How to apply
Applying for jobs can be time consuming; that’s why we have put together some guidance to make the process easier for you to apply for a job with The Royal Ballet School.
We have also created a FAQs page about applying for a job at The Royal Ballet School.
Before you start
All applicants must complete our application form rather than submit a CV, in line with safeguarding good practice. This ensures that we get all the information we need to assess your suitability for the role, so it is important that you complete it fully. It also means that we have the same information from all applicants so that we can shortlist fairly. We will not accept CVs in place of an application form.
We recommend you take some time to prepare before filling out the application form. The preparation will make it easier for you to complete the form and increase your chance of being invited for interview.
Make sure you have all your personal information ready, including details of your education and a full employment history, with details of any gaps eg travel, caring for a family member, volunteering etc. If you are offered the role, we will need to clarify any gaps with you as part of the pre-employment screening process so it’s a good idea to be clear on this now.
Do your research; it is apparent to us which candidates are genuinely interested in working for The Royal Ballet School. Our website has lots of information on who we are and what we do, and you can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to find out more about current news, projects and events.
For every role we advertise, we provide a job description and person specification. We recommend that you read this and refer back to the specific criteria that we are looking for when you complete your application.
Ensure that you know when the deadline is for applying to avoid the rush to finish the form the night before a deadline. Rushed applications that are not personalised to the position advertised can give the impression that you are not very interested in working for us. A tailored, specific, well thought-out application will stand out and is more likely to get you noticed.
Completing your application
View our current vacancies and apply. You can save your application at any time and come back to it later.
Application form – part 1
Read and follow the on-screen instructions for each part of the application form carefully to ensure that you understand what is required and therefore complete each section correctly. You will be asked to enter your personal details first. To eliminate any risk of bias, our recruiting managers shortlist without access to your personal information (blind shortlisting) and will only see part 2 of the form.
There are a number of compulsory sections which you must complete and you need to ensure that you read carefully the information required of you in relation to safeguarding, data protection, disclosure and barring checks, health declaration and references.
Application form – part 2
Education
Please provide full detail of your education history, starting with the most recent. We reserve the right to request proof of qualifications claimed on an application form and will always require proof of anything we consider to be essential to the role. Check your dates carefully and makes sure any areas not accounted for here are included elsewhere. We need to ensure we have your full employment history which we will then verify should you be offered the position.
Other vocational qualifications, skills or training
Please include here anything you think is relevant to the position you are applying for. This could be a short course, continuous professional development, on the job learning or an online course.
Current and previous work experience
You will be asked to enter your work history, starting with your current or most recent employment. Please ensure you detail all of your relevant work history, accounting for any gaps. If you have only recently left education you can leave this section blank but remember to include any unpaid or voluntary work that you might have undertaken.
Interests
Include here any hobbies, skills or interests that you think are relevant to your application, again thinking specifically about the position you are applying for.
Suitability
One of the key parts of an application lies in the suitability section where you are asked to directly address the criteria needed to do the job as outlined in the person specification. On your application form we are looking for evidence that you are suited to the role advertised. Don’t just repeat what you’ve said in your employment or education history. Instead, go into more detail about areas which link to the job description and person specification.
When describing your responsibilities and/or achievements in your current and past roles, bear in mind the skills, experience and qualifications required for the particular role you are applying for. Sell yourself – why should we offer this job to you over all the other candidates? What it is that excites you about this role? Is this a chance for you to gain new experience or work in an area you’re fascinated by? Let us know. We will explore why you want to work with us further at the interview stage.
Address each point, giving clear short paragraphs identifying how your experience and any past achievements meets the criteria from the person specification. Give examples of times you’ve used specific skills. It may be helpful to cut and paste each of the criteria into your answers – it will make it much easier for us to read your application and may increase your chance of being shortlisted.
We only shortlist using Part 2 of our application forms so please don’t include any personal information when outlining your suitability for the role.
Make sure that you save your work as you go, meaning you don’t have to finish the form in one sitting. Another tip is to write your Suitability section in a Word document before submitting, so you can check for any spelling or grammar errors, which may not be picked up by an automatic spell checker. Plus, you’ll have a saved version to refer to if you get asked to an interview. We would recommend you ask at least one other person to look at your completed application before you submit it.
When you think you have finished, read through your application form carefully and check that each section is fully completed. Once you have pressed the ‘Submit’ button you will no longer be able to edit your application.
In order for your application to be considered, your completed form must be submitted before the specified closing date. We cannot accept applications after this date unless a position is re-advertised.
Any questions?
Please visit our FAQs page about applying for a job at The Royal Ballet School.
You can also contact [email protected].