Jun 22, 2014 | Interior Crew Interviews, The Chief Stewardess |
Interview with Sole Super Yacht Stewardess Esther Busuttil
What is your star sign? Taurus Where do you come from?
- I come from the island of Malta
How long have you lived in The South of France and how did you come to live there?
- First time I found myself in the south of France was back in 2007.
- I did my STCW95 in Australia (where I had been travelling for 2 and a half years) and I was told it is the place to be if you want to find work on super yachts.
How long have you worked in the super yacht industry?
- Since April 2007 🙂 I stopped for a year and started again in October 2008.
What are your biggest accomplishments?
- I think that landing my first yacht job as a sole stewardess (no previous experience) with a very busy season ahead was quite an accomplishment.
- Another accomplishment was when I decided that I wanted to go somewhere far, and travel for 6 months…So I went to Australia to travel by myself. I always wanted to do the ‘loop’, and I did, even though that meant stopping to look for work in between, looking for accommodation, and transportation to take me all around. I had the most amazing time of my life, with the most amazing people that I met along the way 🙂 That continued on to New Zealand, Fiji, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
- I returned home three years later.
Can you work under pressure?
- Yes, I can, and I am good at it 🙂
What is the most difficult situation you have faced?
- When the guests have ordered 2 pina coladas, 2 mojitos and 2 espresso martinis. Then they said that that the pina coladas were so good that they wanted six of them, exactly the same way / ratios I had done the previous two. I had only one tin of coconut milk left 😛 so there was no way it was going to be the same.
- Obviously I had to explain and I promised I will get more when I go shopping next. (NB. On the preference sheet, they have specified they do not drink too much, and they had pre-ordered other spirits that I have provisioned, but remained unopened… )
What are your pet hates?
Tell me about the last time you felt anger on the job?
- Asking one of the crew members to go up on deck and check for me whether the boss was up while I was eating some breakfast, and instead he disappeared into his cabin for a lie down.
What do you do in your spare time?
- Any kind of exercise, especially if I have time to get off the yacht.
- Definitely a stroll around the village or city, if we have just docked at a new place. Exploring a new country is always exciting.
What makes you laugh?
- Good comedies, such as ‘Two and a half Men ‘.
- Odd jokes from crew whilst on board. Once they pop, they don’t stop.
What would you like to be doing five years from now?
- I’d like to have my own business, whether that would mean having my own little coffee shop or something that I have yet to dream about.
Where would be your favourite holiday destination and why?
- Anywhere where the sea is clear and turquoise, the sand is white and palm trees all around 🙂 I just love the contrast!Then I would spend my time on a deck chair reading a good book, and sipping a cocktail. Priceless.
- On a different note. I love New York. Period.
Where do like to shop?
- Where don’t I like to shop? 😉 I really like Sephora in the USA, they give you a lot of samples to try before you buy.
- Macy’s.
- Wholefoods for anything organic.
- Guess for clothing.
Can you recommend a service or a product that may be helpful to Super yacht Stewardesses?
- Vinegar and water mixed together in a spray bottle works wonders!
- If you have time between charters, use a drop or two of Murphy’s oil soap to a bucket of warm water. Wipe clean furniture, but then wipe off with vinegar and water to remove residue.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
- Everything! I like the travel side of it, especially if you happen to be on a world cruise Superyacht!
- Most people daydream about sailing in paradise. I was one of those people, but now I am living that dream. Words cannot describe the incredible beauty of sailing in pristine waters! Through a Fjord, surrounded by nature itself: the Saguenay Fjord National Park, and sailing the Maine natural sculpted coastline. Sure, you are still working very hard, and the guests are always a priority, but I feel so much joy when I am out in the wide open space, …
- Working ashore sitting comfortably in front of a computer hasn’t had the same effect on me! *giggling*
What specific training was required to obtain this job?
- First and foremost, the STCW95 is (and was) mandatory. Besides that, I used to have a part-time job when I lived in Malta permanently.
- We had a lot of functions where silver-service was a must. That required a lot of training and that experience really helped me get that first job. I am glad I was part of that team.
- Speaking different languages is definitely a plus!
Can you tell me some vocabulary or terminology specific to your job?
