The following CV and Personal Statement are taken from my application for the role of Visitor Experience Team Member at Harewood House. I found the advertisement on Arts Jobs and I felt that the job specification matched my experience and skills. I was also excited by the opportunity to work in a historic location with people who share my passion for history and the arts. The specification included customer service skills, comfort in public-facing roles and versatility.
Personal Statement
I am applying for the role of Visitor Experience Team Member. History and the Arts have always been a passion of mine; I took a great interest in them in school and I have carried on that engagement into my adult life at university. I believe strongly in the conservation of history and in the accessibility of it; whilst studying my degree, I worked as an actor at Mother Shipton’s Cave, one of England’s oldest visitor attractions. I also have experience in customer service and public-facing roles; I worked in door-to-door sales and have volunteered in a range of theatre projects. I am applying for this role as I wish to contribute to the history of the Harewood Estate, and its engagement with the public; I want to share my passion with others whilst fulfilling mine.
I spent a month working as a door-to-door Sales Representative for Hello Fresh. I gained and developed customer service skills in a range of environments. I would pitch individuals on their doorsteps, offering them discounted subscriptions to Hello Fresh. Such a role meant that I engaged with the public whilst also monitoring my body language, building a rapport with the customer and being sensitive to the needs of the customer. Although I only signed a handful of customers up to Hello Fresh, the experience I gained in the field helped me in my role at Mother Shipton’s Cave.
Having worked in face-to-face sales, performing at Mother Shipton’s Cave was an exciting and rewarding experience. I spent two years working there as an actor who would greet visitors and guide them along themed trails throughout the park. I was able to deploy the skills I gained from my previous job in a public-facing role that I felt comfortable in; I could adapt my body language and performance to suit the needs of the customers. Performing has always been something that I have loved doing and, in being able to enhance a customer’s experience with it, I feel that such transferable skills are vital for delivering quality customer service.
In studying Drama and Theatre, I have developed a range of transferable communication skills and I have experience in many public-facing roles. On our three-year course, we perform, analyse and create theatre, making us incredibly versatile. Whilst studying Drama and Theatre, I have been involved in performance projects outside of my course; two of which were an important part of York’s history and heritage. In September 2018, I performed in York’s Mystery Plays and in March 2019, I performed in York Shakespeare Project’s production of Cymbeline.