This collaborative morning brought together cadets currently in maritime training with experienced professionals from across Carnival’s operations. The aim? To inspire, inform, and support the next generation of seafarers as they prepare for careers in maritime.

With a strong focus on open dialogue and real-world advice, cadets had the opportunity to hear firsthand from industry experts at Carnival about the varied pathways a maritime career can take—from shipboard roles to shoreside leadership. The sessions encouraged honest conversation, with both sides sharing their successes and challenges to date, and in turn, the Carnival team offering invaluable insights that textbooks simply can’t provide.

Key insights from the session included a focus on developing the best reputation you can as you begin your career, as many find the maritime industry a close knit community where recommendations and positive opinions of your character can be crucial in securing your future career. Similarly, the focus on developing your interview techniques and networking ability, as well as utilising tools like LinkedIn can really work in your favour to stand out when applying for roles.

The event closed with a dedicated networking session, giving the cadets time to connect one-on-one with the Carnival team, ask questions, and build relationships that could support their career journeys. This kind of direct engagement is vital for nurturing future talent and ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled professionals within the industry. 

“Careers Corner” is part of a broader initiative between the UK Chamber of Shipping, the Merchant Navy Training Board and the Maritime Educational Foundation to champion maritime careers and strengthen collaboration between education providers, industry leaders, and aspiring professionals.

We’d like to extend our thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to such an inspiring and uplifting morning. You can find photos from the day below.

Interested in hosting a future “Careers Corner”? We’d love to hear from you. Please contact Susan Bell for more information.