- The detailing is a very common one 🙂
- Provisioning is another one.
What type of reading do you do on a daily basis?
- Anything about health and physiology.
- Antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, skin care and how we are what we eat!
If you could go back and change something related to your education or your life as a student what would you change or what would you do differently?
- I would definitely finish off a degree, and start working on yachts after 🙂 rather than not finishing my studies to start working at a lousy job.
What inspires you?
- People that have got a certain drive for life, people that get out of their comfort zone.
- People that are willing to do anything to achieve their dreams.
- Positive people 🙂
Apr 16, 2014 | Interior Crew Interviews, The Chief Stewardess, The Superyacht Stewardess |
The Stewardess Bible chats with Katija Kipre.
This beautiful Chief Stewardess has a passion for travel, with a healthy dose of experience to back up her yachting career.
What is your star sign? – Gemini, bubbly and smiley person 🙂
Where do you come from? – I come from Cavtat.
A lovely little fishermen town near Dubrovnik, where I have worked in the wine bar and met some great crews and yacht owners and one of them gave me my first yacht job.
Where do you call home these days? – Cavtat has and will always be my home, but I currently live in Palma with my fiancé.
What was your last job and what did you like/dislike about it: Chief stew on 40 m, a lot of work and a demanding owner.
- Likes – an opportunity to meet new people and expanding knowledge,
- Dislikes – guests’ ingratitude
What are your biggest accomplishments? – My greatest accomplishment is being exactly who I am today; healthy and smiley sister, daughter, fiancé, aunt and friend.
Can you work under pressure? – This is my favourite type 🙂
When you work under pressure, you can see the best that you are capable of and if you are on the right place. Time flies and you simply do what needs to be done 🙂
What is the most difficult situation you have faced? – Losing someone you love.
What are your pet hates? – I hate lies and pretending
Tell me about the last time you felt anger on the job – Last job, after training a stew for two months. Giving 150% to the job and her training, she left in the middle of the season and there I was all alone…
What do you do in your spare time? – My passion is yoga, writing my diary and travelling.
What makes you laugh? – Friends, my brother’s children (they always find a way to make me laugh regardless of where I am).
What would you like to be doing five years from now? – I would like to start my own business and spend as much time as possible with my family.
Where would be your favourite holiday destination and why? – Thailand, the land of smiles. It is perfect and makes you realize how little you need for happiness.
Where do like to shop? – Wherever I find things I like! 🙂
Can you recommend a service or a product that may be helpful to Super yacht Stewardesses? – My favourite one is a Hagerty flatware, silver dip and the best one and a must have is Murphy soap for a wood.
What specific training was required to obtain this job? – You are for the job, or you aren’t.
Even with the training it is all very logical. I have a medical care on board slip and in my opinion, every stew should have it! Regardless of the training you have the most helpful things are general knowledge and a smile 🙂
It is a great job, but it brings a completely different lifestyle and you need to make changes and be ready for them.
What type of reading do you do on a daily basis? – Always peak into stew bible, and lately after I got engaged, I read a lot of wedding magazines! I’m getting married in October next year, and it needs to be perfect! 🙂
If you could go back and change something related to your education or your life as a student what would you change or what would you do differently? – I would be different in high school, I wouldn’t allow myself to lose a year, then it seemed cool, but it wasn’t, but hey, it’s all part of the life and it was definitely a good lesson
What inspires you? – I have always been inspired by the advices and wisdoms from my late grandmother, she has and will always be my Yoda.
The Stewardess Bible would like to thank Katija for the interview. We wish her well with her job hunt and lots sunshine on her wedding day :).
Jul 31, 2013 | Interior Crew Interviews |
Katie Wilter 2nd Stewardess M/Y Solaia (40m)
Location: Currently in Halifax, Nova Scotia heading back down the USA east coast on Sat.
Where are you working at the moment:M/Y Solaia in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
What is your star sign: Taurus
Where do you come from: Cape Town, South Africa
How long have you worked on yachts: 1 year, 3 months (relatively green)
What did you like/dislike about your last job: Loved the crew, great parties but disliked the complete mismanagement and horrific HR treatment of the crew.
