Merchant Seaman Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Merchant Seaman resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Merchant mariners are the men and women who help transport goods across oceans and seas. They’re the people who load cargo onto vessels, secure it safely onboard, and ensure that it arrives at its destination safely.
If you’re looking for a job that offers a lot of variety and adventure, plus great pay and benefits, then you might consider becoming a merchant seaman yourself. But before you can land your dream job, you need a resume that stands out from the rest.
Follow these tips and resume example to write a merchant marine resume that hiring managers will love.
How to Write a Merchant Seaman Resume
Here’s how to write a merchant seaman 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 bullet points much more interesting and compelling by using specific numbers and statistics.
For example, rather than saying you “assisted customers in the store,” you could say that you “assisted 20 customers per hour in the store, resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction.”
The second bullet point is much more interesting and provides a clear indication of your level of responsibility and the impact of your work.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a merchant seaman role, your resume is likely to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This software will look for certain keywords related to the position in order to determine whether or not you’re a good fit. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right terms, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.
The best way to make sure your resume includes all of the right keywords is to read through a few job postings and take note of the terms that are being used. Then, make sure to include those words throughout all sections of your resume. Here are some of the most common merchant seaman keywords:
- Seamanship
- Maritime
- Logistics Management
- Operation Planning
- Supply Chain Management
- Teamwork
- Transportation
- Shipping
- Forklift Operation
- International Logistics
- Negotiation
- Management
- Customer Service
- Business Planning
- Inventory Management
- Microsoft Access
- Leadership
- SAP Products
- Customer Satisfaction
- Strategic Planning
- Project Planning
- Sales
- Adobe Photoshop
- Research
- Organization Skills
- Project Management
- Team Leadership
- Cooperation
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Retail
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a merchant seaman, you will be responsible for operating and maintaining the various systems on board the ship. This will include the navigation, communication, and propulsion systems. You will need to be familiar with the various software programs used to operate these systems, as well as the hardware components.
Some of the most commonly used software programs include:
– Navigation: ECDIS, GPS, AIS – Communication: VHF, HF, UHF – Propulsion: Engine control systems, fuel management systems