Applying for a job at the Disney Store? - Help Needed Please

[Sid74]

Hi,

Our local Disney Store is looking for Cast Members and wants application by CV only. I am seriously interested, but have done nothing but be a stay at home mum for the last almost 10 years, due to ill health. Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking stay at home mums, it just leaves me with a big gap on my CV that I am worried about.

I was doing an engineering degree but had to stop with 18 months left to go, due to worsening health. It took 13 years to get a diagnosis, and for the last 10 years I haven't been in any shape to work. I have now seen a new consultant who is actually a specialist in my condition, and he has changed my medication. I feel a lot better, almost human again, so now feel like I would like to get a part time job. Which is where the Disney Store comes in.

Can anyone help me figure out what to put on my CV about this? Do I explain the big gap? Do I try to use the things like time management, budgeting, menu planning and general planning to my advantage?

Do I tell them that I had to leave my degree due to ill health? Do I even put the years I was at Uni for it on my CV?

I have no clue what to do, but I really want this job, and I'm hoping some kind disser can give me some pointers.

Thanks.

 

[tennisfan]

Rule of thumb is you build your CV around the job you are applying for, so what skills you can bring to the job, any retail experience etc.

You may have to explain the big gap in your employment as the employer will want to know why its there. Not sure whether it would be done on the CV though. I suppose you could put it in you employment history part.

Do they have a job description for the role? if they do read that & see what can be gained from this to go into your CV

Good luck

 

[buzz for boys]

hi ,
Personally I have a massive gap in my cv too where I have chosen to be a stay at home mom !!
Last year when dd started pre school for full days I applied for a job and just put on my cv
1998 - 2009 Raising my children the most demanding job I have ever had !!

I was concerned like you that after no work experience for so many years that i would not stand a chance however i was offered an interview and then the job and I can honestly say the fact that I had had time away to look after my children didnt seem to bother the company at all !!
I decidied not to take the job in the end but I was reassured that when i do feel ready to return bk to work there will be no issues in my cv gap !!

Hope that helps !!

 

[scottishgirl87]

The only other thing I could possibly suggest is you should maybe look into doing a Skills Based CV instead of a standard CV. Have a search on Google for some examples

 

[Sid74]

Thank you for taking the time to reply, I appreciate it.

Buzz, that gives me hope that I can fill the gap, thanks.

 

[florida sun]

Sid, I have recently just completed 20 interviews for a position in my office and I gave the job to someone who had a massive gap on her CV just like you through bringing up children and ill health, however on the day, we felt she was the right person for the role, was more than ready to come back to work and has settled in brilliantly.

She was open and honest about the gap, it wasnt mentioned in detail on her CV, however we did ask and she told us.

I think everyone sometimes deserves a break and just because some take a gap for Health, Bringing up kids or travelling, doesnt make me dismiss them from having the oppertunity.

Good Luck, let us know how you get on

 

[Sid74]

Thanks Sue, that really gives me some hope that I have a chance.

Just got to finish writing the darn thing now.

 

[PJB71]

Good luck, and dont forget to let us know how you go on

 

[fizz13]

No good advice as I am in the same position as you, a CV resembling swiss cheese and for similar reasonsbut I wanted to wish you the best of luck. Fingers crossed your enthusiasm for disney will shine through and that is a big plus I would have thought

 

[Sid74]

I just wanted to thank everyone who has replied for their good wishes, it means a lot.

I want to make the personal statement bit that is supposed to go at the top of your CV, about my love of Disney and Disney planning. The lady that I spoke to in the Disney Store said to do it, but DH thinks I need to use that bit to sell myself, lol. I was thinking that my love of Disney was what would sell me to them, but I don't know now.

Any suggestions? Does anyone work for the Disney Store?

 

[scottishgirl87]

I just wanted to thank everyone who has replied for their good wishes, it means a lot.

I want to make the personal statement bit that is supposed to go at the top of your CV, about my love of Disney and Disney planning. The lady that I spoke to in the Disney Store said to do it, but DH thinks I need to use that bit to sell myself, lol. I was thinking that my love of Disney was what would sell me to them, but I don't know now.

Any suggestions? Does anyone work for the Disney Store?

Hmm, I'd maybe go down the route of HOW your love of Disney could benefit them in having you work for them. I'm rubbish at these things but something along the lines of how you can sell their products as you believe in them yourself. What I mean is, yeah write about your love of Disney, but how does your love of Disney make you the best person for the job?

 

[ukstitch]

I just wanted to thank everyone who has replied for their good wishes, it means a lot.

I want to make the personal statement bit that is supposed to go at the top of your CV, about my love of Disney and Disney planning. The lady that I spoke to in the Disney Store said to do it, but DH thinks I need to use that bit to sell myself, lol. I was thinking that my love of Disney was what would sell me to them, but I don't know now.

Any suggestions? Does anyone work for the Disney Store?

Firstly, just to add my voice regarding the gaps - I've always been told to explain any and all gaps because that way they know its for a good reason and they cant make any false assumptions that way.

As for the personal statement - each cv / covering letter (based upon my industry where cv is for skills / job history and covering letter introduces and sells you personally) should be tailored to the job your sending it in for.

So - I think including information about your love of disney and Disney pkanning would be perfect for this job as its a Disney store job.

If you spin the information to show how it means your an enthusiastic and organized person then it does the job of selling you AND does it in a way that is highly relevant to the job to show them that the application isn't one generic application you've sent to 50 companies.

 

[PoppyAnna]

Any suggestions? Does anyone work for the Disney Store?

There is a lady on the boards who works for the Disney store, but I believe she is currently on a Disney cruise around the med!

I'm also a SAHM and my youngest starts school later this year, would like a part time job next year and was thinking of going into retail, and the Disney store would be on my wish list although retail is something I have no experience of! Let us know how you get on

Good luck

 

[Sid74]

Thank you scottishgirl87 and ukstitch for your thoughts. I think this is the route I am going to go down.

PoppyAnna I hope you manage to find something that you enjoy.

Thanks to everyone for the help and good wishes. I am going to try and get this done today, and take it in tomorrow. Wish me luck.

I just thought I would share with you what my DH sent me earlier, I don't know what he means by it.

http://comics.com/pearls_before_swine/2010-05-23/