FROM

COLLEGE

TO SHIP

FROM

COLLEGE

TO SHIP D R B I N AY S I N G H

HTTPS://TWAGAA.COM

HTTPS://TWAGAA.COM

Mumbai (MH), India Website: https://twagaa.com Email: [email protected] First published by TWAGAA INTERNATIONAL Copyright © Dr Binay Singh All Rights Reserved. Title: From College to Ship ISBN: 978-93-92849-47-3 First Edition Published in India All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address above. Ordering Information: Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address or email above. All disputes are subject to Mumbai jurisdiction only.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS After writing more than 130 books, I feel inspiration and motivation to work harder when I see all of the cadets in India, the Philippines, and Ukraine, who are without any jobs. It is devastating for me to see this. This book is for all of you - I see you, I hear you, and I want to be there for you. May this book help you along your path. I am thankful to dear friend Capt. Purnendu Shorey for writing an inspiring Foreword to this guide, which is for every passionate cadet and seafarer.

FOREWORD People often ask me – how can I join the Merchant Navy? I ask them another question – why do you want to join the Merchant Navy? Typically, the answer is quite far from the true reasons one should consider becoming part of this dynamic profession. I interact with thousands of Cadets & Trainees via my social media channels, by visiting their colleges and the Inter College Event that we host every year. Many of those who have already joined the courses are also unaware of what lies ahead and how to proceed after graduating. To some extent, I hold myself responsible for this widespread ignorance. I and others like me have not managed to clear the haze when it comes to this profession. It is time to change that, and this book is a step in the right direction. Yes, it is a rather competitive world out there and this is not going to change anytime soon. There are a lot of ‘unwanted’ elements from outside the industry who are waiting for the students to pass from the colleges, so that they may try and make a quick buck from misguiding them. Lastly, there is always the challenges of an adult life that await

students. Once they are done with their college and hostel shenanigans! This book is a step in the direction that can help you “begin to prepare” (the full recipe of life can never be written down) for a journey that has the potential to give you most of the things that you may desire.: Employment, Money, Job Satisfaction, and more. Looking back over the 30+ years that I have spent in the Shipping Industry, I am thankful for what I have learned (and continue to) and am glad to see that Dr. Binay Singh has begun to use his pen for writing a book that is not addressed to the CEOs and Captains, but for the maritime future (those in colleges). Well begun is half done – an age old saying that still holds good for most actions in life! So – begin your journey ‘well’ (researched) and you will find that there is a lot more in the offing! Capt.Purnendu Shorey Co-Founder, Offing Group Organizers of the largest Inter College Fest of Maritime Cadets in the World (NAUGHTICA)

CONTENTS To the Cadets of the World

11

Setting Yourself Apart

19

Looking for Support

27

Two Places, One Life

33

About the Author

41

More Books By Dr Binay Singh

43

CHAPTER 1

TO THE CADETS OF THE WORLD

12

C

To the Cadets of the World

adets of the world, you live in my heart. You are the future of the maritime sector, and as such, you are my

future as well. At this moment, you must be transitioning from the maritime academy to your first assignment at sea. Because I have been where you are right now, I know how stressful this transition can get. You must be feeling pressures from all sides -, your parents, your professors, and not least of all from yourself. It might seem that every minute of the day, there is something else for you to think about and another task for you to handle. No one would blame you for longing after simpler times – either an earlier year during your studies or some year in the future when you have found your place in this sector. I am here to help you and to guide you forward. More than anything, I want you to feel more comfortable about all the decisions that are in front of you. It would mean everything to me to hear back from you if you have used any of my advice to cut down on the confusion that is so common among graduating cadets and incoming seafarers. There are, I am sure, many questions on your mind. You may have looked over some job postings or chatted with some staffing specialists, and woefully concluded that your outlook is bleak. In that case, my recommendation is simple: keep your head up and

To the Cadets of the World

13

continue to look brightly upon the years to come. Of course, I understand that is much easier said than done. I know that when you are up against such a daunting challenge, as you are right now, no words are going to provide much comfort. Only action will reassure you. You want to feel like you know what others expect of you – and like any other obstacles that come up, they will seem different from the ones you have overcome but only in small ways, nothing so substantial or so different that you need to start all over again. That is what I aim to provide you, the confidence that you need to address even the sparsest of job markets, as well as the skills that will pull all attention your way even in the most crowded field of applicants. The world is, more than ever, a perplexing place. It may seem strange to you to think that you would dedicate your life to a single profession for such a long stretch of time, learn so many skills, and think so specifically about one industry, just for the job market to come up empty. In your search, not only for this job but for every job in your career, you should never lose sight of your own value. No one should be able to reject you for a position – and in doing so, make you feel rejected.

14

To the Cadets of the World

This is a subtle but critical lesson for you. The maritime sector, as long as employment remains low, is a painful place for any new graduate. Cadets, particularly those who are not coming from one of the top academies, will hear bad news before they hear good news. Unless you are able to approach this process objectively, and keep your emotions from getting in the way, you are going to make it even more difficult for yourself. You are going to create one more impediment to your success, standing in your own way when there are already so many challenges ahead of you. As inflation and supply chain issues are - at the time of this writing - hindering economic growth worldwide, things will get worse before they get better. There will be even more competition for entry-level positions. Cadets who are graduating right now will be competing both with their fellow graduates and with last year’s graduates who have not found a job yet. That means, if you are looking for your first position at sea, you must work even harder than anyone who has entered the sector before you. All the same, I believe that none of these challenges is insurmountable. I remember when I was entering the maritime sector in the 90s; there were naysayers and

To the Cadets of the World

15

doomsdayers who told me that nothing would ever go well again and that I was foolish for trying. That type of people never go away. All you can do is ignore them, reminding yourself somewhat regularly that despite all of their pessimism, and against all of their “seasoned advice”, you still believe in your worth to the potential employers. This is a matter of practicality. There is no way you will end up in the position you want unless you can maintain a solid attitude. No one and nothing, not even the sector as a whole, should be able to discourage you. That is the first lesson that I would like to impart to you. As soon as you start to get down about yourself and your prospects, you have already fallen far behind the competition. Someone else is precisely where you are, but because they managed to show up at the interviews with a firm lip and a calm demeanor, they are going to win out over you. We must all remember that in the worst of times, at the lowest of the lows, we can still reach inside ourselves and tap into our spirit. Remembering our faith and our willpower, we can push ourselves past what others may assume to be our breaking point. This is something that costs us nothing and takes up none of our time. It is a choice that we make,