The true facts about.....
.....A
job as a FISH
PROCESSOR IN ALASKA
and/or
a
job
on a LUXURY
CRUISE LINER
-
CLICK
HERE
Alaskan
Fish
Processing jobs
Now
is the time to start lining up that job in Alaska. Last season the industry
experienced a boom. This year won’t be any different. In 1999, for instance, 213 million salmon was caught and processed in Alaska. That year,
they could not get enough workers, thus the opportunity for you to get a job is
about 99%. Each season between 40,000 and 60,000 workers are recruited.
Jobs
are available on Floaters or on shore canneries (although they are still called
“canneries”, it isn’t necessarily a factory where fish is put in cans. It
could be a frozen fish plant. The name, “canneries”, was just carried on
over the years. There are, however, genuine canneries still around).
Salaries
normally vary from $3000 to $5600 (ZAR24,000.00 to ZAR44,800.00 – calculated at
ZAR8.00/$) per month depending if you are at sea or on shore. You have to indicate
your preference for inland or boat jobs. Positions are constantly filled.
Contracts vary from factory to factory (depending what they are processing).
Of
all the job opportunities available, getting work as a Fish Processor in Alaska
is about the easiest yet. It also isn’t the most glamourous of the available
jobs either, BUT you need absolutely NO
experience at all.
These jobs have their fair share of benefits, but consider the downsides as
well. To start with, you must get to Seattle, WA, USA (where most of all the
recruitment in fishing factories take place), at your own cost. (Most of
the Cruise Ship operators also expect the same – so this is not too bad for a
downside). There are cheap flights available. Some bigger companies will pay for
your airfare, but only for experienced workers (that have worked for them in
previous years).
(PLEASE NOTE:
We DO NOT represent ANY of
the factories in the address
list, thus DO NOT send your CV or any
further fees to us. Send it directly to the factories of your choice.)
Something about Alaska:
Alaska,
with Juneau as it’s capital, is situated in the upper north-western corner
of the North American continent (very close to the eastern border of Russia –
with only the narrow strip of the Bering Sea separating the two countries. This
state of the USA, was purchased from Russia for $1 many, many years ago. Since
then, it has become one of the richest states of the United States – Salmon
fishing, discovery of oil etc. Boy, did the Russians feel bad about selling this
“barren piece of ice with no potential” for ONE DOLLAR.
Because
Alaska is so sparsely populated, most of the work in this state is done by
part-time workers. It isn’t only the fishing industries that require seasonal
workers, but also all other kinds of work is available (hotel staff, adventure
camps personnel, tour company guides, etc.)
During
summer, the sun never sets in the northern part of this great state. You can
read a newspaper by sunlight….at midnight!
The
factories:
These
can vary in size with some employing hundreds of employees while other only take
on a dozen or so, people. No matter what the size is, all operate on the exact
same principles. To make it easier to get the fish to the factories, most of
these plant are situated on piers, where the boats dock.
Factories
are normally made up of a Main Processing house (where the fish is processed and
later canned or frozen) and an Egg house (where salmon eggs are processed for
export). Most factories also have living quarters (which can be dormitories or
camping areas), a café/small shop and general offices.
Requirements:
You’ll
need a valid passport with a work Visa. Go to your nearest US
Embassy or Consulate to be issued with this.
You
must........
...
be in good physical condition.
...
be at least 18 years old.
...
have the determination and positive attitude to do this work.
...
be prepared to work long hours - 12 to 18 hours per day, 7 days a
week
...
be prepared to stand on your feet for long periods of time
...
be able to follow directions and abide to safety rules
...
be able to lift or move heavy objects
...
be able to speak and understand English
...
be interested
in practical and manual work
...
be free from skin diseases or chest complaints
...
have good hand-eye co-ordination
...
be able to do quick and accurate work with hands
...
be able
to work as part of a team
...
be safety conscious
Experience:
As
mentioned, most of the factories welcome
non-experienced workers (“greenhorns”). At this level you will start working
as a Fish Processor. After a brief stint in this post you can/will be promoted
to the next level. The details of these posts will be discussed later.
All
the posts are open to men and women workers, of any nationality. For example,
women that are prepared to work as a cook on one of the fishing boats, can be
expected to be one of the highest paid non-experienced employees. (Your chances
of getting crewshare, is good as well).
Newcomers
would probably begin as a slimer or as egg house employees. If you work hard in
these posts, you will be promoted to a better job and more responsibilities –
with a salary adjustment, of course.
