Coastguard

As a coastguard, your duties will depend on whether you work in an operations centre or in the rescue service.

You could:

• give advice about sea and coastal safety
•  monitor radio and satellite communications, as vessels pass through UK waters
•  offer navigational support and send out weather and tidal reports
•  respond to emergency distress calls
•  co-ordinate air and sea resources
•  take part in search and rescue operations
•  handle reports of wreckage, pollution or debris along the coast or at sea
•  train staff and volunteers

• knowledge of public safety and security 
• customer service skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• sensitivity and understanding
• leadership skills 
• the ability to work well with others
• physical fitness and endurance
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You'll need to live within 30 minutes of the coastguard rescue location you wish to work at.

You can get into this job through:

• working towards this role
• volunteering
• applying directly

With experience, you could become a senior coastal rescue officer, or control centre operations manager.

You might specialise in a particular area of work, such as:

• vessel traffic management
•  anti-pollution and salvage
•  maritime security

You could also work in other parts of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.