For those outside maritime, this age-old term points to an age-old sector. Still operating and communicating in traditional ways, it often lacks the connectivity that others take for granted. Now faced with an ageing workforce in the midst of a global crisis, the shipping community is raising its voice in an effort to attract new talent and awareness. CrewConnect is helping to bring shipping and maritime professionals together from around the world looking for a platform to connect, share and collaborate. Here’s why you should get involved...
#1. To Join the Conversation
Most rely on second-hand news, yearly events and networking in select groups to feel part of the shipping community, but is there a wider conversation at play? “One of the biggest problems in shipping is that there is no platform for communication”, says VesselBot CEO Constantine Komodromos. “But there is an eagerness there to hear new ideas, interact with each other and find out where the market is heading.” Industry leaders, professionals and cadets are now taking the conversation online, sparking debate on the topics that matter, connecting old and new in a collaborative push for change.
#2. To Build Your Personal Network
The world of networking is evolving fast. People know just how important it is to build your personal network in the digital world, and they know exactly how to do it. With the ability to connect with virtually any individual on any rung of the ladder through social networking, the way we acquire contacts has become a global movement to build relationships without boundaries, adding to your success in both your personal and professional life.
#3. To Stay Ahead of the Curve
Keeping up with industry changes and new trends is a challenging task within maritime. With very few publications offering free in-depth news and expert insights, staying ahead of the curve is a luxury that many simply cannot afford. The emergence of new platforms like Futurenautics has put a spanner in the works, providing the latest research and in-depth news to the public completely free of charge. By making this knowledge more affordable, online platforms and social networks are helping to spread the knowledge and involve maritime professionals and enthusiasts from every walk of life in the important changes affecting them.
#4. To Develop New Skills
Professional development is something everyone needs to consider, no matter what path you choose. As a society, we are starting to see how learning from other industries with a focus on innovation can make a significant difference to how you and your business can grow. With thought leaders now sharing their skills and guidance online, the shipping industry is turning to innovative start-ups and leading brands for lessons in success in the digital world and what skills are needed for a sustainable future.
#5. To Discover New Opportunities
Traditionally, the only way to explore new opportunities was through networking events and conferences. Now, combined with online platforms that encourage and facilitate open collaboration, game-changers like CrewConnect are taking the conversation beyond the event space, making it easier than ever before to make the meetings that matter, and discover the opportunities that count.
#6. To Share Your Story
The maritime industry was made for storytelling. Steeped in tales of tradition and incredible facts, it has much to tell. Yet, lacking the digital skills that many others take for granted, shipping professionals are often left sharing only with one another. “We have a tendency in this industry of speaking to each other and no one else”, says Lena Göthberg, Host and Producer of the Shipping Podcast. “Who, outside the shipping industry, subscribes to a maritime newspaper? How many maritime journalists write about our industry in a way that the public can digest?” Now finding new ways to tell their stories through podcasts, blogs and social sharing, seafarers and shipping professionals are raising awareness of the industry and showing just what it has to offer.
Join shipping’s online community today by following the conversation on Twitter and sharing your story on LinkedIn!