I've literally been hired every single way possible — through an agent, word of mouth, a fellow yachtie, LinkedIn and even Instagram. So take it from someone who's tested every channel: here's where first jobs actually come from.

Be where the boats are

You cannot break into yachting from your bedr...

Yachting is a word-of-mouth industry wearing a professional costume. Jobs are posted, sure — but the best ones are filled by "I know someone" before the listing exists. I've been hired through an agent, word of mouth, a fellow yachtie, LinkedIn and Instagram. Here's how the web actually works.

Crew...

The classic catch-22: boats want references, but you need a boat to get references. Here's how to break the loop — because everyone in this industry, including me, started with zero yacht references.

Land references count more than you think

A written reference from a head chef or restaurant owner...

Hundreds of chefs apply for the good boats. Here's what actually separates the hired from the hopeful — from someone who's been on both sides of it.

Versatility is key. I can't stress this enough.

My first yacht job wasn't won on cooking alone. The boat had a unique chef/deck position, and my PADI...