Benefits:
The
salaries paid, are relatively good. The figures mentioned earlier are only a
guideline. It could be much more, but rarely less than $3000 (ZAR 24,000) per month. If you
are prepared to work on a boat, you will be paid more than working on shore, in
a “cannery”.
Your
board and lodging is normally free (and if not, at certain operations, it
will be at a subsidised cost. Find out which companies give free accommodation
– I know Westward Seafoods, does).
Most
companies pay a percentage bonus at the end of the season.
Although
you have to get to Seattle at your own expense, transport from there to your
workplace in Alaska is free .
There
is the opportunity to work overtime (paid at the rate of time and a half).
You
could expect a salary increase after working for 300 hours (about a month).
Your
hours worked can be carried over from year to year (giving you an immediate
increase and better post when you re-apply the next year.
Although
the hours are long and the work repetitious, you will be rotated from job to job
to break the monotony.
You
are given a 10 minute break after every 2 hours worked. (Some operations even
provide free doughnuts, fresh fruit and coffee during shorter breaks).
You
are given a longer meal period after every 4 hours worked.
You’ll
meet great people.
Negative points:
Of
course there are negative aspects to any job in the world. The fishing industry
isn’t any different:
You
have to get to the recruitment centre (Seattle) at your own cost.
You
will work for long
hours.
The
work is repetitious and monotonous
and often
leads to cumulative trauma injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, but you are rotated in jobs.
The
working conditions are
cold,
wet, damp and fishy smelling.
You
are forced
to stand on your feet, most of the day.
The
work can be dangerous. With the extreme change in weather patterns in Alaska,
safety has always been a big issue.
Thus, if you thinking of working on a boat, there is the odd chance of being
endangered if the boat sinks in inclement weather. Jobs on shore (in the
canneries) are not half as dangerous. The biggest danger is if you loose
concentration due to fatigue (working long hours). Other jobs may involve
working with heavy machinery. This could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Damp
floors increase the likelihood of slips and falls and serious threat of
disabling injuries.
Hands
and clothes may become soiled with blood and/or scales .
If
you suffer from motion sickness (seasickness), rather apply for a job onshore.
Accommodation:
Many
plants offer their workers free or subsidised accommodation. The subsidised housing can cost between $2 and
$8 (ZAR16 and ZAR64) per day for a tent platform. A nice dormitory style of room can
cost you up to $15 (ZAR120.00) per day. If you pay for your housing, many
factories pay the full amount back on completion of your contract. If the
company you apply for, does not have their own housing, they will pay you a
bigger salary, so that you can seek private accommodation. Keep in mind that “free housing” can be anything from pitching a
tent to a comfortable dorm room. NB:
Find out if they give free housing, and if so, what it is like.
Dormitory
facilities could mean that you will share with 5 to 6 other people. This can be
fun! The better dorms will have a TV, video recorder, laundry room and shared
bathrooms with showers. There should be a café nearby, as well. Some factories
used old barges and converted them into sleeping quarters. An old school bus has
also been used already.
This
accommodation setup sounds weird, but it isn’t as bad as it sounds. Actually
it could be the best part of your stint in Alaska!!
How do I get a job in Alaska?
Of
course, the best (and most romantic) way, is
to simply go to Alaska (on holiday, as it were). You’ll have to make this trip
during their summer. Have a “game plan” and take enough money to keep you
going for a week or two, if the salmon is late. A good place to go to first will
be the State operated Alaska Employment
Agency (there should be one in every biggish town) and register yourself
with them. When travelling through the state, have a look at all the factories,
decide on one or two (located far from each other, as the salmon might be
abundant at the one factory and more scarce at the other) and apply in
person, telling them you’re planning to stay the whole season. If you
do not have a phone (or a contact number where you are staying), at least check
in at the factory on a regular basis. Vacancies come up within a day, thus you
do not want to dip out on a job. If your timing is good and you are there at the
start of a shift, you might be interviewed, hired and put to work within a
couple of hours. It might happen that someone does not turn up for work on the
first day and the foreman might be desperate to take any loose hands waiting
nearby. It could be you! Ask around and talk to people in the towns. Find out as
much as possible about the what’s and where’s of the industry.
This
way of getting a job involves quite a lot of risk, as there is no way that we
(or anybody else) can guarantee you
the job – but you will enjoy your holiday in Alaska.
However, your chance of getting a job is pretty good.
The
other (and most logic) way for you to get a job is to apply by mail.
