The CLIA Spain column
By Alfredo Serrano
Managing Director CLIA Spain
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 64 – March 2023
Working on board? Why not?
This is one of the questions I frequently ask the younger generations around me. It's clear that working on board a ship isn't a viable option for everyone. Not everyone has the same personality; not everyone copes the same way with being away from home for extended periods, or is equally extroverted. Nothing new there. Nor would we all have the composure to work in an operating room, the tenacity to study for years for a competitive exam, or the skills to fix a broken door or a leaky faucet.
Cruise ships are often compared to small cities, and from a job perspective, this is true in some ways. In a few limited spaces, a wide variety of professions and skill sets are combined, just like on board. I invite you to think of a profession for a moment. You're sure to find it on one of our ships. From the captain and their entire team, to the engineers in charge of the ship's technical aspects, to the security and maintenance personnel; the medical and entertainment teams; the kitchen and catering staff; artists, cabin attendants, tailors, laundry, cleaning, photography team… and so on.
In short, working on board ships is synonymous with multiculturalism; with living alongside people of over 60 nationalities: different cultures, customs, and backgrounds; a place that allows you to discover new places; in short, a place that fosters personal enrichment and growth. As for working conditions, salaries are competitive, opportunities for advancement are usually faster than on land, and training is ongoing. It's a winning combination that makes the industry stand out for its high levels of satisfaction, reflected in retention rates exceeding 80%. On the other hand, and due to the very nature of the sector, there are the downsides of being away from loved ones for extended periods and having work and rest periods concentrated in very specific times.
Talent Acquisition:
Despite having a strong track record, attracting talent has become increasingly difficult recently. Among the reasons, we could highlight the pandemic, which forced us to rethink our purpose, coupled with the challenges faced by crews. Furthermore, there is strong demand on land for certain profiles, and finally, a significant lack of awareness about the wide range of job opportunities available on board. And this is precisely the industry's greatest strength.
Once again, we must step outside our comfort zone and make an effort to communicate our proposal more effectively, outlining the advantages and disadvantages, and of course, dispelling some of the myths that still persist. We need to strengthen our networks and work closely with educational institutions so that young people are aware of the opportunities the industry offers and can decide for themselves whether or not they want to pursue this path; ultimately, a lack of knowledge should not be the main obstacle.
In a service industry like ours, the human factor is absolutely relevant and a differentiating element; in fact, crew members are the "face" of shipping companies, their best ambassadors; it seems, therefore, that having the best talent is no small matter.
European Year of Skills
The European Union dedicates this year to “promoting lifelong learning, empowering people and companies to contribute to the green and digital transitions, supporting innovation and competitiveness,” areas in which an innovative industry like ours, which champions the green transition of maritime transport, has much to say.
The future is green and digital; we will continue to incorporate new technologies and processes, but what will never change is the pleasure of receiving excellent service and personalized attention. This can only be achieved with well-trained and motivated professionals who are proud to work for their company and feel they are contributing to a common goal. Those companies in the tourism and hospitality sectors that manage to attract (and retain) the best talent will start with a clear competitive advantage that will be very difficult to match. The race continues.