How did you get into the industry: I have a few friends who have done it and needed a break from 9-5 office job
What are your biggest accomplishments: My degrees: Bachelor of Journalism (Hons.), awarded an MTN scholarship to complete a post-graduate Diploma in Media Management with Distinction (both Rhodes University); completing 5 half marathons, proudly exploring many countries (still lots more to see), completing the Inca trail, and still having the same best friends from high school (love and miss you guys)
Can you work under pressure: Yes of course, I’m a stew and a graphic designer which is all about meeting deadlines 😉
What is the most difficult situation you have faced: As a yachtie – being stuck in horrid storms with extremely rough seas. In the life – death of friends and family and of course, everyone has their own personal struggles
What are your pet hates: People constantly sniffing (tissue?), narrow-mined perspectives, cynical people
Tell me about the last time you felt anger on the job: I guess it would have been fueled by lack of sleep. On my current yacht, I haven’t really felt anger. On my last yacht, I got really angry at the mismanagement and ill treatment of crew – we were known as the red-haired step child.
What do you do in your spare time: Blog, yoga, run, explore the place I’m in (with my camera, of course), party with friends, visit art galleries, wine and dine, try do something different, read magazine, books and blogs
What would you like to be doing five years from now: I would love to have a successful travel blog/ website running which offers me the flexibility to have a family life, to continue to do some freelance graphic design and writing. I would also like to have more time to paint and travel I hope to be inspired by everyday beauty I discover in various places, people and creative creations.
Where would be your favourite holiday destination and why: I am currently daydreaming of a yoga / surfing holiday in Costa Rica. I would love to be outdoors in the sea and sun, meditating and working on my body in yoga while chilling out, meeting new people and experiencing a new culture. A little slice of heaven that would be!
Where do like to shop? In Europe – H&M, Pimkie, Zara, USA – Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Apple Store, ROSS and little boutique stores that I discover in tiny towns along my travels 🙂
Can you recommend a service or a product that may be helpful to other Stewardesses: I am a fond user of Seventh Generation cleaning products as they are environmentally friendly, gentle on the skin and scent-free. The washing liquid and dish washing liquid are great! I also like using wet Swiffer cloths for the crew mess floor which are quick, easy and smell great. Domestic goddess much!
Have you met any famous people and what were your thoughts: No-one really famous, just wealthy and well-known in their field. I admire such successful people and enjoy chatting to them about their success. However, I did serve a famous model who was a complete ditz. You win some, you lose some!
What do you enjoy most about your job: The travel and the salary which is easy to save!
Any advice for “newbies” in the industry: Stay positive, stick it out as it takes a while to get into the industry and, most of all, follow your instinct!
Finally can you tell me about your blog, what inspires you, how do you find the time to write etc..
I write whenever I have something great to share – be it my favourite song of the week, some recent photographs of what I have experienced or just my thoughts in words. I love all things travel, art, and beauty so those are my main categories of inspiration. I start thinking up phrases that I have to write down ASAP and then flesh it out from there. My blog content is quite varied from wake-boarding to cooking lobsters!
The name Eyehearttravel just popped into my mind one day during my hour break on a charter. Despite my zombie tiredness and the growing pile of laundry that I still had to iron, I sneaked my mini laptop and created a WordPress blog. It is relatively new but I am thoroughly enjoying my little project despite my crew teasing me and not seeing what the point of it is (What?You don’t get paid to do it?). My yacht owner enjoys reading my blogs and it’s also a great way to share what I’m up to with my family and friends back home. It is frustrating not having time to properly promote my blogs on Twitter and other online platforms which require constant attention but do what I can in between charters. Blogging is all about small wins – when I get over 100 hits a day I do a victory jiggle. It may be a tiny pip-squeak now but one day it may blossom into something grand (with over 30 000 viewers thus generating advertising income) so watch this space 🙂 Please visit my blog www.eyehearttravelblog.com
Jun 10, 2013 | Interior Crew Interviews |
The Stewardess Bible Talks to the adventurous and beautiful super yacht Stewardess
Amy Dawes
Where do you come from?
I’m from Australia but usually reside in Argentina when not working on yachts.
What is your current position on board?
On my current boat I am 3rd Stewardess but previously I have worked as 2nd.