A Seattle-based personnel director said “If
a person sends me a well-prepared CV, I am always prepared to listen to them. It
certainly makes my job so much easier”.
Thus prepare your CV well, basically what we told you in the oil
rig section of this website.
Start
sending letters requesting application forms well ahead (February to early June)
of the salmon season, so that this can give you enough time to contact as many
factories as possible. Keep in mind that the more remote the location of
the factory is, the greater the chance of you getting a certain job. Ask
them all the same question in your covering letter (regarding accommodation,
average shift lengths, salary range, whether there is a cap on how much one can
work, how, where and when to apply etc.). Keep the letter brief, though. Be
creative and be sure that your letter is well written and error-free.
Also get the company name correct!
If you know what the personnel manager’s name is, it will be much better than
sending it “To whom it may concern”. If you do not know his/her name, send
it to the Personnel Manager or the Human Resources Manager.
Once
you receive the application forms, fill them out as accurately as possible.
Make a photocopy of the application. Keep a record of which companies you
applied to and when you posted off the applications. This way you can follow up
on your correspondence (after about 3 to 4 weeks). Be persistent, but not too
pushy. Although you may thereafter get many positive offers from some factories,
others will not respond favourably to your application – thus apply to as many
as you can, then pick the one YOU want to work at.
Interview tips:
Even
though you were offered a job, the final decision lies with the interview.
Thus, if you get a call for a telephone interview, keep a photocopy of your
application and CV nearby, because they might ask questions from the application
form.
There
are two main reasons for the interview a)
for the potential employer to ensure that you will be able to handle the job and
b) for you to fully understand the
implications of the work involved. If you are a greenhorn,
you now have the opportunity to convince the interviewer to consider you for the
post instead of an experienced hand. If you have any fisheries or Baader
machine experience, now is the time to share it. Any experience in a fishing
factory will definitely count in your favour. The same goes for mechanical
skills. If you have worked in any other kind of factory before, mention it. DO
mention the fact if you have done any of the following courses: Cold
water survival courses, First aid courses, Welding, Net mending, Hydraulics,
Cooking courses, Bookkeeping, Computer
courses, Skin or deep-sea diving etc.
Indicate
that you are serious about getting this job and give them an indication that you
will be able to stick with the working conditions and understand the nature of
the work. Be friendly, but serious and ask
a lot of questions. (Make a list of all your questions and keep it by the
phone). Tell them that you are prepared to return the next summer, as they would
eventually like to build up a pool of experienced workers. As you will be
working with people of all nationalities, races and backgrounds, your
interviewer will steer a lot of questions in the vicinity of your tolerance
for these people.
TIP:
Here
are some questions you might want to
get the answers for :
What
are the contract terms?
Are
there penalties for breach of contract?
What
is the hourly wage?
What
is the overtime rate?
How
often are raises offered?
Does
their factory offer performance bonuses?
What
is the length of the shift you will be expected to work?
How
often do you get paid? (weekly, monthly, end of contract etc.)
Do
they provide medical coverage?
Does
the company reimburse your travel costs?
Is
accommodation available? If so, free or at cost? What is it like –
dorm/tent/private?
What
protective clothing, if any, is provided?
Do
they provide laundry services? (If not, bring enough change of clothing)
When
does the season end?
When
are you expected to report there?
What
jobs are available and what does it entail?
Fresh frozen plant jobs:
Slime line
Belly
slitter – Uses a fillet knife to cut a slit from the throat to the end of
the abdomen, then sends the fish to the next station
Head
decapitator machine – Normally two people works this machine. They feed
the fish into this machine to behead it. The fish is sent to the next station.
Gut
puller – Positioned just after the belly
slitter, he/she pulls out the guts and egg sacs and sends the fish to the
next station. In bigger plants, this work is done by machine.
Spooner
– This person cleans up any leftovers and also removes the organs that run
down the spine. The fish is sent to the next person.
Washer
– Can be done by hand or machine. One or two people feeds the fish into a
dishwasher-looking machine which showers the fish with ice water.
Fish
graders – These people are usually at the end of the slime line. Fish is
graded into three or four grades. 1=excellent,
2=good, 3=fair, 4=mushy and not fit for human consumption. After the fish is
graded, it is sorted into bins.
Weigher
– Puts fish onto the scale and then sort according to size into bins.
Sorter
– Assures that the fish is placed in the proper bins according to fish type,
grade and weight.
