largest ranges of brands and yachts, is a hotbed for global launches and is full of excellent events inside and out of the show.

With the SYR customer base becoming more international, we had around 25 clients at the show ranging from amphibious tenders to racing sailboats, superyacht brokerage to foiling tech. All welcomed us aboard their various craft to showcase the vessels our placements have designed, built, sold or managed, continuing to evolve our understanding of their businesses and their upcoming projects.

In an impressive show of how the market is performing, every single client of ours released us new projects to work on, ranging from two hires to thirty! Despite global concerns, yachting is thriving!

Alongside servicing the existing network, we were also introduced to a number of new potential clients through some very generous referrals and have been asked to put together packages for recruiting into well established and well known Mediterranean brands. An accolade that can only attest to the quality of service that we offer at SYR, putting our understanding of the customers’ needs at the top of our priorities.

With the show coming to an end, we can safely say that Cannes has yet again been a successful show for us. SYR continues to grow as a brand and we continue to be the choice of many employers in the luxury yachting sector.

Now it’s time for a well-earned rest. With only 8 days until the pinnacle of the yachting calendar, Monaco Yacht Show, we need to prepare!

It’s only a few short weeks until Ed, our CEO, takes on the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise funds for UKSA  and we’d love for you to support us in our fundraising efforts.

UKSA, based on the Isle of Wight, are a well known training centre, not only for superyacht crew and captains, but also for young people and those from less fortunate backgrounds than ourselves.

With their main aim being to introduce the water, and indeed maritime careers, to as many as possible, UKSA work with schools, education facilities and more to teach the joys of spending time at sea –  inspiring our future bosuns, officers, stewardesses and captains to undergo training and become professional mariners.

Throughout their work they seek to provide either free training and courses for young people or to subsidise advance training courses for those less fortunate. This is only possible through the kindness of their donors, be they large or small.

Furthermore, UKSA are working with a number of maritime organisations when it comes to crew welfare, bringing together industry leaders to support seafarers in what can sometimes be a very challenging and lonely workplace.

Ed will be taking on this challenge as something very much out of his comfort zone and would appreciate your donation, however large or small, to help him towards his target. Please give generously via the link below.

SPONSOR ED HERE!

Many thanks, in advance, for your support!

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

Wow, what a month August was! We came achingly close to a new company record with the whole team making some fantastic placements in a very broad range of different positions and clients. Not only this but we also brought on board the largest number of roles we have so far this year. September looks set to be busy.

On the subject of September, there are a few boat shows we’ll be attending and we’d love to meet up with you. Head to Calendly to book a spot with one of the team for the Cannes and Monaco yacht shows.

We can’t wait to network with the international industry once more!

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch.

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@sy-r.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

The world of design and engineering hasn’t stopped. New projects, increasing workloads and referrals to new clients have all echoed some great growth across the desk, from junior to high level.

We’re constantly seeking talented creatives to come and work with some top level clients. August was one of my busiest months of the year so far, with multiple placements made across the business and a strong pipeline for the rest of the year filling me with optimism.

Into September, I hit the road and will be at shows in both Cannes and Monaco, for the duration of each. With a renewed taste for networking, I’ll be attending a variety of launches along with checking in with existing clients and meeting with potential new ones. I’m predicting a busy month of new connections and of course new jobs!

Senior Interior Designer – London
We’re seeking a top level creative with a career in yacht interior design to join a brand that are making huge strides in the large yacht sector. A London based role that will see you lead a design team on some incredible 100m+ superyacht interior projects with a contemporary style!

To apply click here

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

August was a record month with a raft of assignments completed across all shoreside disciplines, a trend I expect to continue up to the Christmas break. We’ve been winning more retained and paid for search roles across the management company space, which underlines both the trust and value our clients are seeing through partnership with SYR.

From a candidate perspective, this means that SYR has exclusive access to roles that aren’t advertised in the public domain, so I’d urge anyone considering a new challenge to reach out to me directly; I’m particularly interested in getting to know candidates with sales, charter, build and vessel ops experience across Europe and the UK.

With show season upon us, we’re delighted to be one of the main co-sponsors of the MYS kick off cocktail party the evening before the show begins. For a fledgling business, it’s great to see our branding alongside some of the industry’s most respected names and shows how far we’ve come in a short space of time. We’re also supporting David Seal with his Sales Broker course, which is a great opportunity for newcomers to benefit from some expert guidance from an industry veteran. See you in Monaco!

Head of Sales – Flexible work locations (London, Monaco or Dubai)
The client isn’t just another yacht brokerage firm; they’re reshaping the industry. Amongst the fast growing companies in the international yachting world, they’re pioneering change through fresh ideas and positioning themselves uniquely in the market, catering to a new age of UHNWI by leveraging technology with a forward-thinking approach.

With a luxury portfolio of bespoke experiences covering yachting, aviation and F1, the company is crafting a reputation as the market leader in luxury experiences.

To apply click here 

CURTIS | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Skilled Trades | curtis@sy-r.com

The summer season is almost over and with just a few major boat shows left, SYR will be attending both Cannes and Monaco this year – make sure to say hello if you’re there! As for the skilled trades desk, I have been working in the EU market recently with some amazing companies in both southern and northern Europe.

