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Up next: Lot number 1766 – A range of opportunities at Christie’s auction house

By UCL Careers, on 23 January 2018

 

By Sally Brown, UCL Careers

Who are Christie’s?
An auction house that was founded in 1766, Christie’s has salerooms across the world including London, New York, Paris, Hong Kong and Geneva. With over 350 auctions a year in 80 categories of items, it sells fine and decorative art, furniture, jewellery, photographs, collectables, wine and more.


What’s on offer?

  1. Graduate programme

About

  • The programme lasts for 18 months and works on a rotational structure where you will work with a range of different departments; both specialist and support.
  • You will be mentored by an experienced business leader, heightening your commercial awareness and specialist skills.
  • You will have an opportunity to do a period of time in one of Christie’s offices abroad.
  • You will participate in workshops as well as shorter rotations in teams – such as marketing and legal – for a richer understanding of how the wider business works and to encourage good working relationships.
  • If art handling is something you are interested in, then you can do this as part of ‘operations’.
  • Although employment with Christie’s after the programme is likely, it is not guaranteed.

How competitive is it?

  • Currently, Christie’s takes on 10 graduates globally, but this is likely to increase.
  • Last year 1000 candidates applied for these 10 places.

What requirements do I need to apply?

  • A minimum of a 2:1 degree – in a business or art related area.
  • If not an art related degree, you must demonstrate a passion for the arts.
  • You must be aware that Christie’s is a commercial business, so merely having an academic knowledge of art is not enough. You must have good commercial acumen.
  • You need a second language at least to conversational/intermediate level. This is not essential but highly desirable.

What would make me stand-out?

  • Relevant work experience such as in galleries, museums and action houses
  • Showing innovation – particularly in relation to digital (Christie’s are keen to improve in this area)
  • A demonstrable passion for the arts.
  • Commercial acumen – perhaps you have work experience in sales/retail/marketing/business? Perhaps you have set up your own business or run a project open to the public?

.What is the application process?

  • Application form – deadline is 31st January 2018
  • Video interview (February 2018)
  • This is testing why the candidate is interested in the position.
  • There are 4/5 questions and it lasts about 15 minutes.
  • Assessment centre (April 2018)
  • 5 assessments will take place over the course of the day. These may include an object group debate (how best to sell it), a digital task and a formal interview.
  • The whole day is designed to make you feel welcomed and relaxed as much as possible. They even start with an informal breakfast where you can chat with current employees not part of the selection process.

  1. Internships (Graduate) 
  • These are 6 months paid internships (£252 a week)
  • There are two intakes a year, January and July, and a total of around 75 interns are taken on just in London.
  • These are focused towards students with an art-related degree
  • As with the graduate programme, another language at conversational/intermediate level is highly desirable.
  • You should be placed in a specific department which relates to your area of interest. If not available, you will still gain an overall insight into working for Christie’s and this sector within a similar department.
  • No specific art handling experience available – as you are with a specialist department rather than operations.

  1. Work Experience placements
  • These are unpaid (with expenses) and last for 1-4 weeks
  • You will be placed in a specific department that most closely matches your interests.
  • Specific slots in 2018:
  • 12th March – 27th April
  • 4th June – 29th June
  • 9th July – 27th July
  • 12th November – 14th December

  1. Graduate/ Entry level jobs

As well as the graduate programme, graduates can also apply for full-time roles. These might include:

  • Client services (Front of House, administration) where you will get to work with and liaise with different art departments.
  • Post-sale (payments, delivery/shipping)
  • Art handling/operations

  1. Part-time jobs / opportunities for artists

For those graduates who wish to work part-time, perhaps to form part of a portfolio career whilst working on their own art/projects, there are some part-time positions/job shares, but not many. However, for those employees who do create their own art-work they have an annual staff sale – open and advertised to the public – and Christie’s donates their commission to charity.

 

If you have any further questions, please contact Toby Monk Director/VP – Recruitment EMERI (Europe, Middle East, Russia & India) at Christie’s: tmonk@christies.com

 

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