Tray
stacker – Packs the trays onto rolling racks and wheeled into the walk-in
freezer room.
Freezer crew
Glaze
line – Breaks the frozen fish from the trays and runs them through a brine
solution before packing.
Packing
room – Frozen fish are packed according to classification and made ready
for export. You will ensure the moving of pallets, labelling of boxes and
ensuring the proper loading of the fish.
Salmon
Processing jobs (Cannery):
Iron
chink machine – This machine (some of which are as old as 70 years!)
beheads the salmon, cuts off the tail and fins, guts the fish and separates out
the egg sacs. Two people feed the fish into this machine.
Slime
table – After the iron chink, the fish go to slimers
who clean out the remaining guts. They also wash and grade the fish. From here
the fish is fed into the filler machine which fills the cans with fish.
Patch
cutter – Oversized and undersized fish are sorted out and sent for patch
cutting. Here the fish is cut into smaller pieces which are used to bring the
cans up to the desired weight.
Filler
– This machine slices and dices the fish to fill the cans. One or two people
work here to feed the fish into it properly and to make sure it comes out
without any problems.
Patching
table – Underweight cans are sent here where workers fill them with the
pieces from the patch cutters. Once filled to the desired weight, the cans are
sent back to the can line and fitted with lids.
Cooking
(retorts) – After the lids have been put on, the cans end up in large
metal rolling bins. Workers see to the proper loading and transfer of these bins
to the retort cookers. The fish stays in here for between 70 to 90 minutes
(depending on the size of the cans). Working in this room can be hot, but at
least you’ll stay dry!
End
of line – This crew of workers remove the bins from the retorts and wheel
them off to the cooling area.
General
Processing jobs (Outside):
Beach
crew (Dock crew) – The incoming boats are greeted by this crew. They help
with the offloading of the fish. Bigger factories have “fish vacuums” that
extract the fish from the boats holding tanks. Some boats have the fish packed
in baskets already. These are offloaded by a small crane. Beach crews sort the
fish into rolling bins according to the different species of fish.
Ice
and bait – Tender boats are supplied with ice, bait as well as other
supplies like groceries and living necessities. You will be working here to help
load these tenders.
General
Processing jobs (Inside):
Britestacks
– After the cans have cooled down, it is taken to the warehouse via a
conveyor belt. Here a machine palletises them. This section of the factory is
very noisy. Several people work here – one operates the machine, while the
others assist him/her. Two people move and stack the filled pallets.
Night
clean up – Lots of the factories operate 24 hours a day. The workers
process fish during the day and clean up during the night shift. The whole
working area is thoroughly hosed down so as to prevent fish contamination.
Forklift
driver – This is a rather specialised and sought after position (you can SIT
and work!). You’ll have to move around heavy pallets and ice-filled bins with
this equipment. Only the tenured employees can hope to get this job.
Truck
loader – This is a warehouse position. Boxes and crates are loaded onto
trucks which take them to the harbour or airport to be exported.
Office
staff – Many jobs are available here – receptionist, accounting, pay
office, filing and order processing are some of the most common posts available.
Office workers also have to work long hours. These
posts are only available through “connections” and people that return
year after year.
The
Egg house:
Working
in the egg house is less demanding than the slime lines as there is less noise,
little in the way of fish guts and drier conditions. It, however, is quite
monotonous and you must be able to stand in one place for long periods of time.
Women are given preference to get a job in the egg house.
Here
is a run down of what happens in an egg house: The egg sacs taken from the
salmon by the slimers are put in
baskets and weighed. It is now placed in a sodium nitrate brine solution, graded
by technicians, sorted according to quality and size. Sometimes it is salted for
preservation and taste. Now it is artistically packed into boxes for export.
The
egg house can also make caviar which means that the egg sacs are broken open to
expose the eggs individually.
Technicians
(called sujiko technicians) oversees the whole operation and enforces quality
control.
Other
fisheries:
Besides
the main industry of salmon processing, Alaskan fishing companies also process
other species of seafood providing year round employment…
Bottomfish
– This process is by far more automated than salmon processing. However, they
still do need labour for the inspection, packing and freezing phases. This type
of fish is normally block-packed or frozen whole. Another common way of
processing this fish is to remove the head and tail, leave the guts (known as
kirimi) in it and then freezing it. Bottomfish are not filleted due to the
difficulty of this process (retailers and restaurant owners normally does this
job themselves).
