Choose a clean, single-column template that highlights your sea time and certifications. Use a reverse-chronological layout so your recent mate and towing roles appear first.
Keep your resume to one page if you have under 10 years of experience. You can use two pages only if you have long service, multiple certificates, or detailed vessel logs that matter to the employer.
Pick an ATS-friendly font like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia. Use 10–12pt for body text and 14–16pt for section headers. Keep margins at least 0.5 inches and add space between sections so a recruiter can scan quickly.
Avoid fancy columns, photos, charts, or embedded graphics that confuse parsing software. Don't use many colors or nonstandard fonts. Use clear headings like Contact, Summary, Certifications, Experience, and Sea Service.
Watch these mistakes: cluttered blocks of text, inconsistent dates, and vague job bullets. Use short, active lines that show actions and results. Proofread so you don't list the wrong vessel name or certificate number.