How to Write a Maritime CV That Actually Gets Read
A recruiter spends ten to fifteen seconds deciding whether to read on. Here is how to spend them well.
A CV in the maritime industry is not like a CV in other sectors. Recruiters are fast — they'll spend 10–15 seconds on your CV before deciding to read further. Here's how to make those seconds count.
The Golden Rule: One Page for Junior, Two for Senior
- 0–5 years experience: Keep it to one page. Every word must earn its place.
- 5–15+ years: Two pages is acceptable, especially for senior officers or specialists.
- Never go to three pages unless you're an academic writing a resumé for a research position.
Structure That Works in Maritime
Use this structure:
- Header — Name, location, phone, email, NextMariner profile link
- Professional Summary — 3–5 lines
- Key Skills — 6–10 bullet points
- Professional Experience — most recent first, with results
- Certificates & Training — dated and specific
- Education
- Languages