A crewing manager may open dozens of CVs for a single vacancy. Yours has a few seconds to show that you are qualified, available and easy to hire. A maritime CV is not a general résumé — it has its own conventions. Here is what to include and how to stand out.
What a maritime CV must contain
- Personal and contact details — full name, nationality, date of birth, phone/WhatsApp and email.
- Rank and readiness date — the position you apply for and the date you can join. Crewing managers filter on availability.
- Sea service history — for each vessel: name, type, DWT/GRT, engine, your rank, flag, company and the exact dates. This is the part employers study most.
- Certificates and documents — CoC, STCW courses, GMDSS, medical, seaman's book, passport and visas (US C1/D, Schengen) with expiry dates.
- A short professional summary — two or three sentences on your experience and strengths.
Make it easy to say yes
- Lead with your rank and total sea time — the two facts a manager checks first.
- List experience newest first, and keep vessel data consistent.
- Show valid documents. Highlight expiry dates so there is no doubt you can join now.
- Add a clear photo in work clothing — professional, not a selfie.
- Keep it to one or two pages. Dense, relevant, no filler.
Avoid these mistakes
- Gaps in sea service with no explanation.
- Expired certificates left on the CV.
- A generic office-style résumé with no vessel details.
- Typos in dates, ranks or vessel names — they read as carelessness.
Build it in minutes
You do not have to format all this by hand. On SeaJobs.pro you fill your profile once — rank, sea service, certificates, documents and readiness date — and the built-in CV builder generates a clean, professional maritime CV you can download as a PDF or a shareable card. When you apply, that complete CV goes straight to the crewing manager.