Job perspective?

S

Sonomom

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Joined
Mar 27, 2016
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My son was recently offered an appointment for the class of 2020.
My husband is freaking out because he read there is a job shortage. I read there is actually a shortage of merchant mariners? Which is true?
Have other people's recent graduates had trouble finding employment?
 
Either there's a shortage of merchant marines or merchant mariner positions…. one's good for your son, the other is not.
 
I understand that. I am trying to find out which is true? We are not well versed in the industry and I certainly don't want to send him off to college where jobs will be scarce. I'm trying to see if there are people who know the true job perspective upon graduation.
 
I have heared from multiple ship captains that there is a worldwide shortage of officers. However, I guess I'm not the best source since I'm still in highschool. But, from looking at all of the maritime academies, including kings point, anyone who wants a job in the maritime industry will have one. As far as US flagged ships, which is where the sailing requirment is, the amount of ships has been decreased, but I have been reading that the dot/dod wants a stronger merchant marine fleet, which would mean that more vessels would be needed. But to what is really important for your son, every Kings Point Grad gets a job right away. One mid I talked to had three job offers after his first tri his first class year. Also, the state maritime schools say that around 97% of their grads get jobs within 3 months. BTW, I'm going to KP class of 2020.
 
Thank you. That is what I was looking for! I was pretty sure that was the case!
 
Whatever the job situation is now, I can with 100% confidence state that it will be different in 4 years. When I entered the Academy in 77, there were lots of jobs, lots of US flag shipping companies and lots of ships. . . by the time 1981 rolled around, several major shipping companies were gone and there were a lot fewer ships. I did get some work out of the hall, and got lucky with a 90 day (or so) berth. . . I eventually moved over to ocean tugs and ATBs and never looked back. Certainly a bit of a different career than I had originally planned and, to be honest, if I were more focused on work and getting to the Hall more often, my career would have been different. I have no complaints. In the years that I have been out of school, I have only been unemployed because I wanted to be. Once I got aggressive looking for work, I got it. The maritime industry in general is very different from most. . .
 
Sailing on US Flagged ships is only one of probably 1000 opportunities available upon graduation. KP grads have far superior skills than most regular college graduates. Even with the looming oil prices, there is still a lot of employment in the Oil and Gas sector. The Marine side of companies is really picking up and KP grads are at the center of their recruiting..
 
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