How to apply for a job in the arts

Read the Position Description very carefully to understand the full scope of the role.

• Why does it appeal to you?
• Does it require skills that you have, or ones that you want to develop?
• Is it the correct salary range for your experience and needs?
• Does the organisation match your values and interests?

Selection criteria

This is the heart of the application. Take each selection criterion as a sub-heading and write a brief response which give specific examples of how you meet that criterion or how you’ve demonstrated the required skills in the past. Bullet points are usually acceptable.

Consider how your skills and past experience might transfer into the new role. You may not have done exactly what’s being asked in one selection criterion, but what work have you done that’s similar? What specific examples can you give?

Look at what the organisation does and consider whether it is a good fit for you. Consider the following:

• The organisation’s values, do they align with your own?
• The organisation’s culture, would you fit in?
• Do they work in your field of interest or experience?

Use the following to find out:

• Call the recruitment contact: It can be a good idea to call the key contact listed on the job advertisement to express your interest in the role and ask some questions. Calls like this are always welcome and could help provide some clarification on anything that can help your application. Call at least a week before the application due date (not on the day before!).
• Website: View the organisation’s website ‘About’ pages, look at their team if listed.
• LinkedIn: View the organisation’s LinkedIn page if they have one. You can search for current and previous employees and positions.
• Social media: Check out how they talk about themselves and others on social media. You can get an insight into what programs or events they run and see if how they portray themselves fits with your values.

• You must follow the application process. This is a demonstration of your professionalism and attention-to-detail. It’s key to ensuring that you’re providing everything the selection panel needs to make their decision. Follow it carefully.
• For applications to Regional Arts Victoria, we explain our application process on our recruitment page.
• Please keep in mind that if you don’t address the selection criteria or follow the application process, your application may be discarded as there’s no way to assess it in relation to the other candidates.
• Regional Arts Victoria job advertisements give a timeline for our recruitment process, so that you know exactly how long it will take, including when interviews will be held. If you know you’re not available on the interview day, mention this in your covering letter.
• Resume layout is important, do not include old or irrelevant information, and a photo of yourself isn’t necessary. Don’t include a portfolio unless it’s specifically requested. Keep it simple and brief!

• Make sure your covering letter addresses the person who is named as the key contact. Never address a job application: To whom it may concern. Call the recruitment contact if it’s unclear who to address.
• A cover letter should not be paragraphs of information already included in your resume. This is a chance for you to explain why you are suitable for the role and organisation and any other interesting and relevant information about yourself.
• Only submit your application via the required method, which might be by email, post or through an online portal. If it’s an online portal, make sure you’ve already registered well before the deadline, as this process could take time.

Have someone proofread your application before you submit it, not just for spelling and grammar, but to review the clarity of your responses. Usually, the person assessing your application won’t know anything about you except what you put in your application, so don’t assume any knowledge of them.

Check the due date and time carefully. Submit your application at least a couple of hours before it is actually due. Give yourself room to iron out any technical difficulties well ahead of the deadline.

You should get a confirmation of receipt. If you don’t get one within 24 hours, it’s ok to send an email requesting an acknowledgement.

Apart from requesting an acknowledgement, it’s best not to get in touch again. You will be contacted if you are shortlisted.

Preparing for an interview can make a huge difference in your confidence and improve your success.

• Make sure you know who is on the interview panel. If it’s not in your confirmation email, call and ask.
• Do your research. The interviewers are almost always going to ask why you want to work at this organisation, and your answer to this question needs to be specific.
• If interviews make you nervous, try role-playing interview questions with a friend. This can help you unpack more of your experience and remind you of your great skills.
• Do not arrive late! Scope out the office location beforehand and plan your route. Or if it is an online interview, make sure you have the correct application installed and are familiar with using it. It’s also important not to be too early as you may disrupt the interview day.
• Stay calm. The interviewers want to get to know you, and they want you to do well, no-one is hoping that you fail! Take your time, don’t be afraid to pause and think about the questions or ask the interviewer to repeat them.
• Request access needs. Do not be afraid to ask for specific access needs, especially if they promote themselves as an equitable or diversity accepting organisation. This may look like ramp access, captions-on for video call interviews, or requesting questions in advance.

Good Questions to Ask

Unsure what to ask when you contact an organisation or come in for an interview? Here are some key questions that are good to consider as a starting point:

Company        

• Ask about the organisation, its current priorities and challenges, and its next steps. You will be better equipped to ask such questions if you do some research beforehand, such as reviewing the organisation’s website.
• How does this role contribute to the overall vision?
• What kinds of professional development opportunities does the company offer?

Role    

• Is it a new role? Has it been changed or updated for this recruitment process? Why?
• If it’s not a new role, why is the previous person leaving it?
• Is there scope to contribute to how the role evolves in the future?

Hours  

• Are the hours flexible? If it’s part-time, can you choose your days?

Don’t take it to heart. Seize the opportunity to understand why by calling the contact person. Any job application is an opportunity to obtain honest and valuable feedback, so make the most of it.

Do take the time to listen to the feedback with a generous and a critical ear. This is a rare opportunity to gain real insight into how you came across in your application. It’s bound to help with your next one.