Whilst also supporting some of our long-standing customers in the UK, we have ongoing projects of work which require more contractors – I’m particularly keen to speak with Composite Boat Builders at the moment (please see my “Job of the Month” for more info) Also, I really need to find a Marine Engineer to work on inboard and outboard engines, so if you, or anyone you know in this area, are looking for work, please reach out for a chat – relocation assistance and a salary above industry standard is on offer.

Composite Boat Builder – South of France
This will be working across the build process on a range of carbon fibre sailing yachts. We are looking for skilled contract Composite Boat Builders for our customer in the south of France. Travel costs are covered and accommodation is provided throughout the contract.

To apply click here

See you next month!

It all sounds a bit doom and gloom doesn’t it?! The papers speak of AI taking over, being more intelligent than the human race and leading to our demise by the end of the decade.

Is it possible? Yes!

Is it likely? Maybe less so…

What it is going to do however is enable huge savings in time and energy for certain tasks, but will this be at the sacrifice of swathes of jobs worldwide. This is a possibility for sure. Certain duties will no longer be needed. Data analysis, forecasting, creative writing and much more can now be automated and generated in a fraction of the time and this will ultimately lead to employers replacing expensive and unreliable staff with AI.

A good friend recently posted a series of images on her social media of yacht designs using AI. Within less than 60 seconds, the program was able to generate cabin designs and even a whole yacht, having been given a couple of keywords. Something that could take a design house days and a team of people to create has been generated in seconds. Let that sink in…

The design spiral of a yacht can take years. Numerous client meetings, sketches and renderings to reach a point the client is happy so that the studio can then go off and create GAs, CAD models and production drawings.

On a larger project, this could involve a studio of 10-15 people working tirelessly for weeks to produce something that aligns with an owner’s vision… and now the client can basically come up with their own concepts from the luxury of their expensive leather sofa in their sprawling home and sideline the initial creative role of a Yacht Designer.

Are there upsides? Well yes. One of the largest is the saving in international travel from Designer and/or client back and forth. Another could be that the studio isn’t wrapped up in generating various concepts and will receive a much more engaged client ready to move forwards with a project that they can start on immediately.

Likewise, I don’t believe that AI is quite at the point yet of being able to take on technical design projects such as general arrangements, systems routing and ultimately 2D CAD. Where there is extensive input required to plan spaces, route cables and pipes and account for NVH, there will still be a big push for technical engineering expertise.

If you’re a sketch wizard however, or a rendering expert, should you feel threatened? I possibly would be.

It’s been interesting taking feedback from the industry too. Technology will always be age related. The older guard are very against the concept of a computer taking on the creative process, but the more up and coming Designers are embracing this huge technological advance and are using it to rapidly conceptualise their ideas.

So where will we see yacht design go from here. Will we see more wacky ideas, crazy concepts that defy engineering? Or will we see design houses slashing their project timelines and bringing projects to market 6 months sooner?

I remain a skeptic, but what do you think?

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

You may have already seen through our social channels that we’ve agreed an exclusive recruitment partnership with Arrow Monaco to assist them in growing their technical and operational teams in Europe and the US.

We’re incredibly proud of this partnership and will be working with Arrow to bring them the best talent in the market. We’ll also be hosting an event with them at Monaco Yacht Show next month. Stay tuned for more information!

And on the subject of shows – can you believe we are almost in September? It’s going to be quite busy for us! We’ll have a presence at the Southampton International Boat Show, the Cannes Yachting Festival and the Monaco Yacht Show and are really keen to meet with potential clients and candidates to discuss all things employment.

If you’d like to schedule a meeting with one of the team you can reach out to us at hello@sy-r.com 

We’ve joined forces with SuperYacht Times on a series of monthly articles, showcasing some of our current roles and recent successes. Head over to the link for a read of what’s what and to see some of our current live opportunities. Take a look here >>

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@sy-r.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

The design and engineering desk continues to grow within SYR. We’ve got some great opportunities at both junior and senior level right now across the UK and Netherlands and we’re aware of more coming online into the autumn period. With new orders remaining steady, this is having a knock on effect in employers growing their teams, allowing them some confidence in new hires.

Senior Project Designer – Hampshire
One of the industry’s strongest yacht tender builders seek an experienced Senior Designer to join their team. An office based role in the UK, it will suit a creative individual with experience on small craft design looking to take a step forwards into a senior/lead post.

To apply click here

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

Q3 has really taken off with a number of high-profile roles crossing the desk in most shoreside disciplines. The recent announcement introducing our exclusive partnership with Arrow is a testament to the good work being undertaken at SYR, and I’m excited to build on this over the coming months. I’m especially keen to hear from Charter Brokers and Managers with an interest in growing their careers as I have several very interesting opportunities in Europe, Dubai and the US. If that’s you, please drop me a line for an informal chat.

