Pick a clean, professional template for a Tugboat Captain. Use reverse-chronological layout so your command roles and certifications appear first.
Choose one column or a simple two-column layout. That keeps the resume readable for hiring managers and ATS systems.
Keep length to one page if you have under 10-15 years of relevant deck time. Use two pages only if you led many voyages or managed large crews and projects.
Use ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Set body text to 10-12pt and headers to 14-16pt for clear hierarchy.
Keep consistent margins and line spacing. Use white space between sections so a reader finds licenses, endorsements, and incident-free records quickly.
Use standard headings: Contact, Summary, Certifications, Experience, Sea Time, Skills, Education. Put licenses and endorsements near the top.
Avoid fancy graphics, embedded tables, and multiple text boxes. These break ATS parsing and hide important info like credential numbers.
List vessel names, your rank, dates, and a short bullet list of duties and measurable outcomes. Show towing tonnage, route types, or safety metrics when you can.
Common mistakes include dense blocks of text, nonstandard fonts, and excessive colors. Also avoid long paragraphs that hide certifications or sea time.
Run your resume through an ATS checker and a quick print test. Scanning a printed copy reveals spacing issues and tiny fonts you might miss on screen.