Cod
– Processing can be done on board a factory trawler or in the on shore
factory. The head is removed by a heading machine and the fish is also filleted
by a machine. The skin is also removed by machine. (If you have any experience
on Baader machines, your chance of getting a job is about 100%). Once
the fillet is skinned, it is run under bright lights to be inspected for defects
(a process called candling). The
remaining bones and blemishes are removed by hand. These fillets are frozen in a
variety of ways, including IQF (Individually Quick Frozen).
Pollock
– This species of fish is
processed in both surimi and fillets (about a 50-50 split). The fillets are made
exactly like cod. About two people are needed to work in the surimi processing
plant. These plants are normally done on floating processors and factory
trawlers and on shore at Kodiak and Dutch Harbour. (See the map on the front
cover of this section to locate these sites).
Halibut
– These giant fish are gutted at sea and then processed in two forms. The head
is removed and the cheeks are sold separately. The fish is weighed, washed and
frozen whole. If the fish is over 120 pounds it is “fletched” (which means
it is divided into four fillets for each fish).
Crab
- Very much different and simpler
to fish processing. As crabbing is done in the winter, the working conditions
are cold, wet and very dangerous. The process is briefly as follows: The foreman
and his assistant uses a crane to unload the crabber (special crab boat). The
load is put onto the processing boat. Once on, the first people to handle the
crabs are the butchers. They ram the
shell against a stationary blade to separate the shell from the rest of the
crab. The legs are also ripped off. These legs are sent to the gillers who rips the gills off the legs with a metal brush. The legs
are now put in large wire cages and cooked in tanks by people called cookers.
They also remove the cages after the cooking process. Cooler
workers put the cages in cold water tanks which holds several baskets of
crab at a time. After a few minutes it is put into brine tanks which contains
super-cold salt water. Boxers remove
these semi-frozen legs and pack them boxes. These boxes are placed into the
freezer by the freezer crew. Finally
there is the quality assurance people
to insure that product freshness and quality is maintained throughout the
process.
Working
offshore (on boats):
(A
valuable tip: Most smaller boats or tenders are usually family owned and the
jobs on board are usually filled by family members and friends. Don’t even bother to waste your time by sending them your CV.)
Requirements:
You
must be prepared to work hard and for long hours.
Do
not complain. You landed yourself a job on a fishing vessel. Do not lose the job
by talking your way out of it.
Be
punctual! It is imperative to know what time you must report for duty.
Be
sure of your expectations – make sure upfront what your pay will be, who pays
for fuel, food and repairs, who supplies the protective gear, bedding and first
aid kit etc. Don’t be rudely awakened by your first pay cheque.
This
job requires you have strong sea-legs. If you suffer from any kind of
motion-sickness, do not apply for this kind of work.
Working
on boats is more dangerous than working on shore. For instance, working as a
deckhand in the winter, especially in the crab industry, is regarded as one of
the most dangerous jobs in the whole of the USA! In 1996, 16 fishermen lost
their lives on the high seas off Alaska. (Don’t be alarmed, since then, more
stringent safety factors were introduced and the fatalities dropped
dramatically). Check the safety record of the ship that you intend working on.
Find out about the Captain…ask around. Someone, somewhere must have the
information you require. If offered a job on a certain vessel, go aboard and
check it out for yourself. Look at the general condition of the vessel. If it is
in need of obvious maintenance, the chances of it being seaworthy, are very
slim. Ask to see the safety equipment – Are the life rafts OK? Are the dates
on the flares still valid? Are there life jackets on board? Does the crew
conduct frequent safety drills? Do you get the idea of what we’re trying to
get over to you?
As
long as you understand these principles and happy with them, you are ready to go
to sea……
Types of fishing vessels:
The
fishing fleet encompass anything from giant trawlers to small two-man
gillnetting boats. Lets look at the different type of vessels:
Factory
trawlers – These self-sufficient ships with a crew compliment of 15 to 30
people, specialise in groundfish such as pollock, sablefish and cod. Crews
employed on these vessels range from engineers to cooks, fishermen and
processors. These ships often combine the fishing and processing jobs and offer
great entry-level positions for persons interested in getting a fishing job.
Smaller
fishing boats – Crew numbers on these boats normally range from 2 to 6 people
and specialise in catching salmon. The two most common boats in this category
are purse seiners and gillnetters. They work close to the shoreline and river mouths so as
to be ready for the migration upstream of the salmon who go and spawn during
spring and summer. To get a post on of these boats will be more difficult if you
have not fished before.
