The application!
So you want to take part in the Cultural Representative Program for the UK? The first stage you have to get through is the application form for the CRP program! This post will discuss the application and give hints and advice on how to make your application stand out.
*NOTE* Please understand that this is based upon my own personal experience regarding the UK CRP application from January 2017. Please do not take the information I have given here as the gospel truth as everyone’s application process will be slightly different. This blog is an advice blog, not a blog in which all information given should be copied. Your application will be unique to you, I am just here to give you an insight into the application and beyond and to give you hints and tips along the way! Finally the opinions and information expressed in these posts are my own and are not those of Disney or any company associated with the CRP application!
So are you eligible to apply for the program?
Before you even think about starting to apply for it CRP you must fit the following criteria:
1. That you are over the age of 18 years of age
2. That you must speak fluent English
3. That you must be a UK citizen and hold a valid UK passport
Just a pre-warning for all you potential applicants that have tattoos. I myself like several other applicants in the January 2017 application round have tattoos, to which you will be asked in all stages of the application process if you have any visible tattoos. The definition of a visible tattoo as outlined by yummy jobs who are the UK recruiters for the CRP program is as followed:
Therefore wrist tattoos, finger tattoos, foot tattoos, neck tattoos etc. are not permitted by the Disney company even if you are able to cover them up with make up, jewellery or plasters. Many people from my application round were automatically rejected for having such tattoos so don't say I didn't worn you!
So then who do you apply through? Its simple! All you need to visit is yummy jobs.com! Applications are usually open twice a year; once in January and again in July/August time, keep you eye out on their social media posts regarding the exact dates!
THE APPLICATION!!
The most important part! The majority of this application form is straight forward like inputting personal information, work history, education etc. However it is your answers to a number of questions, your CV and your Cover Letter that will be the key to being successful at this stage, which will in turn mean you go through to the next stage of the application process!
In the January 2017 application they asked two very straight forward questions;
• What is your motivation for this program?
• Why do you value cultural interaction and exchange
Please take the questions very seriously, think about your answers at length and certainly don’t just think of your answer in a few minutes, truly think, take notes and write at length about these questions before you form your answers as these can make or break your application!
In regards to the 'motivation' question consider the following points:
• Think honestly about why you want to apply for this program, but don’t just state the usual ‘because I’ve loved Disney since I was a child’, think about why you have such passion for the Disney company and the Walt Disney World, what makes it special to you?
• This program is called the CULTURAL REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM for a reason! You are going to be spending an entire year in WDW as a cast member representing your culture, your home town and your heritage. Think why you want to share your culture with people from around the world, how would this not just benefit you but also benefit the guests that visit WDW
• Think about what you are personally going to gain from this program. Do you want to take part in this program just because you want to potentially live in Orlando for a year? Or is it because this could led to job progression back in the UK, or that it could help you gain more experience in the workplace, or that it could aid in future life plans?
When thinking about the ‘cultural exchange and interaction' question think about the following:
• I cannot say this enough but at the end of the day you are applying to be a Cultural Representative at Walt Disney World in which you will be representing your culture every day when you are on stage to the hundreds of thousands of guests that pass through EPCOT. Why do you ultimately want to represent your culture to so many people?
• Think about your home town and why is it culturally significant? Is there anything that clearly stands out about your hometown which sparks an interest in being able to share such knowledge with the guests?
• What is it about being able to talk and express thoughts/feelings about your own culture which makes you value it so highly? Is it the fact that through expressing your own culture you are able to provide people with a small insight into a culture that they may not be able to experience first hand? Or maybe the fact that through sharing and exchanging facts and information about culture that you are able to learn about others, their cultural and begin to have a higher appreciation of others from different backgrounds than yourself?
You really need to take time to think, plan and edit your answers to these questions. Remember applications are usually open for around 4 weeks/1 month which means you have plenty of time to think and plan your answers to these questions!
For this application you will also be asked to submit a copy of your CV and a cover letter. You CV should cover in greater detail your work history (for example what is involved in your job role and skills/qualities gained), it should also contain a small section regarding your personal qualities, and your basic contact information. NOTE that you don’t have to provide references if you don’t want to as if they want to contact your referees then they will always ask you before hand.
When it comes to your cover letter remember you need to tailor it for this specific job, that you are applying for the Cultural Representative Program. In this letter it is consider some of the following ideas:
1. The job role you are applying for
2. How your previous work/educational experience has prepared you for taking part om the program
3. Why you are applying for it
4. What you are going to gain from taking part in such a program
5. And don't forget to express your love for Disney in this part of your application! If you want to throw in a Disney quote, I did, go ahead and do it, but keep it tasteful and also link it back to the original point you were making!
Again, you have a large window of time to complete your application, you don’t have to complete it all in one sitting, you can save, edit and go back to it as many times as you need for the application date closes!
I hope this rather long post has given you an insight into the first stage of the application process; take this first step super seriously, it is at this stage where most people get will be rejected. So take your time, plan and put your heart and soul into this. Hopefully you shall join me for my next post regarding the group interview stage!