How long have you worked on yachts?
This would be my 4th Mediterranean season over the past 6 years.
What did you like/dislike about your last job?
Loved that the owners were late risers and that the yacht was always in port so I could get off board and go for a run every morning. I disliked that we travelled very little; we spent weeks in Cannes alone.
How did you get into the industry?
During 2007 while I was travelling for 12 months through South America, I met a NZ girl in Peru who told me about working on yachts and the good salaries. Towards the end of my travels I had a return flight back to Europe so not knowing what to expect I jumped onto a plane to Palma, landed in a crew house where I started to get some knowledge of what I needed to do. A couple of days later with CVs in hand I went for a dock walk and a few minutes after that I had my first initial interview and was moving on board as a junior stew.
What would you like to be doing five years from now?
I have plans to move back to Australia at some point and perhaps even start a family. Saying that though I love the hospitality/ service based industry, so combining that with my passion for yoga and alternative therapies, health and nutrition I would like to try working in front of house in a health resort in OZ within the next 5 years to gain some experience before looking into my own business opportunities.
What are your biggest personal accomplishments?
It would have to be learning fluent Spanish and opening my own yoga studio.
Can you work under pressure?
Definitely, hospitality is all about working under pressure and effective time management and there are no exceptions to that during a stewardess’ busy season.
What is the most difficult situation you have faced?
Losing the trail on a late summit of Snowdon Mountain, to find myself climbing vertically up falling slate with a rescue helicopter over my shoulder watching our every move! I seriously thought we were not going to make it. That and my first season on board a yacht, living in confined spaces with so many people with different likes, interests and cultures…seriously it is like a Big Bother house with all its ups and downs at times you really learn a lot about yourself, if you take the time to analysis what is happening around you.
What are some of the things that bother you?
Negativity is my number one annoyance. It is like a rotten apple in a barrel, affecting all those in close proximity and sometimes more!
Tell me about the last time you felt anger on the job?
I know that during a season there are moments where everyone snaps, but a single moment where I felt anger I can’t actually remember, obviously couldn’t have been that important. Either that or the last 8 months of travels before this job has served me well to forget!!
What are your long-term career goals?
As mentioned above I would like to venture into resort work in health/alternative therapy to later open my own business. Time will tell. To be honest, I don’t like planning too much in advance rather I prefer to enjoy the present moment, learn all I can and take advantage of the current opportunities that are presented along the way… where this will take me, nobody knows! And that is exactly what I love; freedom to adapt!
When and why did you establish these goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
I guess getting married earlier this year with a non-yachtie has made me question the instability of the industry and pushed me to reassess future possibilities. I find organization and business planning naturally easy so I am using my time to network and learn, from people, experiences and personal studies, obviously while getting some coins in the piggy bank!
What do you do in your spare time?
I love spending time in the sun, travelling, running, yoga and eating…This could be why I like working on yachts so much.
What makes you laugh?
Spending time in good company.
What makes you cry?
Sad movies and sympathy crying!
What is your favourite colour?
Depends on the day, I love colours, anything bright, no blacks, greys, browns or blues!!
What do you think of the term “Stupidess”
Referring to a dump stewardess, I guess, like such terms it all depends on the context of the comment really. I would be the first to laugh at myself for a dumb mistake and if someone made me such a comment at that time I wouldn’t think anything of it, but if it was said in a chauvinistic manner about a stewardess in general it could be quite offensive.
Have you heard the boys talk about “stewie bum’ and how did you feel?
Ha ha, yeah, I am starting to grow one of those as we speak!! Gotta love the great food we get on board during a season. Again, I love a little banter, nobody is perfect, give it right back to them, they’re definitely not gods you know!
Have you ever met anyone famous?
I have never spent any decent amount of time with a famous person however working on yachts and in restaurants/catering there have been moments where I have had to serve a few celebrities although by not watch TV nor reading gossip magazines etc. I am pretty oblivious to who they are.
What Is the most embarrassing thing that you have done?
Without going into too much detail, let’s just say it involved a boyfriend, an intimate moment and …my father! OMG!
What is the most embarrassing thing that you’ve seen someone else do?
I couldn’t possibly say, in case they came across this on the internet!
