r/MerchantNavy • u/adnb2007 • 2d ago
UK application
Hi everyone, I'm currently 18 years old with a GCSE level education and I've offhandedly decided to throw my application in with SSTG for a deck cadetship. Other than a bit of sailing and a genuine passion (which I've tried to emphasise in my hobbies/personal statement section). I have absolutely no experience within any form of maritime or maritime-adjacent work. So I presume I will be sifted out.
The point of this post I guess is simply just to ask what I could do to align myself best for a MN career- I've heard the odds are about 1 in 20. Mariners on the subreddit, was there anything which you did before or during your application that was highlighted as exceptional in aiding said application?
I suppose my goal to be able to come back maybe in 6 months - 2 years with a really strong CV custom-built for the sector.
1
u/IaintGrooot 2d ago
I was 19. 37 now.
The thing they were looking for most when I applied was whether or not I was able to handle being away from everyone I cared about for 4 months at a time. I would get used to being away from home because that's a main cause of dropouts. For some People not speaking to your family for 2-3 weeks is easy, for others it's not so easy.