Different roles available for UK CRP

Thought I would talk a bit about the different roles available to people who are applying for the UK Cultural Representative Program (CRP).

If you are wanting to do the year long program (CRP) then the roles available are in Food & Beverage, Merchandise (Merch) and working at the Historical Research Centre (HRC). These are all based at the UK Pavillion on the World Showcase at Epcot. You cannot work anywhere else as the terms of your visa say so.

If you are wanting to do the summer program for students, the International College Program (ICP) then there are a lot of different roles available. These can be anywhere in the parks and there's all sorts of options - ie; working in a quick service or full service restaurant, working in merchandise, working in attractions (operating the rides), custodial, lifeguard, and working in the quick service kitchens. You get to list your preferences at the interviews but won't necessarily get your first choice so you need to be flexible! 
I'm not a huge expert on this program but more information about the different roles can be found here!

Sooo... I'll put down some information now and will update/edit when I need to. It could be of use now as the CRP applications are open now :)

Food & Beverage

• There is a range of roles available, but you need to start at the bottom and work your way up - if you choose to. Some people are happy to not go into tipped roles.
• Tipped v's non tipped - When you start, you receive an hourly wage but no tips/gratuity. Certain roles such as podium host are not allowed to receive tips. If you do go on to a tipped position then you earn less money hourly (and by quite a bit) but do have the opportunity to earn tips.
• Non tipped positions where you would expect to start your work/training are in the chippy, serving customers and making orders. Or at the podium where you take reservations and check people into the restaurant. 
• Before you can go on to actually serving tables or behind the bar then you need to study and take part in assessments.
• There are also roles in rotation such as at the beer cart or as a stocker. 
• If you want to work in F&B then you need to be prepared to do chores such as using tills/reservation systems, taking orders and serving guests (who may or may not speak English), emptying trash, changing kegs, clearing and resetting tables, cleaning down at the end of the night. You have to also be prepared to work outside or inside.
• Authentically representing your country and be willing to share your culture with others.

Merchandise

(I know less of this role, because I have always wanted to work in F&B but this is what I can tell you)

• Merch involves working in the variety of shops or outdoor carts that are in the UK pavilion.
• You need to be able to demonstrate or help people with buying merchandise.
• You will use a till and need to be confident in taking different types of payment and speaking to people from all sorts of countries (you will be selling British merchandise, so you can expect to be serving a lot of non-Brits).
• Merch is a non tipped position.
• You need to be able to stock shelves and carts and maintain the cleanliness of both.
• Merchandise also involves working in Kidcot. There is a Kidcot at each pavilion, and children (and some excited adults) come in and do small crafts with a cut-out of a Duffy bear. They then take their Duffy bear to the next kidcot and add another little bit onto it. The role of the CM here is to organise crafts, interact with the guests and keep the place in a state of cleanliness.
• And as expected... authentically representing your country and be willing to share your culture with others.

Historical Research Centre

• This role is a bit different from the others. It is run by a non-Disney company that operates on WDW property at the merchandise/heraldry store at the UK Pavilion.
• It is like Merch as you will work in a shop, use a till and perform similar tasks but you receive different benefits and pay a slighter higher rate of rent.
• Some people dis-regard this role because of less company benefits, but if you are interested in a future job that involves British history, then it could be a good point for your CV. 
• If you make it to the second interviews then you will be given a separate form to fill in to state your interest and the recruiters will talk to you about it and can answer all/any questions you may have

With anything in life, it's what you make of your situation. So if you want to work in any of these roles then don't let anyone else's opinion get you down. Some work days are good, some bad but this is true of any job!