Floating
processors – These vessels do not catch fish, but processes it. They buy fish
off the other boats and could also supply them with food, fuel etc., thus these
smaller vessels do not have to go into port to offload, that often. They usually
dock in sheltered bays and remain there for as long as three months. Crew
numbers are often more than 100 people. Earnings of $600 (ZAR4,800.00) per week,
is not uncommon. These vessels also
have vacancies for entry-level applicants.
Tenders
– These boats deliver the fish to land-based and offshore processors. A
crew of 4 to 5 people are normally hand-picked by the boat owner.
Pot
boats – They are the boats that catch crab and bottomfish. The crew
normally ranges from 15 to 30 people. Only experienced hands need to apply to
work on these boats.
Long
liners – These employ between 6 and 20 crew members and mainly catch
halibut and other groundfish.
There
is also hundreds of small trawler boats that catch groundfish, but do not
process them.
Getting
paid (Offshore):
Most
offshore workers (no matter how big or small the vessel is) are paid a
percentage of their ship’s catch (called a crewshare).
Crew members on smaller boats like purse
seiners and gillnetters work
exclusively for a crewshare and aren’t paid until the end of the season, when
they are given a percentage of what the boat earned for it’s catch.
Crewshare
can vary, depending on the boat size and size of the crew. Usually the Captain
takes his share (35 to 40%) and the remainder is divided amongst the rest of the
crew, after the cost of fuel, food and other expenses have been deducted. For
example, a member on a purse seiner
can expect a crewshare of about
$8000 (ZAR64,000) at the end of the short season.
Workers
on the larger vessels receive the bulk of their pay from their hourly wages,
which is usually $5 to $7 (ZAR40.00 to ZAR56.00) per hour plus
time and a half for overtime. Bonuses are paid on the amount of fish caught or
offered an additional US50c to US75c (ZAR4.00 to ZAR6.00) per hour as bonus on
completion of his/her contract. Overtime on the big ships is abundant, so the
crew’s overtime and bonus can amount to more than his/her basic pay.
In Parting:
What
to bring along:
Money
– Besides confidence, this is the most important thing to bring along (enough
for a round trip home, just in case you don’t make it in Alaska. It’s a long
walk home!).
Warm
clothes – This is Alaska. Although you intend working there during the summer,
it is still pretty cold up north.
Bring
along:
Long
underwear (Long Johns)
. Trust me, no one will laugh - you'd rather get a couple of good offers for
them!
Normal
underwear
. (No offers for these, though!!). Wear a T-shirt in place of a vest - it's
slightly warmer.
Long
sleeved flannel
shirts
.
Sweat
shirts (with hood) (Tracksuit top – fleece lined)
.
Sweat
pants (Tracksuit bottom – fleece lined)
.
Light
jacket
.
Heavy
jacket/Windbreaker (Padded or even better, duck down lined).
Woollen
socks (long thick ones!)
- enough.
Normal
socks
- enough.
At
least 5 more shirts
.
Comfortable
shoes. (Sneakers/takkies/loafers)
Normal
everyday clothes
.
At
least one
set of nice clothes (to go to town and for the initial interview - of course)
.
Toiletries/
Medication – If you take prescription medicine, bring enough to last you the
season (as those chemists might not carry the same kind you are used to). Best
is to bring your prescription along - just in case they suspect it to be drugs
(or if you run out of medication). Seasick pills are a must, if you are applying for a boat job. Also bring:
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
(enough)/Dental
floss
.
Razor,
enough blades and shaving cream
.
Soap
(enough)
.
Small
mending kit (with buttons, thread, needles etc.)
Towels
(at least 3)
.
You
know best what you will need every morning and every evening
.
Camping
gear – Tent, tarpaulin, cooking stove, sleeping bag (full duck down or at
least half-down) or good quality down duvet, pillow, eating and
cooking utensils (this all depends what kind of accommodation you are going to
live in).
Miscellaneous
stuff – Like:
Sunglasses
.
Extra
pair of spectacles or contact lenses (if you wear them)
.
Books/Magazines.
Writing
paper, envelopes and stamps .
Identification
document and working permits
.
Walkman
type of radio/ cassette player/ CD player/MP3 player
and enough music. Earphones are also a good optional extra. (Keep in mind that
the US/Alaska runs off 110 volt mains, thus the equipment mentioned must
preferably be battery powered).
Camera
(you don’t want to miss the sites and fun times) and plenty of film
.
