Want a strong seafarer resume? Start with this template, a sample and the skills employers ask for.
See a filled-in sample first, then what goes in each part of a resume for a seafarer job. Copy the template or download it as a Word file.
Seafarer resume sample: a filled one to copy from
Example only. Ramil Agustin is an invented person, and every detail is made up.
Ramil Agustin
Seafarer | Ordinary Seaman, deck department
Batangas City, Philippines | ramil.agustin@example.com | [Mobile number]
OBJECTIVE
Maritime graduate looking for a seafarer job on a merchant ship, ready to stand watch, follow safety rules and live and work with a multinational crew for long contracts.
LICENCE AND CERTIFICATES
- [Licence or certificate, if the job needs one]
SKILLS
- Following instructions from officers exactly
- Working in a team on a multinational crew
- Basic English for ship communication
- Staying alert during long watches
- Handling rough weather and months away from home
WORK EXPERIENCE
Ordinary Seaman | Manning agency, bulk carrier | Batangas City | August 2024 to Present
- Stood watch on deck or in the engine room as assigned by the officer
- Handled mooring lines and cargo gear during port arrival and departure
- Chipped, painted and maintained decks, hull and equipment to prevent rust
- Cleaned and checked cargo holds and tanks before and after loading
- Took part in fire, abandon ship and man overboard drills
Deck Cadet | Manning agency, cargo ship | Batangas City | May 2023 to June 2024
- Reported safety hazards, spills and equipment faults to the officer on duty
- Kept logs and records of watch duties, work done and equipment checks
- Worked with a crew of about 22 people from 4 countries
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation | State maritime school, Batangas City | 2023
LANGUAGES
- English: conversational. Filipino and Tagalog: native.
What to put in each part of your seafarer resume
Objective
One sentence on the job you want and what you bring. If it fits you, adapt this one: Maritime graduate looking for a seafarer job on a merchant ship, ready to stand watch, follow safety rules and live and work with a multinational crew for long contracts.
Licence and certificates
Your papers, right under your objective. Masters, officers and GMDSS radio operators need an STCW Certificate of Competency from MARINA to serve at their level.
Skills
Four or five the job post asks for and you've really used, like following instructions from officers exactly, or working in a team on a multinational crew.
Work experience
Newest job first. Under each one, three to five lines that start with what you did, with a number where you can: watch hours, crew size and port calls.
Education
Your school, what you finished and the year. Fresh graduate? Put it above work experience.
How to write your seafarer resume: fill in this template
Replace every line in [brackets]. Delete a section you can't fill.
Put your papers near the top, under your objective.
Keep it to one page if you've worked under five years.
Seafarer | [Rank or department, e.g. Ordinary Seaman, deck department]
[City], [Province] | [Email] | [Mobile number]
OBJECTIVE
[One or two sentences, e.g. Maritime graduate looking for a seafarer job on a merchant ship, ready to stand watch, follow safety rules and live and work with a multinational crew for long contracts.]
LICENCE AND CERTIFICATES
- STCW Certificate of Competency | MARINA | Certificate no. [Certificate number] (masters, officers and GMDSS radio operators)
- [Other licence or certificate, if the job needs one]
SKILLS
- [Skill from the job post, e.g. Following instructions from officers exactly]
- [Skill, e.g. Working in a team on a multinational crew]
- [Skill, e.g. Basic English for ship communication]
- [Skill, e.g. Staying alert during long watches]
WORK EXPERIENCE
[Job title] | [Manning agency or ship type] | [City] | [Month Year] to [Month Year or Present]
- [What you did, e.g. Stood watch on deck or in the engine room as assigned by the officer]
- [What you did, with a number, e.g. Stood 4-hour watches twice a day on a ship with a crew of about 22]
- [What you did, e.g. Handled mooring lines and cargo gear during port arrival and departure]
[Job title] | [Manning agency or ship type] | [City] | [Month Year] to [Month Year]
- [What you did]
- [What you did]
EDUCATION
[Maritime course, e.g. Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation] | [School] | [Year finished]
TRAINING AND SEMINARS
- [Training or seminar] | [Who ran it] | [Year]
LANGUAGES
- [Languages you speak, e.g. English: fluent. Filipino: native.]
How to write a seafarer resume without experience
No sea time yet? List maritime school training, on-board practice or any hands-on work, and say where.
Duties and skills to add to your seafarer resume
The sample uses lines from the seafarer job description. Pick the ones you've really done, and find the rest there. See the full seafarer duties
Seafarer resume questions
Where does my STCW certificate go on a seafarer resume?
If you apply as a master, officer or GMDSS radio operator, put your STCW Certificate of Competency from MARINA right under your objective.
What goes first if I have no sea time yet?
Put your education first. Then list your cadet training, the type of ship and the work you did on board.
Which skills should I pick for a seafarer resume?
Pick skills a ship crew uses every day, like staying alert on watch and following officers' instructions. Five or six is enough.
Should I put my birthday or a photo on it?
Leave your birthday off. Since 2016, Republic Act 10911 has made it unlawful for employers in the Philippines to require your age or birth date while you apply. Leave the photo off too, unless the job post asks for one.
Should I send it as a PDF or a Word file?
PDF, unless the job post asks for Word. A PDF looks the same on every screen. Put your name in the file name, like Ramil-Agustin-Resume.pdf.
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