Will work for surf
Who hasn’t dreamed of working as an Indo boatman or a surf guide at some far-flung tropical resort? We definitely have. And according to Sean Murphy, president of Waterways Surf Adventures, we’re not alone. Every single day he gets at least a couple of unsolicited calls and emails from hopeful surfers looking for a dream job.
The good news is there are many types of jobs at surf resorts and on charter boats. Those include: surf guide, boatman, boat captain, lifeguard, surf instructor, chef, general manager, videographer, photographer, doctor/medic, yoga instructor, masseuse, landscaper, and construction worker. The bad news: job openings are scarce, and tough to come by.
And with so many surfers angling for a very small number of openings, competition is fierce. So we hooked up with three gurus to fill you in on a few things (the good and the bad) you need to know about searching for a job in the surf travel industry.
1. The money sucks
“The most important factor in securing a position at a resort is to not have unrealistic expectations about salary,” says Anthony Marcotti of Antidote Travel and Kandui Resort in Indo. “There are legions of highly educated, hard working, and friendly people out there who would give up anything to go live in a Third World country and surf food waves in warm water…not surprisingly, most of them are willing to work for next to nothing, if not free. The allure of good waves will do that.”
2. Focus your resume
“Your resume should be designed specifically for the job you’re after,” says Waterways’ Murphy. “It should include past work history, surf experience, where you’ve traveled to in the past, any foreign languages you speak, medical/first aid training, any kind of position you’ve had in the service industry, any kind of construction or mechanical experience, like fixing automobile engines or outboard motors, basically anything that’ll make you a better candidate for that job.”
3. Learn the language
“Especially for those guys who want to work on a boat in Indo, you have to speak Indonesian,” says Murphy, who is also part owner of Nemberala Beach Resort in Indo. “And that right there rules out almost everybody who is applying.”
4. It’s still a job
“Even though you are in paradise and the waves are good you still have job to perform,” notes Marcotti. “Don’t expect to surf all day and rage all night; you are in a service-oriented industry that requires you to put the guests’ best interests before your own. That often requires giving up the best wave in the set to one of your stoked guests, making sure they are hydrated, have the right type of wax, the list is endless. If you’re not proactive about your duties and are spending too much time surfing, you won’t be around for long.”
— Mark Anders
Like this article? Read the complete ‘Will work for surf: What you should know about scoring a job at a surf resort or surf charter’ on Surfline.com.
Here are some more Surfline Study Hall articles to help you navigate the life of a student surfer:
Surf/Study Abroad Opportunities
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