TIP:
Don't develop the films there, bring them back home and have it developed
locally - muuuuch cheaper! (Of course, a digital camera is the way to go lately
- send your photo's home via e-mail).
Bug
repellent
. (You might pick up problems taking the aerosol can type on the plane - rather
opt for the rub-on/roll-on variety).
Frisbee/
Kite/Skateboard/In-line blades/Soccer ball/Darts….whatever.
Pack
(or two) of cards/Poker
dice..
(If you are really desparate, you could even take your Yahtzee game along!!).
As
much smokes that is permitted through Customs. It is normally only 2 cartons.
Get non-smokers, that are flying with you, to also take smokes with, for you.
Cigarettes are expensive there!
Back-pack (for hiking trip on your off-time)
. Get a good quality one - it will be worth the amount of money you're
initially going to pay for it.
Fishing
rod and flies (Alaska is world renowned for it’s fishing sites)
.
Anything
else to pass the time on your day-off.
Pack
anything that is moisture sensitive in plastic bags that seals well.
Summary
of conditions:
*
The
word “gruesome” seems to come closest in describing this industry.
*
The
processing facilities are cramped, very wet, very cold, foul smelling and noisy.
*
The
working environment can be considered as dangerous.
*
The
working hours are long (12 to 18 hours a day, 7 days a week).
*
On
the ships, it’s not only the stench to cope with, but also the constant rolling
of the ship as well (and that’s not even during one of the violent storms at
sea!).
*Greenhorns
on the ships must undergo all sorts of trials and tribulations to “prove”
themselves by hard work, till the next lot of newbies climb aboard.
*
Accommodation
is NOT always the best. You could end up living in a
tent
(and it’s freezing
outside!).
*
The
pay is relatively good and you can save a bit, as there is rarely a place where
you can spend it.
......Well,
if you are still prepared to do this work, I salute you and wish you well in
your (ad)venture.
All you need to know about a
job on a
LUXURY
CRUISE LINER
A cruise ship is like a small floating city, thus it requires all kinds
of people to keep it going. Unlike any other industries, cruise lines have a
high employee turnover rate, thus there are always open vacancies. Most of the
cruise lines hire between 300 and 600 crew members at a time. Anybody has a
chance to get a job. These jobs are available on United States and other foreign
vessels, open to US residents and non-US
residents. All candidates for these posts should be presentable
in appearance (as you are working between the public in most of the
positions), dedicated to the job, and the ability
to serve the public. If you had any
experience in the hospitality trade (hotel, barman, casino, entertainment - such
as a singer or even a DJ etc.), it would count immensely in your favour. YOU
could be in line for a wonderful job on a luxury liner even
if you do not have any experience. There are many "entry-level" posts (posts for people who have
no experience) available on a ship. Most of the posts will be discussed
later……and yes, the salaries (you will be paid in US$) as well! Talking of
experience, if you were in the Navy
or have any other Marine Engineering
experience, there are 5 operators that you can try first. Besides the American-Hawaii Cruises, the other all operate
pretty small vessels (100 - 250 passengers). They provide adventure cruises, whereas the larger operators offer a luxury
cruise. These five operators are: (unfortunately I only have addresses
of three of them - those printed in BOLD/ITALICS).
Alaska Sightseeing Cruise West *
American-Hawaii
Cruises *
Clipper
Cruise Line *
Delta Queen Steamboat *
Special
Expeditions *
Before we start getting ready to board our fantasy liner, there is two
questions I must ask you…
*
DO YOU SUFFER FROM MOTION SICKNESS?
*
ARE YOU CLAUSTROPHOBIC (SCARED OR
UNCOMFORTABLE IN CONFINED SPACES)?
If you answered "YES" to
one or both of these questions, I can save you a lot of time….do not read
further, this job is NOT for you. As you know a ship can land in bad weather
and it WILL tend to roll - thus anybody suffering from motion sickness WILL
become sea sick (which I might add, is not a pleasant experience - ask me!).
Regarding the confined spaces, your bunk or cabin will be small and, in the
beginning will be shared by one or even two other crew members. Some people
would regard it as "cosy", but to a claustrophobic person, it can be a
living hell.