How do you like doing a new build project?
I like it, it is very busy and many interesting things happen every day. There is a lot more organisation and office work, which I also love and the best bit is you can work with your department and set everything up the way you like it. I have learnt a lot about brands and suppliers as well as undertaking some of the chief stew’s roles due to the fact that her hands are tied up with administrative responsibilities.
What is it like being based in Vlissingen?
I have had some fun times in town over the past few weeks. Vlissingen is close enough to Amsterdam and Belgium which makes for interesting trips on days off. On a Sunny day the alfresco dinning in town and along the coast is very pleasant however in general it is a little cold and windy for my likes. I am dying to get some Mediterranean sun on my body! Ha ha
Where is your favourite destination and why?
Aww!! I don’t know…I love travelling, there is just too many. I have spent the last 10 years travelling to 45+ countries and every place has its magic and favourable memories for so many different reasons… sometimes it is for the location, other times for the people I’m travelling with or met along the way, and sometimes it is the culture and food that really makes it. In general I like 3rd world destinations for their simplicity and natural beauty, not to mention that the locals are usually friendly and happy with more spare time to enjoy your company.
Thank you Amy for a wonderful interview! I hope you have a great season. K. xxx
Nov 4, 2012 | Interior Crew Interviews |
What a shocker! Captains drinking guest wine and an ego-maniacal Chief Stewardess! Keep reading to find out what this inspirational lady has been up to.
Where are you working at the moment? or what was your last yachting position? I have my own business, The Crew Coach, helping luxury yacht crew worldwide develop successful careers and achieve their lifetime ambitions.
Where do you come from? Melbourne, Australia.
How long have you worked on yachts? In total I worked aboard for about 4-5 years, but I have worked in the yachting industry for 14 years.
How did you get into yachting? I was travelling as young Aussies do – I lived in London for two years, and had done a couple of winter ski seasons in the French Alps. I heard about yachting and it sounded like a great way to continue travelling while being paid for it, so I came down to Antibes to try and find work for the summer. The rest, as they say, is history!
What did you like/dislike about your last job? My last yachting job was really enjoyable as I was crew chef on a 55m yacht and I loved cooking and looking after the crew. It was a really lovely job, but ultimately I became frustrated at not being in control of my life – i.e. being at the beck and call of other people and not being able to plan weekends or time with my boyfriend. I’m quite a homebody and I missed being home and having a normal life – I think I decided it was simply time to become shore based!
What are your biggest accomplishments? Changing career direction completely, starting my own business and achieving the qualifications I needed to become a successful coach. I live and breathe personal development so this is a never ending process for me – the list of courses I want to do and books I want to read is endless!
Can you work under pressure? I don’t really know any other way to work – unless I’m under pressure I tend to be a bit de-motivated so now I am my own boss I constantly set goals and deadlines for myself to keep my momentum up.
What is the most difficult situation you have faced? On-board one of the most classic situations was discovering the captain had polished off all the guest wine apart from one bottle – which turned out to be corked after I had shown it to the guests! Luckily I had taken it back to the galley to open it so they didn’t know – I had to serve them cheap crew wine decanted into a carafe and hope they wouldn’t notice the difference – they didn’t say anything so I think I got away with it!
What are your pet hates? Selfish people, anyone being inconsiderate, judgemental or disrespectful of others.
Tell me about the last time you felt anger on the job? As a junior stew, being treated unfairly by a Chief Stewardess who was on an ego-maniacal power trip and constantly played her team members off against each other. In hindsight looking back I now feel very sorry for her as she was clearly deeply unhappy, but at the time this whole episode made me very angry.
What do you do in your spare time? I love cooking and making things for the house – I’m really into interior design and spend a lot of time on Pinterest daydreaming about design and craft ideas.
What makes you laugh? My husband (he’s a total goof ball), being silly and finding the humour in everything. Kids always make me laugh because they just tell it like it is and I love the way they see things. I like to laugh a lot and don’t take myself too seriously!
What would you like to be doing five years from now? Helping as many crew as possible to find their calling, really tap into the best life has to offer and pinpoint exactly how yachting can help them live life to the fullest and get where they want to go.
