Applying for a job in the theatre - a tip

[Just Some Bloke]

My current job title includes the word Manager, and thus makes me No. 2 in charge of the venue. Thus when we were looking, recently, for a new FOH Supervisor, 3 Duty Managers and some stewards, in the absence of anyone else (hence the advertised job) I was asked to be in on the shortlisting and interviewing.

 

We got 47 applicants for the job of FOH Supervisor (acts as DM and supervises the other DMs), 19 for the job of Duty Manager (though all the unsuccesful Supervisor applicants would also be automatically considered for this job too) and 65 applicants for the job of FOH Steward.

 

Clearly mentioned in the adverts and application pack is the requirement for a "strong interest in theatre". In fact, we gave double points to this requirement when grading applications for shortlisting.

 

Of the 131 applications in total, 56 did not mention the word "theatre" in their application.

 

That's 42.7% of applicants never mentioned the word "theatre".

 

Amazingly, the percentage was worst in those applying for the Supervisor's job (paid the highest) in which 22 of 47 didn't say anything about theatre.

 

Now, forgive me for stating the obvious here, but wouldn't you think that if you were applying for a job FOH in the theatre, you'd at least list theatre under "interests"? One candidate was a teacher with an honours degree and a proud history of good, succesful jobs who clearly was extremely intelligent, but listed her hobbies and interests as "swimming, reading books and holidays". Yet she wanted a job in the theatre.

 

So, a tip to anyone applying for a job in the industry: for goodness sake list "going to the theatre" as one of your hobbies - even if it's a lie!

 

P.S. The way we tested this requirement was to ask the question "what was the best show you've seen recently and why?". Even one of those who had got through to the shortlist mentioned his most recent favourite was Sunset Boulevard in the West End. Recent? <_<

[Bryson]

Hmm...I'm not sure. Going to the theatre is definitely not a leisure activity I enjoy. It's work.

[bruce]

On the other hand, if someone was applying for a job in a bank, would you expect them to put "I have always had a great interest in banking" on the form? <_<

 

 

There is a "knack" to filling out application forms. The days of employers simply skimming through a pile of forms, looking for a bunch of applicants that seem to fit the bill, interviewing them and chucking out the rest, are long gone. With equal opportunities, DDA, age discrimination and all the rest, the selection team has got to formally "score" every application, so that if an unsuccessful candidate cries foul (and it does happen!) then you can say "you weren't interviewed because... rather than simply saying "you weren't good enough" or "we didn't like you".

 

So, employers need to make up a score sheet, and score each applicant accordingly. They're also not supposed to score applicants on anything that isn't mentioned in the detailed job spec and essential/desireable attributes spec, all of which are generally available to candidates before interview. So when filling out the application form, you look through the job spec, and basically every time it indicates an essential/desirable attribute, you write it down, saying "I can do that"..

 

Just doing that doesn't guarantee an interview, but it goes a long way - you'll definitely not be at the bottom of the pile.

 

This of course is not a good thing from the employer's point of view.

 

The rant continues. The law on age discrimination has recently changed, and I had to go to a seminar describing how this may affect the appointment process. According to the "consultant" (*) who gave the talk, it's not just at the top of the age scale that the law applies - it seems that we now cannot write a job spec that requires the applicant to have (eg) "5 years experience", cos that's discriminating against young people! What a load of nonsense!

 

There are of course ways round it - it seems it's not acceptable to ask for a specific amount of experience, but phrases like "extensive demonstrable experience" are OK.

 

Sorry about the rant.

 

 

(*)Consultant. A combination of Con and Insult.

[Just Some Bloke]

Hmm...I'm not sure. Going to the theatre is definitely not a leisure activity I enjoy. It's work.

Very possible. For me it's both.

 

Nevertheless, I bet your application form would tell of other theatres you'd worked in, or technical theatre courses you'd studied or how you'd lived a working life "in the theatre" or some other such. I bet you the word is mentioned at least once on your cv.

 

Anyway, Bryson, I know that you fill in applications for jobs the same way I do: read what they say they want and parrot it all back at them. E.g. " we are looking for someone intelligent, witty and original with a first aid certificate" - "I am intelligent, witty and original with an up-to-date first aid certificate". It's how it's done! <_< This one said "we are looking for someone with a strong interest in theatre" so you wouldn't have missed that.

[marky]

It's about tailoring your CV to suit the job that you are applying for. I wouldn't expect to use a 'general' CV to apply for five different jobs. Each job will have different requirements and will need you to demonstrate them. The fact that the advert asked for a 'strong interest in theatre' mean's you should at least mention it!

[Ynot]

On the other hand, if someone was applying for a job in a bank, would you expect them to put "I have always had a great interest in banking" on the form?

Actually, yes - I most certainly would! Because if they're to be a successful candidate for an interview, I would personally expect them to express an interest! Just as JSB says.

Even more important, however, if said job is a management/supervisory role.

 

I too have had experience in interviewing/appointing staff (for my day job in a multi-national comms co) and have to say that the training course I did a few years back was one of the hardest I've gone through.

Yes, you do have to be extremely careful in what you list on a jobb advert these days 9and yes some of the restrictions are ludicrous), but in some ways it's like anything else that's subjected to the PC/nanny state/litigous (sp?) cr@p that we have to contend with these days - it's a game... And like all games there are ways to cheat around the edges to say what you NEED and WANT, instead of what the bureacrats say you should!

[Boggy]

I prefer people not to lie on their CV as it only gets them further down the track before you reject them. I assume in the UK you do not have to interview all applicants and that you can choose who to interview based on the CVs.

 

BTW my CV includes the word theatre several times (lighting and scenery) even though I have never used it to get theatrical work. The word theatre appears because it is an actual hobby (and occasionally it's work) and not one made up to sound good on the resume.

 

P.S. while I realise the initial post is a VENT, I get equally annoyed by people who put things on their resume that they clearly haven't done.

[Ynot]

I prefer people not to lie on their CV as it only gets them further down the track before you reject them. I assume in the UK you do not have to interview all applicants and that you can choose who to interview based on the CVs.

 

BTW my CV includes the word theatre several times (lighting and scenery) even though I have never used it to get theatrical work. The word theatre appears because it is an actual hobby (and occasionally it's work) and not one made up to sound good on the resume.

 

P.S. while I realise the initial post is a VENT, I get equally annoyed by people who put things on their resume that they clearly haven't done.

I don't think anyone's suggested that people lie on a CV at all...

What HAS been said is that you need to look at the job advert/details and write your CV on an individual basis according to that info - ie fit what you HAVE done to what they WANT.

 

And if you haven't GOT experience where it's specifically asked for (ie in this instance, in theatre) then why are you applying for the job anyway...??!!

[Just Some Bloke]

while I realise the initial post is a VENT, I get equally annoyed by people who put things on their resume that they clearly haven't done.

 

Totally agree with you, Boggy. My initial cry of:

 

for goodness sake list "going to the theatre" as one of your hobbies - even if it's a lie!

 

was, in fact, an example of British humour. The implication was, of course, why would you be applying for a job in theatre if theatre wasn't something you enjoy? You wouldn't apply for a job in a florist if you were allergic to pollen. [That's a different form of British humour, BTW :D ]

 

Clearly no-one should lie on their cv, but equally no-one should apply for a job they don't really want to do. Two people who applied for the Duty Manager's position and got shortlisted (therefore must have put the word "theatre" on their application forms) didn't bother turning up for the interview.