What is AI & How Can it Help Write Your Maritime Job Ads?

If you’re a Recruitment Officer, Crew Manager or Manning Agent who is working in a busy maritime recruitment department, you have any number of plates to spin and tasks to perform on a daily basis. So wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to make some of those jobs a little easier and quicker?

At Martide we love using technology to help you streamline your recruitment and crew management operations - it’s what we do best, if we say so ourselves!

And while our maritime crew management software can help you with everything from finding and hiring seafarers to planning crew changes and storing your documents and contracts securely, we’re always keen to find other ‘life hacks’ to make life even easier.

And that’s why today we’re talking about how Artificial Intelligence can help you in your maritime recruitment efforts.

But first, what exactly is Artificial Intelligence?

A brief introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence, or AI as it’s often referred to, is a transformative technology that enables machines to mimic human intelligence. By leveraging algorithms and vast datasets, AI can perform tasks such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making. 

Read more: What To Do if a Fake Agency is Advertising Jobs in Your Name

In the maritime industry, AI has revolutionized various aspects, from navigation to predictive maintenance. However, one of its less explored yet highly beneficial applications is in the recruitment process, particularly in crafting compelling job advertisements for seafarers.

Understanding AI in the context of maritime recruitment

AI in recruitment encompasses several technologies, including natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML), and data analytics. These technologies work together to analyze job market trends, optimize job descriptions, and ensure that advertisements reach the right candidates. 

For Crew Managers and Manning Agents, utilizing Artificial Intelligence can significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of your maritime recruitment efforts.

The importance of effective maritime job advertisements

Writing effective seafarer job advertisements is crucial in attracting the right candidates for maritime positions. An ideal job ad should be clear, engaging, and informative, providing potential applicants with a comprehensive understanding of the role, requirements, and benefits. 

Read more: How to Write Eye-Catching Maritime Recruitment Job Ads

At Martide, we make it easy for you to upload and post your maritime job vacancies, however writing numerous advertisements and job descriptions can be a little bit time-consuming, especially when you’re dealing with multiple ranks on a number of different vessel types and you need to include information from the visas required to engine types.

So why not make life easier for yourself and your team by letting AI give you a helping hand when it comes to writing your seaman job adverts before you post them on Martide’s online seafarer jobs board.

How AI can improve your maritime job advertisements

Here are a few ways that Artificial Intelligence can help you write informative job ads that will encourage high caliber seafarers to apply for them.

Optimizing job descriptions with NLP

AI-powered tools, such as ChatGPT, use natural language processing (NLP) to analyze and optimize job descriptions. By assessing the language and structure of your ads, these tools can suggest improvements that make the advertisements more appealing and accessible to potential candidates. 

For instance, they can identify complex jargon and replace it with simpler terms, ensuring that the ad is easily understood by a wider audience. This is especially useful in the maritime industry where your adverts may be written in English but a high number of your applicants may not have English as their first language.

Tailoring ads to target audiences

AI can analyze demographic data and previous applicant behaviors to tailor job advertisements to specific target audiences. This ensures that the ads resonate with the desired candidate profiles, increasing the likelihood of attracting suitable applicants. 

For example, if you are looking for marine engineers with specific certifications, AI can help highlight relevant skills and experiences in the ad.

Enhancing visibility through SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for increasing the visibility of job advertisements online. AI tools can suggest keywords and phrases that are commonly used by job seekers in the maritime industry. 

Incorporating these keywords into your job ads can improve their ranking on job boards and search engines such as Google and Bing, making them more likely to be seen by potential candidates.

Analyzing job market trends

AI can continuously monitor job market trends and provide insights into the most in-demand skills and qualifications. This information can help you as a Crew Manager, Recruitment Officer or Manning Agent adjust your job advertisements to align with current market needs. 

For instance, if there is a growing demand for cybersecurity skills on commercial vessels, AI can suggest including relevant requirements in the job ads.

