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12 Yacht Crew Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

The questions captains and chief stews actually ask, and the answers that separate hireable crew from the rest.

The Crew Atelier · 7 min read

What the interview is really testing

Nobody expects a green deckhand to know everything. They are testing whether you are safe, teachable and easy to live with in a small space for six months.

The questions

  1. Why yachting, and why now?
  2. Walk me through your certificates.
  3. What does a normal day look like to you?
  4. Tell me about a time you worked long hours under pressure.
  5. How do you handle criticism?
  6. What do you do on your first hour on board?
  7. Are you comfortable with a rotational or permanent position?
  8. Do you get seasick?
  9. What is your notice period and availability?
  10. Tell me about a guest interaction you handled well.
  11. What are you weakest at?
  12. Do you have any questions for me?

How to answer

Keep answers under 45 seconds. Use a concrete example, then say what you learned. Never criticise a former captain or crew.

The question you should ask

"What does success look like in the first three months?" It signals you are thinking about the job, not the destination.