Advice needed

[Goon Boy]

Hello all

I am new to this site/forum. I'm looking for a possible career change to the merchant navy and I'm looking for any advice to be honest. I have found one company that takes on traineer ratings and I really want to apply; a few concerns I have is with regards to after my traineeship (if I get on) what are the job prospects like for a recently qualified trainee? Would I be guaranteed a position with my training company? What sort of long term prospects would I have? I'm sure these sort of questions are asked all the time but I would appreciate any useful advice.

Many thanks

Goon Boy

[Captain Kong]

Go for it,
Always remember.....It is better to have wished you hadnt done it than to have wished you had done it.
Cheers
Brian.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Hello all

I am new to this site/forum. I'm looking for a possible career change to the merchant navy and I'm looking for any advice to be honest. I have found one company that takes on traineer ratings and I really want to apply; a few concerns I have is with regards to after my traineeship (if I get on) what are the job prospects like for a recently qualified trainee? Would I be guaranteed a position with my training company? What sort of long term prospects would I have? I'm sure these sort of questions are asked all the time but I would appreciate any useful advice.

Many thanks

Goon Boy

Well Goon Boy (I do hope your parents didn't christen you that name), as Brian rightly points out, sometimes in life you have to take a chance, you never know it may open the door to a greater opportunity, life isn't all disappointments. If you don't take that first step then you will never know and your life may be full of "I wish I had"

My final comment is, if you are intending to go to sea because it is a "job" then you may not like it, going to sea is a calling, it's something you "want" to do, and you have to take the rough weather and times along with the good and still enjoy the experience. Going to sea when you do not like it is neither good for yourself or your shipmates.

Good luck in your endeavours

[Goon Boy]

To both Captain Kong and Ivan Cloherty

Thanks for the replies, I'm going to go for it. Just this morning I have spoken to a couple of shipping companies themselves, clyde marine and to the RFA about their cadetships.

Like you say better to give it a go then to think what if, and no definately just a 'job' for me. I have always had an affinity to the sea, and I've always wanted a job thats challenging and involves travel so I think it would suit me perfectly.

Many thanks

PS - Ivan Cloherty - no thankfully no I wasn't christened 'Goon Boy', just an unfortunate nick name I picked up at work!!!

Goon Boy