PNW College grad looking for career advice

First, I like your attitude and approach and the method by which you're asking.

Now, have you been around any deckhands? What do you know about what the job is really like? How do you feel about being away from home most of the time with your future family? What kind of time have you spent on the water that tells you boats are for you?" Do you know enough about yacht jobs to really know that's where you want to turn?

You don't need to answer those questions for us but be sure you're asking them to yourself. One reason I ask is that you started with an interesting major in Archaeology, but one that either wasn't aimed toward a profession or that you've now decided that profession isn't for you.

There are two elements to training for yacht crew jobs. Education and Time. Education at minimum means some time at a Maritime Institute or Training school getting STCW plus some other training that will show you are serious. This in total is at least a two week program. At the other end would be a Maritime School for a degree. Part of the process certainly includes how far you intend to aim in your yacht career.

Then there is time. You need time but then how do you get time if no one will give you time because you don't have time. It's the old experience issue. Part of it is working hard at getting positions and part is the luck of being in the right place at the right time. I see them together because being in the right place typically comes from effort to be there. Are you prepared to move across the country to pursue this as most of the careers in the US are on the East Coast, the majority in the Fort Lauderdale area? Can you afford to live while waiting and not earning? It's a huge move. Ideally one spends time living in a crew house, gets to know others, gets day work when they can while doing part time jobs to survive, and h0pes for opportunity. But you need to be immersed in the yachting world. Now if you're aiming for captain's training or engineering training the fastest way to build up sea time is on commercial vessels. If your goal is to be a captain then that will require several years of time/experience.

The fact you dive is great and if you are or can become certified then that gives you a nice plus over others starting. Your willingness to work hard is a huge plus as is your approach toward career vs fun temporary job.

You might do a search here on deckhand as this question does come up periodically.

I'd suggest a strange site and book too and that's by Julie Perry-workonayacht.com and Insider's Guide to Becoming a Yacht Stewardess. If you've never been on yachts, it will give you some insight and much applies to deck, just inside vs. outside. There is also a site, superyachtcrewjobs.com and Superyacht Crew Bible is available there.

None of these are absolute industry Bibles but they do give some insight by different people.

Now, to start, there are commercial jobs in your area and a few pleasure boat jobs. You could get some basic STCW training and target some form of commercial or pleasure job prior to making a decision to move and become more aggressive.

I don't know that I've supplied answers, but just some things to consider as you think about this.

Some online websites to check out that can give you some broad and specific info on yachting.

PNW Captains Meeting (Seattle Facebook page for yacht crew)
lacassemaritime (Local crew placement agency)