Username: pcelica_maja
Country: Serbia
Gender: F
Company: Carnival
Position: Bar Waitress
How did you hear about work on cruise ships?
It was the summer of 2010 and a branch of Employment Power agency has opened in my town, I heard from several people they were looking for young people who spoke English, and I went there and signed up for a job.
What attracted you to apply for a job on cruise ships?
I was attracted to travel, and money, I had been always fantasizing about how I would love to travel, I knew that with salaries in Serbia it was is impossible, I could barely go to Greece to be in an apartment where I had to carry food from home and half of a summer had to cook to save money.
Bahamas , Caribbean, Hawaii, United States … it was abstract to me.
Which agency you went through?
I applied through the Employment Power, then, I must admit I did not have a computer or Internet and have not visited this forum.
I knew only of Employment Power, because as I said they had a branch in my city, I took my CV and went to that office.
Which company and the position have you applied for, and why?
The agency told me that I would go to the Carnival, then it did not mean anything to me, I did not even know about other companies and neither they gave me a choice.
I applied for guest services, because I studied it, and they accepted the application.
Immediately next morning Siniša Golac called me and told me to urgently do the Marlins test for operational level, and then I paid €10-15 to do it, I had a 97% proficiency.
He said the interview will be in 20 days, and there would be a small training before that, and then called me just before the training to tell me that he thought it would be better if I accept bar waitress job as college commencement wait period was very long, blah blah … I accepted the position of bar waitress, thinking that said such a nice man certainly wish me all the best and advises me as his own child, little did I know …
How long did the interview last and when did you find out that you’ve passed?
The main interview was in Novi Sad, there were a lot of us, we waited a long time, but we sat in the bar of that hotel drinking coffee, talking, socializing.
The interview was conducted by some senior Indian national, it took literally 5 minutes, he asked me something about cocktails, but mainly questioned me about why would I want to work on a ship, if I’m willing to learn and where I see myself in five years, why Carnival …
He immediately told me that I passed, there was a guy there who accompanied me out of that room and signaled to someone that I passed, then some people gave me forms for medical and told me to do it at Belgrade’s medical facility, and then bring it to their office.
How much money you spent before you got to a cruise ship?
I gave to Employment Power €850 for the air travel ticket and their agency commission, €150 for C1/D visa, about €150 for medical certificate, spent some money traveling several times en route Belgrade – Novi Sad, total about €1.300
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This text was translated from cruise ship jobs forum.
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Forum Admin
Iwant to work in cruise as a bar writers plz guide me how to apply
There is a page on this site titled “Where can I apply”. Read it.
I don’t have time to guide and consult all interested. Regards
Admin
There is good information in this article, but I am wondering, why is she saying: “I accepted the position of bar waitress, thinking that said such a nice man certainly wish me all the best and advises me as his own child, little did I know …”
WHY “Little did I know…”
What happened, something went wrong?
It is common that new-hires go through the process of employment uninformed. She could have waited for the position she originally applied for, but it was in her recruiting agency’s benefit to get her onboard as soon as possible, regardless of position. The bar waitresses’ job is much more labor intensive than being a purser.
She was perhaps naive in believing that cruise line recruiters put candidates’ interest before anything else. It is rarely so. Why? There are hundreds candidates waiting in line to take her place, and if she was not willing to accept the offer, somebody else would. And employment agency is collecting a fee from the cruise line, and a fee from the unemployed candidate. It is against the law, but Carnival doesn’t care. They get cheap labor, and hence turn their blind eye on unlawful practices of their recruiting partner.
Thank you for the quick answer. I understand now. You are right, I’ve heard of lots of kind of “unlegal” situations, especially in Serbia, but Employment Power is focusing in other countries as well so, probably they will get more and more towards candidate’s interest, as well.
Do you recommend any recruitment agency from Hungary or Romania?
Thank you,
Adelle
My recommendation is not worth nearly as those of hundreds of veterans.
Please visit http://www.inozemstvo-posao.com/smf_1-1-2_install/index.php and see what they wrote from their personal experiences.
Great, thanks!