Continuing the Arrow theme, we’ve had several major wins within the management company space by introducing them to premium recruitment services beyond the industry standard contingent model. This has proved particularly effective in hard to fill/unique assignments and you’ll be hearing more about these in the upcoming industry press. Any shoreside company left unsatisfied with their current recruitment practices are welcome to contact me to learn more about these services.

Yacht Accounts Manager – Monaco
Like yachts and numbers? Looking to grow your finance career in the luxury yacht sector? Then check this new role out in Monaco!

Working at one of the industry’s fastest growing management companies, you’ll be part of a core finance team managing the fiscal operation at both individual vessel and fleet level. Overseeing budgets, expenses, payroll and project costs, you’ll have a strong grasp of accounting practices and an eye for detail. Able to work as part of a team and individually, you’ll prepare weekly stakeholder reports and ensure that the fleet is operating profitably and efficiently.

To apply click here 

CURTIS | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Skilled Trades | curtis@sy-r.com

Things are picking up across the industry in Q3, after a somewhat sluggish start to 2023. The market seems more buoyant and companies are more confident in hiring new staff. Positions available are competitive in terms of the number of applications and the selection process is becoming more critical for hiring managers. Making the right hire is more important than ever!

SYR is here to help on both fronts. We are working with candidates to identify and match them with suitable businesses whilst engaging with hiring managers to target the right people in the industry that bring the key skills/experience needed.

So, if you’re looking for your next ideal job in the yachting sector or looking to hire for your team, please reach out and contact us here at SYR.

Project & Production Co-Ordinator – Hampshire
We are looking for someone to manage projects and production for a range of new craft. You will be joining the company at a pivotal point in their growth and be responsible for the effective start-up and build process of these new boats.

To apply click here

See you next month!

As recruiters we weigh heavily on candidates in a lot of what we post. Advice on applying, CV writing, interview tips and more.

Rarely do you see a guide for employers, hiring managers or internal HR, so we decided to put something together to give you, the employer, the best chance of securing your next employee. Below are a few tips.

Prepare your job description:

Before you even consider listing that you’re hiring, ensure that you’ve prepared a full and detailed role description for the individual that you’re looking to hire. Be sure to include:

• Role title
• Main duties
• Key stakeholders/reporting line
• Required skills, qualifications and experience
• Salary, benefits and working pattern
• Company culture

How you present this depends on the intended viewer:

Internal/Non-Advertised – A detailed spec outlining the role in depth. Ensuring the applicant fully understands the position.

External/Job Site/Website – An engaging advert, fairly short and succinct with eye-catching bullet points, leaning more towards the company culture and the exciting potential for an applicant.

How much time you put into this part of the process will go a long way to securing you the most accurate fit. We strongly advise against cutting corners during this process. It’ll also not look great when an applicant asks for a spec and there is little or nothing to present.

Be clear about career development potential:

Over the last 5 years we’ve seen ‘job-hopping’ become a lot more acceptable. Candidates are a lot more brazen in their approach to a better job title, a pay rise or better employment terms and rather that earn this through length of service with a single employer, they choose to move on.

There are two schools of thought on this as employers:

1. Why should we invest in them if we know they’ll leave?

2. What can we do to keep them?

If you answered 2, then this is where you need to be very outwards about your investment in your staff explaining how they can progress, their potential career paths and the rewards and achievements they will receive as a result. This should always be touched upon early in the hiring process.

Where to advertise:

Choosing where to advertise your roles can also wildly affect your chance of attracting the right candidates. We’re long past the days of posting an advert onto a couple of major national/international sites and expecting success.

In 2023, there are a huge number of specialist job sites for design, trades, executives and more. Do your research into where you are going to advertise your role and remember the age old motto of ‘Buy Cheap, Buy Twice’. Yes, the sites focused on exactly what you do as a business may cost 2-3 times as much, but consider the time saved through the process when you receive 5 relevant applicants, compared to trawling through 50-100 totally irrelevant ones.

As a rough guide:

Linkedin: Executive level positions & management roles.

CV Library/Indeed: Skilled trades, administration, office focussed roles.

Dezeen/Hauss – Design related positions.

Facebook/Instagram: Marketing, administration, sales roles.

Yotspot – Roles for crew coming ashore, brokerage and yacht management.

There are, of course, hundreds more job sites you can use, but this is a small sample.

How is your company represented online/on social media?

As we all know, social media rules the world, and this is the same when it comes to employment. How a company portrays itself digitally can say a lot.

What sort of business are you? Do you have a laid-back nature and a family-style ethos. If so, does your social media reflect this with a less formal style?

Or are you much more corporate with a solid structure and therefore wish to have a much more regimented social media style representing your ethos as an organisation.

We always advise our clients that their social media channels are as critical to attracting staff as their job descriptions and adverts. As newer generations join the jobseekers market, they will do more online research on a potential employer, forcing the need to cover your business perception at every corner.

Using the above will give you the building blocks you need as an employer to start attracting talent through your own channels. Whilst it’s by no means a golden ticket, using our guide above will definitely increase your chances of attracting the RIGHT talent.

Of course, the support of an experienced recruiter will always be the most effective way to hire, so if you’d like to chat to us about using our services alongside your own efforts, drop us a line to hello@sy-r.com