Well, obviously you do not fall in any of the two abovementioned
categories, as you are still reading. There are, however, some other
points to consider before applying:
*
All applicants are considered for all the posts without regard to race,
colour, religion, gender, national origin, age (must, however, be of legal
working age), sexual orientation, marital status
or physical handicap
*
Working hours: 10 hours per day / 7 days a week
*
Up to 10 month contracts - renewable if your work was up to standard, (followed by two months
unpaid leave)
* Air travel and en-route
overnight accommodation is usually paid for (but not by all the companies)
* Must be able to speak good English
*
Length of candidates: Males -
above 1,72m. Females - above 1,60m
*
Age of candidates: Males -
between 20 and 28 years old. Females -
between 18 and 26 years old
* Minimum qualification: Senior
high school certificate (Grade 12)
*
No criminal record
* Must be in good health (You
must be able to pass a physical exam)
* US residents will be taxed.
Foreign employees are responsible to declare their income, unless it is banked
in an offshore account
* Passenger areas are off
limits to the crew, unless your job requires you to be there
* Crew areas and amenities are also off
limits to the passengers
* Verbal and written warnings
are the forms of discipline used. Three
warnings = dismissal
* Being in the possession of any type of drugs will lead to immediate
dismissal and you will be dropped off at the nearest port of call,
resulting that you will have to pay your own passage back home.
* You must have a valid passport
plus a C1/D1 (C1-D U.S.) visa if you are applying from outside the US. (Any
US embassy/ consulate will be able to give you advice regarding this visa or
will be able to issue you with one within two business days). Check with the
cruise ship operator if there are other visas required, besides the
abovementioned.
* Must be prepared to undergo
training
* It might be advisable to get your own medical insurance
NB:
There are no part-time
posts that can be filled for holiday
periods only
(minimum contract is four months)
Happy with the conditions? Welcome to the world of sailing around the
world. Let's get started…All aboard!
(IMPORTANT:
Just keep in mind that I DO
NOT represent
any of the Cruise
line operators in the address list, thus DO NOT send your CV to me - post
them directly to the operator(s)
of your choice)
If you were not scared off by the above conditions and negatives, then
the positive aspects of the job will please you more. (Fortunately these
outweigh the negatives).
* You have the opportunity to travel
around the world (and get paid for it).
* You'll meet great people.
* The people you will work with will always be there to help
you.
* Although you will work every day, you will have time off for yourself, go ashore and see the sites at different
ports.
*
Free
room (or cabin, as it is known by on the ship), but you will have to share
with one other person - in extreme cases there could be three of you in a cabin.
*
Free meals (three meals a day) served in crew mess.
*
Bed and bath linen is provided and laundered
free.
*
Uniforms are also provided and laundered
free.
*
Up to 25% discount when buying at
the onboard boutiques and shops .
* There are no bills like
water and lights, rent etc., to pay.
* Very little time to spend your money, thus you'll save a lot of money.
* The working environment on the ship is comfortable.
* Crew recreational areas (including
a crew bar)…..plus a host of other things.
* Many of the cruise ship operators have e-mail facilities from which you can send and receive mail.
* There are phones on board,
but are extremely expensive to use.
Most crew members buy phone cards and use the public phones in the various ports.
So,
what are the jobs available on a cruise ship?
(Some posts listed with
salaries to give you a vague idea of what you can be expected to earn)
Index to abbreviations:
"M" = posts for males only
"F" = posts for females only
"MM" = Mostly males
"MF" = Mostly females
"BOTH"
= posts for males or females
You
can calculate the exchange rate at R8.00/$.
Eg. A Disc Jockey will earn $1700-2000
p.m. That, converted to SA Rand will give
a salary of ZAR13,600.00
-
ZAR16,000.00
p.m.
Deck:
Captain (M) ($5800-9800)
Staff Captain (M) ($5000-7800)
First Officer (M) ($3700-4300)
Second Officer (M) ($2800-3300)
Third Officer (M) ($2500-3100)
Junior Third Officer (M) ($1900-2200)
Deck Officer
Chief Radio Officer (MM) ($2500-3100)
Radio Officer (MM) ($1900-2500)
Security officer (M) ($2200-2600)
Security Personnel (M)($1600-1800)
Safety Officer (M)($2400-3100)
Quartermaster
Bosun (M)($1600-1800)
Carpenter (M) ($1700-1900)
Seaman (M) ($1400-1700)
Deck Attendants (M) ($900-1200)
Splicer/Joiner
Seaman Surveyor
Deck Utilityman
Deck Cadet
Engine
Room:
Chief Engineer (MM) ($5600-8700)
1st Engineer (MM) ($4300-5400)
2nd Engineer (MM) ($3400-4800)
3rd Engineer (MM) ($2600-2900)
Chief Electronic Technician
