Longshoreman Jobs Overview
Longshoremen are dockworkers who load and unload cargo from ships, mostly in commercial harbors and docks. They also secure arriving and departing ships and must work outdoors in all types of weather. Most longshoremen work eight- to sixteen-hour shifts, with four to eight hours off in between. However, certain longshoreman jobs need workers who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
When applying for longshoreman jobs, you'll notice different employers use different titles for longshoreman workers. Some of the most popular titles used for longshoremen are:
- Stevedore: dockworker whose job it is to load and unload ships with goods.
- Swingman: involves strenuous and physically demanding work, such as doing maintenance on the ship to fasten cargo down or removing pins to unload it.
- Dock aloft: communicate directions from below to an operator of a piece of equipment to provide guidance in areas where the operator can't see or hear what's going on.
- Dockworker: aid in the loading and unloading of cargo, the preparation of ports for arriving ships, the proper anchoring of ships upon arrival and departure, and the prompt recording of damaged items.
- Roustabout: examine machinery, maintain work spaces, perform repairs, load and unload machinery, fix boilers and engines, check pipelines for leakage, remove debris, and clean up spills on oil and gas rigs.
- Lashers: use metal bars to secure containers and cans, either on a ship at port or in the yard.
- Clerks: meticulous record-keeping, including checking all manifests and inventory counts, to ensure the successful completion of all administrative work for a project.
- Bosses: dock bosses direct vehicles to the correct loading docks, while hatch bosses oversee the sequence in which workers unload containers.
As a longshoreman, you'll work with different types of cargo, including shipping containers, barrels of oil or other substances, and even coal or grain. Skill with heavy machinery like tractors, lifts, excavators, and cranes is essential for success in this line of work. You must also have proficient English-speaking and writing skills and the ability to work with little to no supervision.
Longshoreman Jobs: Salary Range
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median wage for cargo and freight workers is $46,860 per year. According to the same source, roustabouts make an average median salary of $43,590 a year while water transportation workers earn a median annual salary of $66,100.
Our own Monster data shows that cargo coordinators earn $13.30 to $29.55 an hour, with the median hourly wage being $19.42. The cities with the highest demand for these workers are Miami, FL; Houston, TX; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; and Atlanta, GA.
Want to learn more about the average salary for longshoreman jobs near you? Use the Monster Salary Tool.
Finding the Best Longshoreman Jobs for You
To establish a satisfying career as a longshoreman, it's crucial to look for work that aligns with your interests and values. Many longshoremen enter the profession as shipping clerks or lashers and work their way up to boss positions. To help you choose longshoreman jobs that align with your career goals, ask yourself these questions when reading job descriptions:
- Do the required job duties interest me?
- Am I comfortable working long hours for several days or weeks at a time?
- What expenses does the employer cover (food, transportation, etc.)?
- Will the company help me advance to a boss position?
Tips to Apply for Longshoreman Jobs
Most longshore employers only hire union members. Joining a longshoremen's union isn't simple and may take years, so if you aren't willing to wait around for your dream job for that long, you might want to look into other maritime professions instead. A member of a longshoreman's union usually has to invite you to become a member of the union, as they do not have open enrollment. However, after you meet the necessary requirements to become a longshoreman, use the tips in the sections below to ensure you find a fulfilling job.
Application Preparation
After satisfying the requirements to become a longshoreman, you can start looking for work. There is a lot of competition for open positions in this career field, with some unions offering entry-level, part-time longshoreman jobs via raffles. After putting in time as a part-time longshoreman, unionization opens the door to better pay, benefits, and regular hours. To secure a part-time or full-time position as a longshoreman, it's important that your application stands out from the crowd. To create a strong application, use these tips:
- Add key skills and qualifications listed in the job listing to your application.
- List three to five credible references with their contact information.
- Explain all the relevant experience that you have.
- Attach a copy of your union member card.
- Proofread all material using a spell and grammar checker.
Longshoremen often possess a diverse range of skills. Some of the most popular skills to include in your application for longshoreman jobs are:
- dock experience
- machine operator
- safety guidelines
- delivery vehicle
- twic
- customer service
- physical strength
Create a Strong Longshoreman Resume
Choosing a resume format for your longshoreman application is simple. If you have a lot of work experience as a longshoreman, it's best to use a chronological format to highlight your extensive work history.
Using a functional resume format is best if you lack an extensive job history but have the skills and qualifications to become a longshoreman. To highlight a long work history along with your skills and qualifications, use a combination resume format.
Adding your skills and qualifications to your resume in the form of resume keywords significantly helps employers understand your ability to effectively fill a longshoreman job role. It also helps your application pass the conditions set by application tracking software, making it easier for recruiters to find your application. Some examples of resume keywords to include in your application for longshoreman jobs are:
- certified forklift driver
- HAZMAT material certification
- certify fifth wheel drive
- manual labor
- load cargo
- hoisting
- cargo containers
- computer database
- safety regulations and compliance
Do you want advice on creating a longshoreman's resume that will get you an interview? When you use Monster's Resume Writing Service, you'll receive professional resumes tailored to the longshoreman jobs you apply for.