Automating the writing process

Probably the benefit you’re most interested in when it comes to using Artificial Intelligence to help you write your maritime job adverts. Advanced AI tools can automate the initial drafting of job advertisements. 

By inputting key details about the position, such as job title or rank, responsibilities, qualifications, visa, and benefits, AI can generate a comprehensive job ad within minutes. This automation saves time and ensures consistency across multiple job postings.

Reducing bias in job ads

Unconscious bias in job advertisements can deter qualified candidates from applying. AI can help identify and eliminate biased language, ensuring that the job ads are inclusive and welcoming to all potential applicants. 

This promotes diversity within the candidate pool and helps in building a more inclusive work environment. Something that can be crucial in helping more female seafarers apply for your maritime jobs.

Improving candidate engagement

If you want to really dig deep and get the most out of your AI tool, Artificial Intelligence can also analyze the engagement levels of job advertisements and provide suggestions for improvement. 

For example, if an ad is receiving low click-through rates, AI can recommend changes to the headline or job summary to make it more engaging for candidates, thus increasing the chances of them applying.

Additionally, AI can help craft personalized follow-up messages to candidates, improving their overall experience and increasing the chances of successful recruitment.

Read more: How to Write Engaging Candidate Sourcing Emails in Maritime Recruitment

Implementing AI in your maritime recruitment process

Integrating AI into your recruitment process involves selecting the right tools and platforms that align with your needs. Here are some steps to get started:

Identify your goals

Determine what you aim to achieve with AI in your maritime recruitment process. Whether it's improving the quality of job ads, increasing their visibility, or reducing the time spent on drafting, having clear goals will guide your implementation strategy.

Choose the right AI tools

Research and select AI tools that offer the features you need. Some popular AI-powered recruitment platforms include Textio, Grammarly, and JobAdder. These tools can assist in writing, optimizing, and analyzing job advertisements.

Train your team

Ensure that your recruitment team is familiar with your chosen AI tools. Provide training sessions to help them understand how to leverage AI effectively in their daily tasks. There are a few steps to follow if you want your software implementation to be a success.

Monitor and adjust

Continuously monitor the performance of your job advertisements and the impact of AI on your maritime recruitment process. Use the insights provided by your chosen AI tool to make necessary adjustments and improvements.

AI in maritime recruitment: final thoughts

Artificial Intelligence offers numerous benefits for Crew Managers and Manning Agents in the shipping industry. By enhancing the quality and effectiveness of job advertisements, AI can help attract the right candidates and streamline the maritime recruitment process. 

Embracing AI in your marine recruitment strategy not only saves time and resources but also ensures that you stay competitive in an increasingly digital world. 

As the maritime industry continues to evolve, leveraging AI will be crucial in securing the best seafarers for your commercial vessels.

How Martide can help with maritime recruitment

You’ve used Artificial Intelligence to help you draft eye-catching and compelling adverts and job descriptions that will attract the best seafarer candidates, but now what? 

Now you post them on Martide!

Our maritime recruitment and crew management software has been designed with small to medium-sized Crew Managers and Manning Agents in mind. Simply create a free Martide account and post your job ads on our platform - also for free!

That’s right; if you want to use our basic maritime recruitment tools, we don’t charge you a single penny, euro, peso or dime! 

Once written and posted, your job advertisement will appear on Martide’s online seafarer jobs board and on our mobile job app for seafarers, alongside your company’s logo, your handwritten or AI-crafted job description, details about the contract, your company bio and a big shiny bright blue ‘Apply for this job’ button!

Seafarers can click on this and then send you their application directly. All of their information is held in their Martide profile, meaning that at your end you’ll have access to a standardized and easy to read resume that allows you to quickly decide whether you want to reach out to that seafarer to find out more about them.

Sounds good? Get started and create your free Martide account now and start making maritime recruitment quicker, easier and less stressful today.