Words to 2014 graduate

Last few weeks, our company 2014 new graduates and I spent lot of time together through short-term training course and owners’ interview, I want to say something to them, hope can benefit their future career development.

First, I want to share my personal impression or feeling about the new graduates, eagerly want to grasp the opportunity, but un-prepared or not well or careful prepared. This is the typical dilemma situation, just like some junior officers, want to get the opportunity to join the vessel all the time, very frequent making call to office, every time I reminded them to try to improve himself during the waiting time, made himself more professional through study(especially spoken english level which can be practiced and improved though various and easy way in current time), but unfortunately, once the opportunity came, due to crew not well prepared, the opportunity passed by, after I checked with the crew, just waiting, do nothing else, under current situation, you need to try your best to improve yourself and let yourself excel from other, at that point, if you are lucky enough, you can grasp the opportunity cames to you, Chances always favor the prepared mind.

Second, everybody knows about the present tough manning situation, like war will come to us, we should do certain preparation to face it whatever physically or mentally. We need to study hard, practice more, especially spoken english and professional english to excel ourself from the others, then we’ll grasp the opportunity comes to us. Especially during the waiting period, from other side, tough situation comes starting point of career, that’s not the bad things for the new comers future development, just like any cion has two sides.

Third, during owner’s interview, please be remembered the most important thing, be yourself, your true self, that also called honesty, very simple, no one likes disguise, even further being cheated or fooled. For the questions being asked, if you know the answer, tell the truth, and if don’t know, also tell the truth, instead of telling something else, even telling some far away nonsense. For example, during CISM interview, when answering the question about “Slip ratio”, seemed all four candidates did not know how to answer, all other three cadets began to talk something with any connection with the point, finally Mr. Shi answered” I really have no idea about it, but later I will find it out.”, so Mr. Shi got the chances. For the Owner, they want to select the one will be worthy to train to be officer or engineer in some day, or worthy to invest a lot of money and energy on you and one day will be paid back. So, attitude means a lot, if the cadet has right image or attitude toward his future career and company, everything can be trained and learned latter though on board training plus self effort, otherwise, will be nothing. Same time the cadets have already passed the COC examination for junior officer/engineer, means they meet the basic requirement. Another important thing was obedience, sailing is a high risk career, just like military compus. In case of emergency situation or face imminent danger, we need to absolutely follow the order, its alway means life and death. So even in day life, we need to build up such consciousness step by step through training, drill and practice. Then, team spirit also another very import thing, no one , even how good you are, can’t run the ship alone, we need to work as a team, fully use every one on board ability to make a maximum work out, then some other things, such as hard working, the ability under pressure, self-confidence, Work commitment, Reliability, Peseverance, Quality awareness, Decision making, Planning, Authority, Motivation ability, Supervision,Fairness, etc, also very important, some is born with you, most of can be trained, once we have right attitude, plus on boarding professional training and practice and self effort, step by step, you will be a professional seafarers.

After passing the owner’s interview, it’s only a beginning, first step of long march, during the waiting tome, keep studying, more directively as above mentioned. Make yourself more ready and prepared.

After joining the ship, except above mentioned, alway keep two things in your mind: safety first and keep good relationship with others. ship’s life will be more than half of our best life in certain period of future, we should persue happy life, safe working, plus to earn enough money to support our family which definitely deserved.

I always say to cadets or junior officers, you work for yourself, for your devoted family, most of our parents are farmers, they already paid big sums for our tuition , as we knew, that was not easily earned, from now on, we are grown up, we should take certain family responsibility to release our parents pressure, especially economic pressure, so when you feel lazy, thinking about your parents, when you face difficulties, thinking about your parents, very probably they are working under the scalding sun, or the construction sites...., then you feel fresh and energetic again. Keep going!

Hope hear your good news from the ship always!!

2014-03-15