Are you searching for a job in the diving industry? As a PADI Pro, you’re already on the right path to your dream career, with incredible opportunities for PADI Divemasters/Instructors.
Of course, as with any “dream job”, there are a lot of other diving professionals who will be competing for the best and most interesting diving jobs in the world – just like you. So, it’s particularly important that you give the best possible impression with your application documents and stand out from the masses of candidates.
To help you succeed in being top of the shortlist, here are 5 tips for your professional CV and application:
#1 Make it look professional
As a PADI Pro you carry a lot of responsibility, and you’ll need to gain the confidence of your customers and guests with a professional attitude. Make sure your CV reflects your professionalism and follow the guidelines that potential employers will expect.
Include an interesting cover letter, a curriculum vitae (CV) with the right amount of detail, and a professional portrait photo of yourself. Check your spelling and grammar, and make sure your documents are well-presented so that they are neat and clear to read.
#2 Keep it short and simple, but be creative
Your potential employer – the owner of dive shop or liveaboard, or the personnel manager in charge – usually have busy days and very long working hours. So, they won’t have much time to make their first selection of candidates based on the applications they receive.
For this reason, it’s especially important for your application documents to be brief. Include all of your information and why you are the right person for the job – “short and sweet” and to the point. To get the added benefit, add some (professional) creativity to your application so that it will be unmistakable.
My tip: search the internet for a wealth of creative templates for your application that will help your structure and creativity whilst covering the main points in #1.
#3 Use a reputable photo in your application
T-shirts, shorts and sunglasses are, in many parts of the world, the work clothes for a professional scuba instructor… but on your application photograph you shouldn’t aim for “cool”. It’s essential your future employer can easily identify you from your photography and see – at a glance – that you would make a professional and respectable candidate for their PADI Divemaster or Instructor.
Use a normal passport photograph, and even better, add an additional full-length shot in smart, professional clothing.
#4 Watch your file size
Some of the finest diving spots on our planet are often off-the-beaten-track and in isolated areas where the internet is not as fast as you might be used to back home. For that reason, make sure the file size of any digital applications – including your CV and any photos – are not too large. Avoid any applications which are larger than 1MB.
Sending your documents in PDF file format will help to keep the file size small and helps to ensure your future employer will be able to open and read it without needing special software.
#5 Don’t forget your additional skills
A lot of PADI Pros make the same mistake when applying for a new job: they only list their diving qualifications and skills. However, including your additional skills will say a lot about you as a person and could be crucial to helping you win your dream job.
Are you an experienced photographer or videographer – perhaps even underwater? Are you familiar with certain types of computers, applications or gadgets? Maybe you’re a carpenter, engineer or even a nurse? Make sure you’re showcasing all of your skills and talents – just in case!
This article is a translation of this article written by guest blogger, Christian Hubo. A PADI diving instructor, Christian has enjoyed over 4,000 dives whilst travelling around the world. Above the surface, he’s hiked thousands of kilometers across the natural world. Christian is a freelance web and media designer, underwater photographer, social media and marketing consultant and freelance author. His magazine articles and blog, Feel4Nature, inspires people to follow an independent, individual and eco-conscious lifestyle.