*NOTE* Please understand that this is based upon my own personal experience regarding the UK CRP application from January 2017. Please do not take the information I have given here as the gospel truth as everyone’s application process will be slightly different. This blog is an advice blog, not a blog in which all information given should be copied. Your application will be unique to you, I am just here to give you an insight into the application and beyond and to give you hints and tips along the way! Finally the opinions and information expressed in these posts are my own and are not those of Disney or any company associated with the CRP application!
So are you eligible to apply for the program?
Before you even think about starting to apply for it CRP you must fit the following criteria:
1. That you are over the age of 18 years of age
2. That you must speak fluent English
3. That you must be a UK citizen and hold a valid UK passport
Just a pre-warning for all you potential applicants that have tattoos. I myself like several other applicants in the January 2017 application round have tattoos, to which you will be asked in all stages of the application process if you have any visible tattoos. The definition of a visible tattoo as outlined by yummy jobs who are the UK recruiters for the CRP program is as followed:
“By visible tattoos we refer to anything which is below the knees, below the elbows or above the neck”
Therefore wrist tattoos, finger tattoos, foot tattoos, neck tattoos etc. are not permitted by the Disney company even if you are able to cover them up with make up, jewellery or plasters. Many people from my application round were automatically rejected for having such tattoos so don't say I didn't worn you!
So then who do you apply through? Its simple! All you need to visit is yummy jobs.com! Applications are usually open twice a year; once in January and again in July/August time, keep you eye out on their social media posts regarding the exact dates!
The website will look like this above!
THE APPLICATION!!
The most important part! The majority of this application form is straight forward like inputting personal information, work history, education etc. However it is your answers to a number of questions, your CV and your Cover Letter that will be the key to being successful at this stage, which will in turn mean you go through to the next stage of the application process!
In the January 2017 application they asked two very straight forward questions;
• What is your motivation for this program?
• Why do you value cultural interaction and exchange
Please take the questions very seriously, think about your answers at length and certainly don’t just think of your answer in a few minutes, truly think, take notes and write at length about these questions before you form your answers as these can make or break your application!
In regards to the 'motivation' question consider the following points:
• Think honestly about why you want to apply for this program, but don’t just state the usual ‘because I’ve loved Disney since I was a child’, think about why you have such passion for the Disney company and the Walt Disney World, what makes it special to you?
• This program is called the CULTURAL REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM for a reason! You are going to be spending an entire year in WDW as a cast member representing your culture, your home town and your heritage. Think why you want to share your culture with people from around the world, how would this not just benefit you but also benefit the guests that visit WDW
• Think about what you are personally going to gain from this program. Do you want to take part in this program just because you want to potentially live in Orlando for a year? Or is it because this could led to job progression back in the UK, or that it could help you gain more experience in the workplace, or that it could aid in future life plans?
When thinking about the ‘cultural exchange and interaction' question think about the following:
• I cannot say this enough but at the end of the day you are applying to be a Cultural Representative at Walt Disney World in which you will be representing your culture every day when you are on stage to the hundreds of thousands of guests that pass through EPCOT. Why do you ultimately want to represent your culture to so many people?
• Think about your home town and why is it culturally significant? Is there anything that clearly stands out about your hometown which sparks an interest in being able to share such knowledge with the guests?
• What is it about being able to talk and express thoughts/feelings about your own culture which makes you value it so highly? Is it the fact that through expressing your own culture you are able to provide people with a small insight into a culture that they may not be able to experience first hand? Or maybe the fact that through sharing and exchanging facts and information about culture that you are able to learn about others, their cultural and begin to have a higher appreciation of others from different backgrounds than yourself?
You really need to take time to think, plan and edit your answers to these questions. Remember applications are usually open for around 4 weeks/1 month which means you have plenty of time to think and plan your answers to these questions!
For this application you will also be asked to submit a copy of your CV and a cover letter. You CV should cover in greater detail your work history (for example what is involved in your job role and skills/qualities gained), it should also contain a small section regarding your personal qualities, and your basic contact information. NOTE that you don’t have to provide references if you don’t want to as if they want to contact your referees then they will always ask you before hand.
When it comes to your cover letter remember you need to tailor it for this specific job, that you are applying for the Cultural Representative Program. In this letter it is consider some of the following ideas:
1. The job role you are applying for
2. How your previous work/educational experience has prepared you for taking part om the program
3. Why you are applying for it
4. What you are going to gain from taking part in such a program
5. And don't forget to express your love for Disney in this part of your application! If you want to throw in a Disney quote, I did, go ahead and do it, but keep it tasteful and also link it back to the original point you were making!
Again, you have a large window of time to complete your application, you don’t have to complete it all in one sitting, you can save, edit and go back to it as many times as you need for the application date closes!
I hope this rather long post has given you an insight into the first stage of the application process; take this first step super seriously, it is at this stage where most people get will be rejected. So take your time, plan and put your heart and soul into this. Hopefully you shall join me for my next post regarding the group interview stage!
Until next time, this is Lauren signing off!
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