Hiring Process

1. Review of applications

• Staff applications are reviewed by a committee comprised of ISE staff and the executive dean of the voyage, while faculty positions are reviewed by ISE staff and the academic dean. The final hiring decision lies with the executive dean and the academic dean respectively.
• You may submit an application for as many positions that you qualify for, and for as many voyages as you are available for.

2. Interviews with finalists

• If you are selected as a finalist for a position, you will be contacted for a telephone interview by an ISE screener, the academic or executive dean respectively.
• If you are not selected for a voyage, once the position is filled, you will receive an email notification. 

3. Appointments made

• Generally, staff appointments are made eight to twelve months prior to sailing, while faculty appointments are made ten to eighteen months prior. However, ISE reserves the right to fill any position at any time. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
• Competition for ISE positions can be very intense and we are often asked why one applicant is hired over another. Our aim is to build a team for each voyage that will work closely together to fulfill the mission of our program. Careful attention is given to how the staff and faculty members complement each other's skills and personalities. For this reason, while you may be a qualified candidate, it may be difficult to be selected unless you have the flexibility to be considered for several voyages.

Frequently asked Questions and Answers

Q: What are some of the perks of sailing as a faculty or staff member?

A: Our faculty and staff not only receive an amazing opportunity to sail around the world, but also:

• A small stipend and travel allowance (details are covered during the interview)
• Free room and board 
• The opportunity to bring spouse/partner and dependent children
• Discounts on ISE sponsored Field Trips
• Emergency Medical Coverage

Q: Are faculty and staff allowed time to do personal travel while in port?

A: Yes, although some staff positions may require you to remain within a certain mile radius of the ship for a portion of the time in port in case of emergencies, and faculty may choose to lead a field trip with students as apart of the learning objective.

Q: I am still an undergraduate student; can I apply to work for Semester at Sea?

A: Most of our staff positions require a minimum of a Masters Degree and  3-5 years of professional experience. We encourage current students to apply once they have graduated and gained some professional experience.

 Q: I am interested in a position as a crew member onboard the ship, what do I need to do?

A: We do not hire for crew positions. We utilize the services of an international ship management company called V-ships to staff for our crew positions. You may contact them directly if you are interested.

Q: My spouse and I are interested in sailing together, is this possible?

A: Yes, if both you and your spouse are not hired as faculty or staff members, you may have the opportunity to apply for one of our internal positions that are specifically for spouse/partners of hired faculty and staff.

Q: I am not an American citizen, can I still work for Semester at Sea?

A: We are an international program, and international applicants are welcomed to apply for our positions.