Chief Mate Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Chief Mate resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Mate is a seafaring term that refers to the person who second-in-command on a ship. They’re the person who’s responsible for the day-to-day operations of the vessel, overseeing everything from maintenance to crew management to cargo handling.
As a mate, you’re also a leader who’s responsible for training new members of your crew and helping them grow into confident, capable mariners. And if something goes wrong on board, it’s up to you to figure out a solution.
If you enjoy working with your hands and aren’t afraid of a little hard work, then you might want to consider becoming a mate on a ship. But before you can land your dream job, you need a resume that will impress hiring managers. Here are some tips to help you write an effective mate resume that will get you noticed by recruiters.
How to Write a Chief Mate Resume
Here’s how to write a resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. But rather than simply listing your responsibilities, you can make your resume more interesting by using bullet points to describe the results of your work.
For example, rather than saying you “managed crew of 20 during busy holiday season,” you could say you “increased productivity of crew by 15% during busy holiday season, resulting in reduced turnover rate and improved customer satisfaction ratings.”
The second bullet point paints a clearer picture of what the job entailed and provides quantifiable results. It also provides a clear connection between the candidate’s work and the outcome—something that is especially important when you’re trying to make the case that you’re the right person for the job.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you submit your resume online, it’s likely that it will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs look for certain words or phrases that are relevant to the job opening in order to rank your resume among the other candidates. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right keywords, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.
One way to make sure you have the right keywords on your resume is to look at job postings and take note of the terms they use. Then, try to incorporate those same words into your own resume. Here are a few commonly used mate keywords:
- Marine Navigation
- Vessel Operation
- Seafaring
- Watchkeeping
- Deck Hand
- Superyachts
- Small Craft
- Cargo Handling
- Offshore Operation
- Yacht Crewing
- Merchant Marine
- Oil & Gas
- Shipping
- Tugboat
- Salvage
- Sailboats
- Dive Safety
- Fishing
- Rigging
- Rigging Skills
- Oilfield
- Offshore Drilling
- Petroleum
- Gas
- Helicopter Flight
- Helicopters
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Aviation
- Microsoft Access
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a chief mate, you are responsible for the navigation, cargo operations, and safety of the vessel. You need to be proficient in the use of various software programs and systems, such as ECDIS, GPS, and AIS. You also need to have a solid understanding of maritime law and regulations.
Recruiters are looking for chief mates who are able to effectively use technology to perform their duties. They also want to see that you have a strong understanding of the maritime industry and the various laws and regulations that govern it. So if you have the relevant skills and experience, be sure to list them prominently on your resume.