wilsonhalligan

Interior Career Advice

Yacht Interior Careers Advice

Role Responsibilities, Information & Qualifications

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Thinking Of Working In The Yacht Interior?

Interior crew are those who maintain the interior of the yacht from housekeeping, laundry, and service for the principal. It is a varied and exciting environment to be in and no two days are the same.

What's the daily routine of working a Yacht Steward or Stewardess?

Being a Yacht Stewardess is a wonderful, multifaceted role that challenges you in different ways, enabling you to learn many skills and develop a fulfilling and diverse career. The responsibilities of a Yacht Stewardess vary depending on your level and the yacht size.

Responsibilities include:
  • Service skills: Anything from basic breakfast buffet style to fine dining standard, cocktail making, wine pairing and of course how to set beautiful, creative tables for each meal. You will learn about the best crockery and cutlery to use at different times and how to present a menu to the guests after collaborating with the Head Chef. Each meal is a chance to make the guests feel special and welcome in their floating home.
  • Housekeeping:  Stewardess’s must possess an excellent eye for detail, effective organisational skills and the ability to work quickly yet accurately under pressure. Everything will be cleaned daily, usually more than once. You will learn the best cleaning products to use for which surface, how to create beautiful beds in no time at all and maintain the standard of cleanliness that Yacht Owners expect.
  • Laundry: Duties include washing and drying both the guest and crew clothing, steaming, pressing or ironing any clothes that need it and ensure they are returned to the correct place. You will become a master at stain removal. Those with seamstress skills will also more than likely use these on board too.
As you progress within your career and become a senior member, additional responsibilities can include but are not limited to:
  • Team Management: Maintaining a harmonious, positive environment for your team and training them in areas that need practice.
  • Guest Management: Communicating effectively with the Owners and guests, almost with PA like duties.
  • Accounting and basic Budgeting: Each Head of Department will be responsible for their teams’ accounts and report these to the Purser or Captain on board.
  • Provisioning and Stock Take: Maintaining all interior stock from crew uniform to guest toiletries is a large task that requires excellent organisational skills.
  • Overall Interior Maintenance: Generally ensuring the interior is kept in excellent condition, operational procedures will be kept up to date and repair lists are maintained.
What skills would be an advantage to applicants?
  • High end Hotel Housekeeping experience
  • Fine Dining or Michelin restaurant experience
  • Private Aviation
  • First Class Aviation
Career Progression and Opportunities

Within the interior of a yacht you can expect to progress from Junior Stewardess to Senior Stewardess, to Head of Service, Head Housekeeper or Second Stewardess before securing the role of Chief Stewardess or Interior Manager.

Progression can come from internal promotions when you have proved yourself in your role on board, or you can seek them out on board new vessels.

Substantial time to gain experience should be spent in each role prior to promotions and progressions.

Need help writing your CV?

Download our CV Template for guidance on how to write a professional and informative CV for the yachting industry.
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What qualifications do you need for each yacht interior job role?

Chief Steward

Skills & Experience

In order to step into the Chief Stewardess role you will have spent a number of years in the industry and spent time as a Second Stewardess, Head Housekeeper or Head of Service.

Experience is key to stepping into the chief role as you will have to build and establish a relationship with yacht owners and guests, manage a team, train the interior crew to the highest of standards, as well as look after accounts, budgets, inventories and in some cases crew travel arrangements.

As Chief Stewardess you will be looked to for advice from your interior crew, liaise and work closely with the other Heads of Departments on board and possess excellent interpersonal skills in order to liaise with the Principal or Family Office, Management Companies, Yacht Agents, Charter Brokers and pass the details on to the rest of the crew.

Qualifications

  • STCW95: Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
  • Eng 1 Medical Certificate
  • Food & Hygiene Level 2

As well as the legally required yachting qualifications, stated above, you will also require a number of other training certificates. Please note these are not necessarily required for every Chief Stewardess position, but these are regularly asked for

  • WSET level 2 and above
  • Cocktail courses
  • Excel and Microsoft experience or courses
  • Mental health training
  • Accounting or Purser training

Steward/Stewardess

Skills & Experience

To become a Stewardess you will ideally come from a high end hospitality background, such as a 5* hotel or fine dining/Michelin star restaurant. The key is having a good base knowledge of service and or housekeeping and a positive and happy outlook as well as a strong work ethic and a desire to learn.

Qualifications

  • STCW95: Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
  • Eng 1 Medical Certificate
  • Food & Hygiene Level 2

Additional Qualifications

  • GUEST programme PYA accredited interior stewardess courses
  • Barista, Cocktail or Bar Tender qualifications

Stewardess (with additional skills)

Skills & Experience

Many yachts will employ Stewardesses with additional skills such as Beauty Therapy, Massage, Hairdressing, Nurse, PT and Yoga Instructors to name a few. The roles will be a secondary role, comprising of around 20% of your duties on board, with the other 80% of your time spent as a Stewardess.

In order to secure a position with additional skills you will need proven experience and shore based qualifications in your field as well as references that can verify your experience.

For this position you will need to be flexible, a great team player and be comfortable interacting closely with guests.

Qualifications

  • STCW95: Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
  • Eng 1 Medical Certificate
  • Food & Hygiene Level 2

Additional Qualifications

  • Shore based qualifications in your chosen field
  • GUEST programme PYA accredited interior stewardess courses
  • Barista, Cocktail or Bar Tender qualifications

How to get into a role working on the Interior of a yacht:

Speak to our experienced Yacht Interior consultant, India!

After joining yachts in 2015 India spent the first head of her yachting career in Hong Kong and China on a 45m as Stew/deck. She then progressed on the interior to become head of housekeeping on a 65m Motor yacht.  After working in both the interior and on the exterior India joining us with a well-rounded knowledge of the industry that will help her source candidates for us.

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Browse currently available job roles

Take a look at some of the current job roles available for candidates like you to apply for! Apply with a CV and/or cover letter, and we’ll do everything we can to help find the right role for you depending on your experience.

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We love to help find the perfect candidates for yacht crew roles on large Yachts and Superyachts. Upload your CV and set up and account with job alerts to be sure that you’re kept up-to-date recently updated yacht job roles.

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