Working on cruise ships as a 3rd Officer can be demanding. 3rd Officers have many duties including the primary duty of working in the navigation department. Knowledge and understanding of all navigation equipment is required. This includes electronic and computerized equipment that is commonly used on ships.
Cruise ship jobs as a 3rd Officer require education, experience and certification. The amount and type of education needed to become certified depends on the country an officer resides in. For example, in the United States, 3rd Officers have two options when considering how to obtain their maritime licenses.
The first option is to go to a recognized training institution such as the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, one of several maritime colleges or participate in an approved apprentice program. Any apprentice program that is intended to lead to getting a license must be approved by the Commandant of the US Coast Guard.
The second option in the US is to acquire time working at sea and to take a series of classes. This coupled with several examinations can also lead to getting the necessary license to be considered for cruise line employment as a 3rd Officer.
Similar requirements to become licensed as a 3rd Officer exist in countries around the world although the schools and methods are not exact. Anyone interested in becoming a 3rd Officer to apply for cruise line jobs will need to check the requirements of the country they reside in.
Once a 3rd Officer has received the necessary license, the process of applying for cruiseline jobs is similar to that of other positions. The first step will be to locate a company looking for officers. Then, applicants will need to apply and provide proof of license.
Cruise ship jobs for 3rd Officers require several skills in addition to those specific to the running of a ship. Many cruise lines require 3rd Officers to be fluent in English, have experience working on ships, know how to manage others and have a wide variety of maritime skills including maintenance training and safety skills such as understanding how to put out an onboard fire.
Cruise jobs have many benefits. 3rd Officers can expect to be paid well, $2,800 to $3,300 US/month and receive time off to enjoy the many ports a ship visits. Other benefits include free accommodations, free meals, medical coverage, the ability to meet many different people from all over the world and paid travel to and from the main port of call. Contracts generally run 6 months and good 3rd officers can position themselves to be promoted to 2nd Officers.
How to Locate Cruise Lines and Apply for 3rd Officer Positions
If you have a specific cruise line in mind, locate the cruise lines’ OFFICIAL website first. Visit the Ships and Cruises Directory for official listings. Once you have located the site, visit the website and search around for job postings. Most cruise line websites have a career center or job postings page. If the cruise line lists job openings, be sure to follow the application procedure to the letter. Applicants that do not follow directions are typically passed over in favor of those that do. If the cruise line does not list job openings on its site, send a polished cover letter and resume to the cruise lines Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Department is typically located at the cruise lines headquarters. This information is usually listed on the cruise line website. It is important to include the position you are interested in so that it can be directed to the appropriate department manager.
For more information about jobs on cruise ships visit Cruise Ship Jobs online. Here, you can download the 2010 cruise ship employment guide; you can read through cruise line profiles; you can find out which ships are hiring and for what positions — and you can even apply for a cruise ship job right online. Please note that this website charges a fee. You can apply for a job on your own, free of charge, sign up with a placement agency, or use Cruise Ship Jobs’ service.