That’s the usual question of seafarers CoC when looking for job or offered! Nothing wrong; for, floating staff are converted -by shipping-logistics- freelancers, and Offshore too. It is a norm in offshore in sudden growth, changing job/task responsibilities, higher risk environs, short tenures, multinational work/crew, expertise shortage, tough duty and rest a la rough necks!

Afloat, for deep sea, it developed literally on the run, due to severe shortages in boom times -officers were picked up after exams, from Seamens’ clubs, home and even airports while checking in and offered better terms and even promotions! Crew too have had such good times, with unions of course skimming their pound of flesh. Shipmanagers got into the act during and after ‘80s crash, as owners desired to outsource one of their `fixable’ costs. That rewrote game and rules substantially, India cornering and ruling roost, with quality and quantity. Flights out to join were hurdle at first, but with many sailor cities internationally connected, call is on shipmanagers to flock back home as gharwapsis, cutting management costs overseas. 

But what stuns is the caption question when shore jobs are offered! That’s a put off for any and every head-hunter -not recruiter- filtering limited numbers for experience, expertise, reliability against short-time attitudes et al, with CTC last thing mind, left to would be employer to decide based on successful candidate’s credentials. 

More often than not, a seafarer coming ashore is an impulsive act, frequently without any planned career ambitions in the field of interest or areas of expertise, driven more by whats-available.

Having built a ‘bank balance’ during the sailing days, not much thought is given to financial sufficiency for future obligations, goals or sustenance.  

Being sailors, they master a ‘jack of all trade’ capability they manage to fit in; and generally live on like that… “….. ever after”…. with the word ‘happily’ missing from the proverb. 

So there: here’s good advice for those coming or trying to come ashore. Your lips and mind can be read. First make up your mind, take family into confidence and check/balance your fiscal ambitions, if you have decided, and won’t run away after short duration -failing to adjust with realities. 

Don’t post your details in `Naukari.dotcom’ or such, growing up from bride/groom wanted adverts. Network with those -friend’s contacts included- who have settled down successfully and happily, with no reason to sail again. Be sure one is in employable age bracket to start with; for, time and tides ashore too don’t wait for sailors to drop anchor. The first offer may be well away from hometown or where you had invested in home or real estate. It needn’t be big cities for children education and stock market etc.

Digitalisation has changed the world, but don’t dream of work from home offers. IT itself has spread to tier 2&3 cities/towns, driving real estate up -major brand names also moving with malls to serve convenience oriented movers and shakers; education and medical facilities also catching up. 

As in buyers beware, it is market-driven like for freight rates. Established firms, agents, startups –the whole lot have learned from shipping as to how to manage in recession and save in booms for rainy days or till quitting. Apart from basic management structure in HO -that is invariably well-sieved and positioned, rest are for how much revenues and bottom line a la profits. 

Make no mistake, that’s how the skipper -who turned Captain and ‘legal’ Master later, in the infancy years of marine adventure -when given charge with trust by his backers- counted his eggs and chicken of cargoes ready to load. That’s what happened globally in last box trade boom, when net profit addition was the only norm for slot allocation, stranding regular shippers -and their logistics chain- especially at spokes of hub&spoke ports & transhipment terminals, entailing costs and time for every occurrence/move. Disaster ashore it was waiting to happen, as relationships built over years-decades booking cargo, slot guarantees, negotiated freight rates, delayed payments, etc were thrown to the winds.

Career Vitae -not the usual CV or Resume is what is called for, with a current decent pic and employment details from last, backwards, seagoing not carrying much weight, followed by qualifications and next of kin. Usual copied and pasted capabilities and can dos on drive, skill, talent etc won’t count as much as good references and track records. 

Communication skill is most important, on phone/mobile with good manners; short, prompt apt emails too, and verbal communication also with skills, well/neatly dressed -not to over impress but- to face panel of decision makers, after filtered at first interview HR level.

Here is good advice from a veteran: When someone offers one CTC, it means that one is worth more than that. So self-evaluate. Not ask for more instantly! What else opportunities worth pursuing for the future? If to be a business person, learn the ropes; as job-seeker build career, if confident and driven, turn professional. Never sell oneself for money; or for all else that one won’t need or have use for. Assimilate diminishing value of returns.

Know others, not let others gauge you. Be clean and beyond doubt, faults and reproach. Plough one’s own furrow. Make difficult choices. Take the less-taken turn at forks. Best of luck.

Marex Media