Where would be your favourite holiday destination and why? Bali – the people there are just wonderfully kind and peaceful and the scenery is heavenly. Bliss!
Where do like to shop? I tend to mostly shop online as it’s much easier to find things I like and there is usually a bigger range. I love the anticipation of receiving a parcel in the post, and then when it arrives it’s like opening a present!
Can you recommend a service or product that may be helpful to other Stewardesses? At the risk of sounding like a shameless plug, stewardesses looking to make the most of their careers might find my own services useful – I am currently creating a whole range of online coaching courses which are self study programs that people can do in their own time, to reflect on what they want to get out of life and their careers, and formulate a clear strategy for making their greatest dreams and ambitions a reality, or work through any problems or difficulties they might currently be facing.
Have you met any famous people and what were your thoughts? Yes, I’ve met quite a few over the years. I once went to a party at the Hotel du Cap during the film festival in Cannes where the room was literally wall-to-wall A-list stars. It was absolutely unbelievable. I chatted to so many of them and actually hung out with Uma Thurman and Jennifer Aniston in the queue for the toilets – we were joking and laughing like old mates within a few minutes, it was so surreal. I guess it’s a cliché but my main thought really was that they were so normal, and it kind of brought home to me how anyone can make anything of their lives, and become everything they want to be – all it takes is a lot of self belief!
What do you enjoy most about your job? Inspiring people – seeing them light up with the excitement and hope of new possibilities and removing the blockages and fears that have been holding them back. It’s just wonderful watching them go forth and begin making things happen that they previously never believed were possible.
Any advice for “ newbie’s” in the industry? I think the main thing is to concentrate on building and keeping a really strong reputation for being a hard and honest worker with impeccable integrity, discretion and the highest possible standards. Your reputation is your passport to success in the industry – use it to leverage your position and achieve your greater goals in life.
Tell us about the Crew Coach: I provide private individual coaching by Skype, telephone or in-person for crew of all positions and at all stages of their yachting career, to help them achieve their highest personal career and life ambitions. I am also creating a series of self study courses online which will enable crew to work on their personal and professional development in their own time. The first of these has already gone live – Creating a CV that sells – which includes everything you need to know and do to create a really powerful and professional yachting CV that will have you put forward for much better positions.
I also work in association with industry brokerage and management companies to provide on-board coaching for yacht crew teams, developing stronger cohesion and communication and enhancing the overall performance excellence and operational success of their fleets.
Tel: +33 493 581 408
Email: alison@thecrewcoach.com
www.thecrewcoach.com
www.facebook.com/thecrewcoach
www.twitter.com/thecrewcoach
www.youtube.com/user/thecrewcoach
www.pinterest.com/thecrewcoach
What specific training was required to obtain this job? I graduated with a distinction in Personal Performance Coaching from The Coaching Academy in the UK after doing a 2 year diploma – and have coached hundreds of crew over the past three years, which in itself is fantastic training. I continue to develop my skills and coaching toolkit with a wealth of reading and courses that enable me to provide my clients with all the latest personal development techniques to help them bring out their absolute best and begin achieving their goals as quickly as possible.
Can you tell me some vocabulary or terminology specific to your job? Personal development – confidence – self belief – focus – vision – clarity – goals – direction – strategy – action planning – taking steps – make it happen!
What type of reading (Industry related) do you do on a daily basis? I am on Facebook quite a bit because my yachting network is pretty large and I learn a lot about the ‘word on the street’ in the industry there. I also check industry websites and read industry magazines – I have a big list of industry resources on my website as I fully recommend people do this if they want to stay abreast of what’s happening in yachting. I also write a column on leadership in The Crew Report which has recently transformed into a personal development magazine for yacht crew – something I’m very excited about!
If you could go back and change something related to your education or your life as a student what would you change or what would you do differently?I love this question as it’s one I often ask clients – and if you’d asked me this five years ago I might have had a different answer as I had lots of regrets back then and was feeling very lost. But these days I look at life much more philosophically and, having turned my life and career around completely, I can honestly say that absolutely everything I’ve ever done has led me to this point and I wouldn’t change a single thing as all that experience has truly made me who I am today.
What inspires you? People who are passionate about helping others realize they can have a beautiful life – people who recognise how amazing life really is and want to share that awe, wonder, peace and simplicity with the world.
