Hi,

Welcome to the fifth and final part of the, Get a Cruise Ship Job™  Mini-Course, where you'll learn "5 Little-Known Secrets Guaranteed to Help YOU Get a Job on a Luxury Cruise Ship!"

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Before we launch into today's lesson, I strongly encourage you to print out this lesson to review. "Bookmarking" it will not necessarily bring you back to this page at another time of your choosing. The links for this mini-course WILL CHANGE to prevent unauthorized sharing of the URLS. It simply may not be available again, even in a few days. Print the lesson for your permanent use.

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I suppose "congratulations" are in order. This is the final lesson in the series and, since you're obviously reading this one, you've made it through the entire series.

So, I say to you, "congratulations". :-)

You are now armed with some insider information that will give you the 'edge' over the thousands of other applicants from across the world, who will also be competing with you for those jobs on luxury cruise ships.

But, you're not quite done yet. You can see the white tape stretched across the finish line, but you've got half a lap to go before you cross it.

We're going to get you to and beyond the finish line today, and we're going to finish strong.

So let's move swiftly along to the last part of this mini-course...

Secret #5: Understanding How the Cruise Line
Application Process Works

Understanding how the application process works can elevate you above your competition. You see, most people think that once they've sent off their resumes and applications, then the hard work is done.

They think that all they have to do now is sit back and wait for the flood of cruise companies to come banging at their door.

If only it was this easy!

In reality, one of two things is going to happen:

1. The company you applied to thinks that maybe you have some
   potential... or you're at least worth pursuing a bit further.
   In this case, they will send you their own application form through the post to complete (providing you haven't already filled one in online).
   
   OR...

2. The company you applied to does not think that you have any potential (yet!) Or, they simply do not have any vacancies at present. In this case, they may write telling you so. But quite often you won't get any response at all!

Often, cruise lines schedule interviews in "blocks". For example, they will interview tons of people over several days, in different parts of a country. The purpose of this is to recruit and build up a "pool" of available candidates that they can call upon 'as and when' the jobs become available.

Note: In this instance, your goal is to get into this pool of applicants.  For this reason, a good tip is to let them know at the interview stage that you're prepared to move very quickly if they need you.  This will be seen as a big benefit by the cruise line employer.

If your application does get rejected then quite often it's simply down to your timing. You may have just missed out on the scheduled interviews, in which case you should leave it at least a couple of months before applying again.

Out of 25 resumes I posted, only 6 actually bothered to write back to me with either a 'negative' or a 'positive' response.

Based on your resume or completed application form, if a cruise line employer likes the look of you, then they will (eventually) contact you via telephone, letter or email to arrange an interview.  This interview can be over the telephone or face-to-face  - it depends on where you live in relation to them or their nearest agent.

It's quite common for a cruise line employer to 'screen' you first on the telephone, and then invite you for a face-to-face interview.

Note: The 'application process' can happen over a period of weeks or months. Don't expect to apply one week and have the interview the next! Although this can happen, it's better to be patient. Cruise line employers are very busy people and receive thousands of applications weekly. It can take months to weed out who to interview and who to reject. On the other hand, once you've had your interview... be prepared to move very quickly if they want you!

After your final interview it's usual to be given a "yes" or "no" answer within a few days. If you're successful then the cruise line will want to gather references on you over the next few days.

Because of the fast nature of this industry they won't bother writing to your referees.  Instead they will want to telephone at least two ex-employers and one or two friends (for character references).  So it's a good idea to pre-warn these people if you can, informing them that your dream job may depend on what they say!

After receiving the "go-ahead" - the ultimate signal that you have
been successful - don't open the champagne just yet as there is much
to get organized!

The cruise line will send you a 'welcome pack' of literature containing everything you need to know and the things that you must get organized before embarking on your journey.

Within this welcome pack will be your Contract of Employment, Visa letter, medical forms and other important documentation. 

You will also be provided with information including; the cruise ship that you've been assigned to, what date they would like you to join (embarkation date), which port you're flying to, etc.

Quite often this information will have already been discussed with you at the interview phase.

That in a nutshell is the cruise line application process.  And knowing this procedure puts you in an advantageous position because you'll be much more prepared than any other applicant.

Before we end this course, let me just mention here that the cruise line industry can be a tough  industry to get into, make no mistake.  So, if you didn't get the job then don't beat yourself up about it.  There are hundreds of other companies you can apply to and hundreds more positions available.

Remember, I sent off 25 resumes before I heard so much as a whisper. And I know people who took over a year and several interviews before they got their job.

The people who eventually land their 'dream job' of working on a cruise ship, are generally the ones who persisted the most. These people did not give up at the first sign of rejection - they kept on applying - no matter how many knock-backs they got.

Chances are that when you do first start applying, you will get a few rejection letters. So what? I have a whole file full!

Here's one such great example of persistence that I'd like to share with you. It's an email I received a few weeks back from an Irish girl who proved to be one of the most determined people I've come ever across.

After many, many months of trying, applying and even flying (she once flew to Belgium for an interview!) and MANY rejection letters received - she finally got her 'dream job' as a Purser for Carnival Cruise Lines.

Here's her email:

Hi Neil, I know it's been a while since I send you some news. But the last 3 weeks have been really hectic and busy. I left Ireland last Sunday, I went back to France to visit my family and my friends and now, I'm writing you from.... MIAMI!! YEAH!!! I got the job with Carnival and I start working this Sunday. I stay at the Holiday Inn North West Corporate Center, close to Carnival's offices and everything is great. I'm completely jetlagged, that's why I'm on internet so early this morning. I'm actually awake since 4am!!! We have a meeting at the company today at noon to meet our manager, to get our final affectation (probably Los Angeles for me) and to have more details about the job. I just wanted to let you know the good news. I'm really, really happy and excited (and tired!!) but I wanted to say THANK YOU for your support and your constant emails to give the strength to keep going. It's a fantastic experience that's going to start and I'm very, very glad it happened to me. Regards, Marie-Eve Fluechey Republic of Ireland

I use this email to act as a bit of inspiration, more than anything else.

So if this is what you really want to do (and you'd be mad not to!) then just go for it and keep on going at it - eventually you will get there. Marie-Eve is a good example of this.

Persistence really is the most important 'secret' of all.

NOTICE: This is a free mini-course. You may not give away, sell or share the content herein. Please remember that each individual’s success depends on his or her background, dedication, desire and motivation. As with any most endeavors, there is no certain guarantee that you will get a cruise ship job by implementing the ideas expressed in this series of articles.

© Copyright Neil Maxwell-Keys

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