How do I get a job in the Alaskan Commercial Fishing Industry? (College: home, job market)

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Djackson23

Oh okay. I'll do that. Do you know a good site where I can buy the gear I need? I have seen a few, but I don't know which to trust or if there is a certain brand a lot of deckhands use. I don't want to show up with stuff I don't need or over pay for something.

I'd ask them during the initial telephone call/e-mail because they're more likely to know their specific needs than I am; set netting is a little different than what we do here.

[Djackson23]

oh okay. Do you know any captains of any ships outside of that company who would be looking for work? Not to beg or anything, sorry if it is rude to ask. I will contact P.A.S. on Monday, but in case I don't get the job with them I don't know who else to contact or apply to.

[Djackson23]

If it was rude to ask that, please forgive me.

[gobrien]

The thing is that there are tons of people looking for work like this, they don't need to use the internet or ask around to find workers so it makes it really hard on new people looking to get into the industry. The only real way to get hired is to save up some money so that you can buy what you need to start out, and have several thousand dollars for travel, food and lodging so you don't become trapped here homeless etc, and actually come up to Alaska and go to the areas where you want the job. Even if you do that it is still really hard to get hired.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Djackson23

oh okay. Do you know any captains of any ships outside of that company who would be looking for work? Not to beg or anything, sorry if it is rude to ask. I will contact P.A.S. on Monday, but in case I don't get the job with them I don't know who else to contact or apply to.

It's not rude to ask, but I don't know of any. And if I did...around here, a captain that has to actively seek crew members among people they don't already know is not a boat you'd want to work on.

[Djackson23]

I understand. Well I had contacted P.A.S. "We Net The Best" about their application asking for my social security number. I wasn't sure if this company was real or not, it seemed too good to be true that I could apply to work as a commercial fishermen. I think they were offended because they told me I should have just left it blank, which would have been the non-insulting way to go. I didn't intend to be rude, I was just being cautious.

Also I called and left a message, but I forgot to leave my number...Ugh I don't know where my mind went... Would you say my chances are pretty much gone with this company?


I asked them about the application before deciding to just write it down anyway and sent it in.

[gobrien]

Originally Posted by Djackson23

I understand. Well I had contacted P.A.S. "We Net The Best" about their application asking for my social security number. I wasn't sure if this company was real or not, it seemed too good to be true that I could apply to work as a commercial fishermen. I think they were offended because they told me I should have just left it blank, which would have been the non-insulting way to go. I didn't intend to be rude, I was just being cautious.

Also I called and left a message, but I forgot to leave my number...Ugh I don't know where my mind went... Would you say my chances are pretty much gone with this company?


I asked them about the application before deciding to just write it down anyway and sent it in.

I don't know a thing about about it, but this web site could be a scam. Don't worry about being rude when a place asks for personal information, that is how scammers and identity thieves are so successful, they know people want to be polite so they give information to strangers that they shouldn't. The only people who can protect us is ourselves.

[Djackson23]

Thanks, I was concerned that I couldn't find any information about this site anywhere on the internet. Maybe it is a very small fishing company. I called again to leave my number, but the answering machine was interrupted, I don't know if they did it or it was an error. I feel that I have ruined my chances with this company, if it is a real company, and should just save up and try to get a job in the coming summer. I really needed a job though to pay for school.

[gobrien]

Very small fishing companies do not have websites...

[Djackson23]

True...well if anyone is in Alaska they could go to the physical address and see if they exist or not. :P

So, gobrien, as someone with no experience is walking the docks looking for work really the best and only way to get a job as a deck hand?