What are the pros and cons of running your own company? The cons are never being 100% sure what you’ll be doing from one day to the next – the pros are that every day is an adventure! I never know what the next phone call or email will bring, and the opportunities just seem to keep on growing and expanding. It’s a very exhilarating roller coaster ride!
How can your service benefit an international community like 
yachting? Being inter-net based makes my service fully international and I work with crew worldwide. Skype is a wonderful thing!
Overall, I find that within yachting there is a lot of room for improvement in terms of the general happiness and personal satisfaction of the people working in the industry. I have found many crew are unhappy and often somewhat lost – they feel stuck and frustrated with their current situation but don’t know what to do or how to make changes. These people can be quite bad influences on the people around them and those in leadership positions pass on negativity to their teams which just perpetuates the problem. I’m on a personal quest to help eradicate this from the industry – by helping individuals realize they can discover and reach their full potential and teaching them how to pass this kind of positive thinking and can-do attitude onto their teams I believe we can turn yachting into a fantastically rewarding career for all those who choose it. I’m also working at a corporate level with the management companies to help them find ways of making crew life easier to bear, by introducing better working practices that create a more professional and positive overall career environment. Ultimately this benefits the entire industry as we need to stop wasting resources on training new people who come in and then leave after having bad experiences. The longer we can keep people in the industry and the more we can retain the collective knowledge, experience and skills of those who can become effective leaders, the better for everyone!
Jan 3, 2012 | Interior Crew Interviews |
Tell us about yourself?
Not sure what to write, but I am confident (not cocky) 23 old who loves to have as much fun as possible and experience as many new things as possible, as life without risk is a life not worth living.
Where do you come from?
I am a bit of a mix as I am originally a South African but have lived in the UK for the past 11 years.
What is your star sign?
Leo.
What is your favourite book?
Bill Byrson, Notes from a small Island… It’s hilarious and an easy read, especially after a long day of work..
How long have you worked in the Yachting Industry?
I’m a newbie only 3 months
How did you get into yachting?
Followed a friend.
Is it a hard industry to get into? It depends on your attitude. If are positive and active about getting a job it will be easy, but if you think that you should have a job that earns you millions, on the best yacht in port without having to work that hard, it will be hard.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the variety, both in what you do and where you do it. From brass polishing in the Med to detailing rooms in the Caribbean.
What do you hate about being a Stewardess?
That sometimes hours of work don’t get noticed, i.e polishing the brass runners of doors.
How do you handle stress and pressure?
I am quite lucky in that I don’t stress easily and when I am pressured I like to make a list of what needs to get done and then to work through them on by on but as a newbie I haven’t yet had to put this into practice.
What motivates you?
I want to be good at what ever I do.
How do you evaluate success?
I’m not sure, normally by the feedback that I receive from those that I work with and my own judgment.
What has been the greatest disappointment in your life?
I try and not look at things as disappointments as it can lead you to be pretty unhappy, but if there is one, it’s only finding out about yachting once I had finished university.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your life?
I don’t think I have achieved my greatest accomplishment yet, but in the meantime, I ran a half marathon.
What are you passionate about?
Living life to the most.
What are your pet peeves?
Bad eating habits and people not having respect for another’s work.
Do you get homesick?
Yes, but Skype makes such a difference.
How do you handle sea sickness?
I always take it steady and never try to be a hero as it always makes you feel worse and everyone has been through the same at some point. I also advise others to never have bananas and try to keep your head above your shoulders. However, each person is different so you just need to find what works for you.
How do you handle conflict, especially in a confined space?
Luckily I haven’t had any conflict on board, but generally, I go for a run and work the issue out in my head, as sometimes you need distance to get perspective on the conflict. Once back on board I try and talk things through calmly.
Presentation is everything on a yacht. What is your beauty regime? And how do you keep fit?
I make sure I get enough sleep, moisturise every day… I especially like the Aloe range at Body shop and I like to run and try to run as much as possible.
Where would you like to be in 5 years?
I would like to have completed my few years in yachting and then returned to the UK to be a teacher.
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Tell me about the last time you felt anger on the job?
What do you enjoy most about your job?
