For anyone hearing these words there is a question that arises shortly after, namely: Is my career over?

Of course, it goes without saying that the reason a person is let go does factor in, but I think it is fair to say that it does not spell the end of your career (at least in the majority of cases).

It’s hard to generalize, but most people will consider the following when moving on from this experience:

• Should I list this job on my CV?

• What if I don’t list it on my CV and someone finds out that I was fired?

• What should I tell an agent/employer who asks about why there is a gap in my CV or about my last job?

Personally, I value full disclosure for a variety of reasons, not least the following:

• There are always two sides to every story, context is key for me.

• The person you are speaking to may already know that you were let go and is wanting to hear if this information is volunteered freely or not.

• If volunteered, hearing your side of the story will give a much more well-rounded picture of what happened but also stand you in good stead in the honesty department.

• How you chose to explain the events is also telling. Will you be professional about what occurred and take ownership of your part in the events?

• Do you trust the person you are speaking to with the truth albeit if it means possibly not getting the job?

There are real risks either way but given the above, I believe that honesty is the best policy.

The yachting community is small and word travels fast so my advice would be to be upfront with yourself and whoever you are talking with. This does require trust and our goal is to cultivate this trust on both ends of the spectrum as agents. We represent both the crew member and the employer which means that having accurate information allows us to do a better job for everyone concerned.

Our job is to ascertain the suitability of a crew member for a given yacht which is done not only by contacting references etc. but also getting to know the crew member as a person. None of us are robots (at least not yet) and everyone is fighting their own battles. Of course, understanding these challenges is easier if you have been a crew member yourself. You see a lot over the years and being able to relate is imperative.

Not sure of what to do? Give us a call, we would be to help.