Create a Cover Letter
Even though many employers don't require a cover letter, submitting one can help hiring managers notice your application, which is crucial to securing a longshoreman job given the increasing competition within this career field. Use these strategies to write a professional cover letter that gets you an interview.
- List all of your skills related to the industry, including material handling, container loading and unloading, cargo shipping, safety management, industrial equipment operation, procedure compliance, and safety meetings.
- Explain what strengths you bring to the role and how you can help the employer.
- Discuss why the job aligns with your career goals.
- Discuss your amount of experience in the longshoreman industry, including any relevant union membership and how many years you have worked as a longshoreman.
- The roles you have the most experience in: lasher, boss, dockworker, roustabout, clerk, or dock aloft?
- Include your contact information for the hiring manager to use to contact you with questions or an invitation for an interview.
Submit the Application
When you join Monster for free, applying for longshoreman jobs is simple. Sign up with your email to begin. Upload your resume and cover letter, then click Submit. Your profile will become viewable online, making it easy for recruiters to evaluate your talents and send you an interview request.
Joining Monster also lets you search for longshoreman jobs. When you see jobs you like, click Apply. The recruitment manager will get your application, resume, cover letter, and profile link instantly.
Application Follow-Up
Sending a follow-up message after applying for longshoremen positions is a good idea if you aren't acquainted with the employer's recruiting procedure. This will demonstrate your initiative and help you focus your job search efforts where they are most effective.
How to Do a Follow-Up
After putting in your application, following up five to seven business days later can increase your chances of getting an interview. The hiring manager also needs this much time to consider your application carefully and verify your qualifications, such as your union membership. The most convenient way to follow up is by email. You can usually find the hiring manager's email address in the job description or by contacting the employer's human resources department.
Longshoreman Interview Advice
Possible topics for inquiry during interviews for longshoremen include the physical requirements of the job, your relevant work experience, your capacity for problem-solving, and your knowledge of safety and preventative measures. Use the advice below to boost your chances of performing well during your next interview.
Interview Preparation
Using certain tactics to effectively prepare for a longshoreman job interview will help you feel less nervous. To start, go online and conduct research on the employer, using its About page to review its mission, management style, and culture. Consider whether these elements align with your own ethics before accepting an interview request.
In addition to researching the employer, use these tips:
- Set up mock interviews with a friend.
- Check out the salaries of people in comparable roles.
- Determine your top two selling points and practice interview stories that emphasize them.
- Make a list of everything you want to know about the longshoreman position, from what you'll be doing to how much you'll earn to what kind of benefits and training you can expect to get.
Interview Process
Whether you receive an interview request through email or by phone, it's best to ask about the interview's format in your response. Competency-based interviews focus on your past work experience and how it will benefit the employer. Behavioral-based interviews focus more on your personal character and work ethics.
You can also use these longshoreman interview questions to help you prepare for an interview:
- Tell me about some of the times you helped load or unload goods from ships.
- How experienced are you in operating cranes, forklifts, and other similarly heavy machines?
- How can you ensure the security of the dock area while operating big machinery?
- Give me a rundown of what you know about the shipping sector on the ocean.
- How do you make sure that every freight loading and unloading is properly recorded?
Interview Follow-Up
Sending a thank-you note by email after an interview is a great way to showcase your desire for the position. You can use the application's instructions to find the hiring manager's email address. The thank-you email should confirm your skills and qualifications as well as list your union member number. Signing off the note with your contact information is a great way to encourage the hiring manager to reach out with questions or a job offer.
Responding to a Longshoreman Job Offer
When you get a job offer for a longshoreman position, the smartest thing you can do is carefully review the offer several times. As you're reading it, write down any questions you have about the position, including its required duties, salary, and benefits. Always get clarity on these questions before accepting, counteroffering, or declining the offer. It's also best to use authoritative information from credible sources when negotiating your salary.
Career Paths for Longshoremen
Longshoremen often use their experience and skills to branch off into diverse career paths. Some of the most common career paths for longshoremen are:
- Tractor operator: operate a tractor, from loading it with cargo to driving it around a vast warehouse, factory, or construction site to deliver those materials.
- Construction equipment operator: use heavy machines to shift construction materials, soil, and other bulky items on building sites and mining operations.
- Heavy equipment mechanic: keep heavy equipment running smoothly and safely by fixing things like diesel and gas engines, hydraulic systems, and more.
Longshoreman: Related Professions
With experience as a longshoreman, you have many related professions to choose from. Some of the most popular are: