marina manager's job

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letterman

letterman

.
Jan 27, 2007
383
Irwin 37' center cockpit cleveland ohio
Hey guys. I should have put this in the sails call lounge, but we can move it later. I need a job. There is one available. Help me get it. I am qualified to run a business. There is a company that is opening a marina. I want to run the place. They want marina experience. I have none. Although...we all know what makes a marina a good one and one a bad one. I lived in a marina for 2 years, and over the years stayed at dozens of them. Some were good, some bad, but you know what makes it good and what makes it bad. I never ran a marina. I did run a small 11 million dollar company as VP Ops. and think the skills are transferable. I have 5 years of accounting, which means I know the books, which means I know the business. I also have experience in management in other businesses. So, how to get the job? Any suggestions?
 
letterman

letterman

.
Jan 27, 2007
383
Irwin 37' center cockpit cleveland ohio
Hey guys. I should have put this in the sails call lounge, but we can move it later. I need a job. There is one available. Help me get it. I am qualified to run a business. There is a company that is opening a marina. I want to run the place. They want marina experience. I have none. Although...we all know what makes a marina a good one and one a bad one. I lived in a marina for 2 years, and over the years stayed at dozens of them. Some were good, some bad, but you know what makes it good and what makes it bad. I never ran a marina. I did run a small 11 million dollar company as VP Ops. and think the skills are transferable. I have 5 years of accounting, which means I know the books, which means I know the business. I also have experience in management in other businesses. So, how to get the job? Any suggestions?
 
C

Capt. Ed

.
Jan 1, 2008
89
Islander 36 Salem MA
who you know not

I assume you are single and can move arround at will . The marine trade is real slow now so take what you can at one of these places and show them what you have . Turnover is short so you may move along ,you will at least get to the who you know phase good luck
 
C

Capt. Ed

.
Jan 1, 2008
89
Islander 36 Salem MA
who you know not

I assume you are single and can move arround at will . The marine trade is real slow now so take what you can at one of these places and show them what you have . Turnover is short so you may move along ,you will at least get to the who you know phase good luck
 
Brian D

Brian D

.
Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Running a marina...

Is not different than running any other type of business. If you prove that you have business sense there should be no questions. One of your selling points that makes you a better candidate is your years of boating experience. You can relate to the tenants and they to you. If asked about your previous jobs, do not talk bad about former manager/management. That will only create animosity with your new employer. Highly recommend stating that the two of you did not see eye-to-eye. Regardless if the former manager was a liar or cheat or whatever. That is not your place to say. One other thing, and I agree with Capt. Ed, is get your foot in the door if you can then show them your management capabilities/abilities. Good luck.
 
Brian D

Brian D

.
Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Running a marina...

Is not different than running any other type of business. If you prove that you have business sense there should be no questions. One of your selling points that makes you a better candidate is your years of boating experience. You can relate to the tenants and they to you. If asked about your previous jobs, do not talk bad about former manager/management. That will only create animosity with your new employer. Highly recommend stating that the two of you did not see eye-to-eye. Regardless if the former manager was a liar or cheat or whatever. That is not your place to say. One other thing, and I agree with Capt. Ed, is get your foot in the door if you can then show them your management capabilities/abilities. Good luck.
 
T

T37 Phil

.
Jan 26, 2007
308
Norsea 27 Cleveland
Old story

It's the same old story, you need experience to get the job, you need the job to get the experience. Great book that, Catch-22. Not a bad movie either.
 
T

T37 Phil

.
Jan 26, 2007
308
Norsea 27 Cleveland
Old story

It's the same old story, you need experience to get the job, you need the job to get the experience. Great book that, Catch-22. Not a bad movie either.
 
Brian D

Brian D

.
Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Same holds true for credit...

In order to establish credit, one needs a credit card, but companies will not issue a credit card without good credit. yeah... great book!
 
Brian D

Brian D

.
Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Same holds true for credit...

In order to establish credit, one needs a credit card, but companies will not issue a credit card without good credit. yeah... great book!
 
J

John24107

.
Feb 25, 2007
191
- - Sandusky, Ohio
Perception is reality

A marina is fundamentally a customer service business. That's where you need to convince a potential employer of your people skills. For example, the manager at my marina was formerly a senior operations guy for a major clothing company -- nothing to do with boats. The company was/is famous for its customer service philosophy. He has personal boating experience just as you do. The point is that you really don't need specific marina experience. But, if I were the hiring manager, I wouldn't hire anybody that couldn't demonstrate good customer service and interpersonal communication skills. Can you convince a potential employer of that? (Rhetorical, don't really expect an answer here) I guess it comes down to this: What would you do with a guy that owns the largest boat in the marina, spent the most at the maintenance shop, and ONLY complained about EVERYTHING every time you saw him. He never does anything that would warrant ejection from the marina he's just always a PITA. Your job as the marina manager is to make him happy. He pays the bills. Perception is reality. Good luck.
 
J

John24107

.
Feb 25, 2007
191
- - Sandusky, Ohio
Perception is reality

A marina is fundamentally a customer service business. That's where you need to convince a potential employer of your people skills. For example, the manager at my marina was formerly a senior operations guy for a major clothing company -- nothing to do with boats. The company was/is famous for its customer service philosophy. He has personal boating experience just as you do. The point is that you really don't need specific marina experience. But, if I were the hiring manager, I wouldn't hire anybody that couldn't demonstrate good customer service and interpersonal communication skills. Can you convince a potential employer of that? (Rhetorical, don't really expect an answer here) I guess it comes down to this: What would you do with a guy that owns the largest boat in the marina, spent the most at the maintenance shop, and ONLY complained about EVERYTHING every time you saw him. He never does anything that would warrant ejection from the marina he's just always a PITA. Your job as the marina manager is to make him happy. He pays the bills. Perception is reality. Good luck.
 
Ross

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I could suggest that you apply for work in the marina

office as bookkeeper/accountant/gofor and just stay with it for a while and learn the business from the inside. Fill in while others are on vacation. Show up for work every day on time and sober. I understand that those are rare qualities in marina employees. If you have the skills offer to help in the yard as needed. I knew a man years ago that told me for his first job he asked for work at a sawmill and the owner asked what he could do. Sam said, I can do what I am told.
 
Ross

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I could suggest that you apply for work in the marina

office as bookkeeper/accountant/gofor and just stay with it for a while and learn the business from the inside. Fill in while others are on vacation. Show up for work every day on time and sober. I understand that those are rare qualities in marina employees. If you have the skills offer to help in the yard as needed. I knew a man years ago that told me for his first job he asked for work at a sawmill and the owner asked what he could do. Sam said, I can do what I am told.
 
A

Andy

Go to school

There is a group called International Marina Institute. Through their classes and experience you get a "degree" as a marina manager. I took one of their week long courses. Managers usually get split-50% think its a "retirement cushy job and 50% are trying to make money. Neither gets what they want IMHO. University of Phoenix online degree in Hospitality would help too. You may already be more qualified than most but are you willing to give up your sailing? If you worked 7/24/7 at the marina you probably wouldn't care to be on you boat-and if you were, they would call you on the radio to come in and take care of something.
 
A

Andy

Go to school

There is a group called International Marina Institute. Through their classes and experience you get a "degree" as a marina manager. I took one of their week long courses. Managers usually get split-50% think its a "retirement cushy job and 50% are trying to make money. Neither gets what they want IMHO. University of Phoenix online degree in Hospitality would help too. You may already be more qualified than most but are you willing to give up your sailing? If you worked 7/24/7 at the marina you probably wouldn't care to be on you boat-and if you were, they would call you on the radio to come in and take care of something.
 
W

Warren Milberg

I personally think

that runniing a decent sized marina has got to be one of the toughest jobs there is. A "good" manager has to take into consideration a number of factors both under his/her control and those that are not. He/she must consider weather on marina operations; the care, maintenance, and operation of very specialized and expensive equipment (i.e., travel lifts); the vagaries of state, county, and local ordinances, taxes, and evironmental issues; and the people skills to deal with any number of relatively lowly-paid yard employees together with relatively highly-paid slip/mooring holders. I can think of no white collar office job that would adequately prepare one to obtain and succeed at such a position. Ross and others are right in suggesting you get a feel for the multi-faceted nature (and stresses) of this job by taking a lesser position at a good sized yard and then seeing if you can move up once you have the applicable experience under you belt. FWIW, I know a number of yard managers in the bay area. There is a very high turnover in these positions and its due to the stress all the above tasks result in.... Good luck with this.
 
W

Warren Milberg

I personally think

that runniing a decent sized marina has got to be one of the toughest jobs there is. A "good" manager has to take into consideration a number of factors both under his/her control and those that are not. He/she must consider weather on marina operations; the care, maintenance, and operation of very specialized and expensive equipment (i.e., travel lifts); the vagaries of state, county, and local ordinances, taxes, and evironmental issues; and the people skills to deal with any number of relatively lowly-paid yard employees together with relatively highly-paid slip/mooring holders. I can think of no white collar office job that would adequately prepare one to obtain and succeed at such a position. Ross and others are right in suggesting you get a feel for the multi-faceted nature (and stresses) of this job by taking a lesser position at a good sized yard and then seeing if you can move up once you have the applicable experience under you belt. FWIW, I know a number of yard managers in the bay area. There is a very high turnover in these positions and its due to the stress all the above tasks result in.... Good luck with this.
 
Stillraining

Stillraining

.
Dec 8, 2007
478
Irwin 41 CC Ketch LaConner WA
Letterman

You stated in a post a while back thet you "Fixed buisnesses" or something like that. So I would think you to have a pretty impressive resume already. If you trully do fix and fine tune businesses this one is no different. Put on your best suit and go for it. I have tried to hire so called , experienced managers/forman experienced in Excavation work all to often to be let down by there lack of real knowlage. However in my case I needed working managers familuar with actual job site procedures. I would thing a manager of a Marina would also need some hands on knowlage befor being able to properly direct it's opperation but maybe not? If the marina already had well trained staff and just needed "Smarts" to get in in the black. I really dont know what it is you ment that you do or have expertiese in but if you really do "Fix business messes" You may just be the man.. :) Good Luck I now have to go work on the "Land Yacht". My wife's van needs new front rotors and breaks..
 
Stillraining

Stillraining

.
Dec 8, 2007
478
Irwin 41 CC Ketch LaConner WA
Letterman

You stated in a post a while back thet you "Fixed buisnesses" or something like that. So I would think you to have a pretty impressive resume already. If you trully do fix and fine tune businesses this one is no different. Put on your best suit and go for it. I have tried to hire so called , experienced managers/forman experienced in Excavation work all to often to be let down by there lack of real knowlage. However in my case I needed working managers familuar with actual job site procedures. I would thing a manager of a Marina would also need some hands on knowlage befor being able to properly direct it's opperation but maybe not? If the marina already had well trained staff and just needed "Smarts" to get in in the black. I really dont know what it is you ment that you do or have expertiese in but if you really do "Fix business messes" You may just be the man.. :) Good Luck I now have to go work on the "Land Yacht". My wife's van needs new front rotors and breaks..
 
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