Career Growth in shore based roles – from an ex seafarers perspective
The shift from active seafaring to a position ashore involves a shift in mindset, adaptability to conditions ashore which are very different from those at sea and above all preparing oneself for the challenges that await every “new comer” who makes the transition from ship to shore.
Many times this “shift” is like starting a new chapter as a “trainee” all over again. Is everyone cut out for it or should we say how does one cope up with this change?
Maritime shore based roles are broadly divided into Technical and Commercial Roles which are then further subdivided into a variety of roles covering various facets of the Marine Industry. Whether it be the role of a Superintendent – Marine/ Technical or that of a Surveyor, the basic qualifications and requirements of seagoing experience are common. It would 
then depend on the specific requirements of each role as all of them differ in what is required to be done. Officers from the Navigation as well as Engineering branches do find ample opportunities when they move ashore and it all boils down to one thing – what are you best suited to? The job requirements of an Operations Manager are very different from those that are required in an HSSEQ role. Similarly, the job demands of a Technical Superintendent managing 5 vessels is far different from a Surveyor who works for a classification society.
Commercial Shipping jobs are available and more suited to those who wish to function in the commercial or trade functions within the Maritime Sector. They require a different skill set altogether. There are number of people who have taken up roles within the S&Q domain only to shift to Commercial Shipping at a later stage. There are professionals who have made transitions from a pure technical role to one that deals with Business Development. It is again not a matter of right vs wrong or good vs bad. It is just about finding what you are good at and identifying the role that you are most suited to. Such shifts sometimes may not prove beneficial as they may be made for the wrong reasons. I remember making such a shift a few years back only to realize that it was not my cup of tea. I eventually reverted back to what I was doing initially as that’s where the expertise lay.
Whilst Technical and Commercial roles are the traditional ones, there are a variety of roles available within and outside the shipping industry. Demand for qualified mariners come from a variety of industries including Financial Institutions, Trading houses Insurance Companies, Training establishments and many more. Hence it becomes even more important to know how to match the skill sets that one possesses with the job responsibilities.
A number of seafarers have also taken to further their careers by choosing to enhance their skills by upgrading their knowledge. With adequate amount of maritime knowledge under their belt, they have decided to spruce it up with management studies. This could be by way of an MBA – full time or part time or a diploma through distance education. What is important is that seafarers need to identify what kind of education is best suited to them. Career opportunities would be available in various sectors where ex seafarers could fit in. However, the transition from a seafaring role to that of a shore based one is not as easy as it may seem. Many other Maritime focused diploma programmes are also available but it needs to be seen which one is suited to what kind of roles. Whilst it is rightly said that no education goes waste, it is vital that the right course of study is chosen so that one can benefit maximum from the time and money that is invested. Thus it can be seen that there are number of factors to be considered when making the decision to step ashore and more importantly when choosing the right role.
A recently launched programme called CAPS – Career Advancement Program for Seafarers is an initiative that would help seafarers build upon their seafaring career and make a shift to shore based roles in a well planned manner. Why does it need to be planned? Why not just shift to a career ashore like has been done in the past? The answer to this is that in today’s fast paced and competitive market, it is important that job scope and requirements are well understood before such a decision is made. A structured path enables one to factor in the various limitations, linked to the job that he is looking to take up. The 5 day program in Singapore helps seafarers get the much required exposure to the industry requirements and what is expected from them.
For seafarers who are actively seeking a shift to a shore based role, this is a unique opportunity to blend into the lifestyle shore. It will bring about a shift in mindset and the ever important adjustment that is required when making a shift ashore. Further details on CAPS can be made available and those who are keen to know more about this and enrol for the programme that is conducted in Singapore should send their queries to the author.