At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage visitors with captivating stories and provide exceptional customer service at Hillsborough Castle.
- Company: Join Historic Royal Palaces, a charity preserving iconic landmarks.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, flexible hours, and a chance to work in a historic setting.
- Other info: Flexible shifts with opportunities for growth in a vibrant environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team and share the rich history of Northern Ireland.
- Qualifications: Strong storytelling skills and a passion for customer service.
The predicted salary is between 24577 - 24577 £ per year.
Home Palace: Hillsborough Castle
Status: Casual, Temporary/Seasonal
Estimated Start date: 1 April 2026
End Date: 1 November 2026
Salary: Seasonal = £24,577 per annum pro-rata (£13.13 p/h) / Casual wage = £14.71 p/h (incl. holiday allowance)
Salary Rate: Pro Rata
Days/Hours of work: Seasonal: 21-hour Part-time roles available. 3 days per week. Shifts will include some weekends and bank holidays. Casual Engagement: Zero-hours, ad hoc.
About the role and about you:
New Year, New Opportunity! Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, the Banqueting House, Kew Palace, and Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in Northern Ireland. You will be joining a dedicated Castle Host team with a flair for outstanding customer service, welcoming visitors to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens - the home of politicians and monarchs throughout its vibrant history.
We have vacancies for Summer Seasonal (temporary) jobs, and places on our ad-hoc Casual (zero-hours) register. We are looking for people to work across both the admissions area, and on the Castle tour routes. As a Castle Host, you will bring the amazing stories of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens to life - sharing your passion for the castle and ensuring historical accuracy and relevance of the stories. You will support the visitor experience across the estate, opening up the history of the castle and gardens in an entertaining, dynamic and engaging style.
As part of the team, you will be a welcoming presence at the Weston Pavilion, directing and engaging with our visitors and ensuring that they all receive a warm and friendly welcome. You will be selling tickets and also providing customers in our retail store with outstanding service, ensuring the smooth operation of the shop and responding promptly and flexibly to customer needs.
About You:
- You will have a flair for storytelling with the confidence to deliver entertaining stories about the castle to diverse groups.
- Experience of delivering information in an engaging way to both individuals and large parties is desirable.
- You will be a team player, who relishes the challenge of a busy working environment.
- You will enjoy exploring new and creative ways of working that add real value to our customers’ experiences.
- You’ll love showcasing retail items and upselling products and services to our visitors.
- You’ll be friendly, professional and be able to communicate effectively with all different kinds of people.
- And above all, you will be experienced in and share a passion for delivering outstanding face to face customer service.
- An interest and knowledge of Northern Ireland’s history is advantageous.
You will work a roster according to the needs of the business, which will be provided in advance and the shifts will include working some weekends and bank holidays.
Closing date: Sun 25th Jan 2026, at 11:50pm. Interviews expected: 5th - 8th Feb. Summer Season: Late March to Late October.
Historic Royal Palaces is an equal opportunities employer and truly values a diverse workforce. Applications are welcome from candidates regardless of their background. We are also committed to high quality Safeguarding practices and to ensure everyone is kept safe in our palaces. We have procedures in place to ensure this commitment is delivered and will deal firmly and swiftly with anyone representing our charity who does not meet our required standards.
Front of House in Hillsborough employer: Hireful
At hireful, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that values teamwork and dedication. Our part-time roles, such as the Cleaning Assistant in Malvern, provide flexible hours that allow for a healthy work-life balance, while also presenting opportunities for personal growth and development within our community-focused environment. Join us to contribute to maintaining high cleanliness standards at The Downs, where your efforts are truly appreciated and rewarded.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Front of House in Hillsborough
✨Hit the Ground Running with Seasonal Hiring!
Many customer support roles, especially seasonal ones, ramp up around holidays or special events. Keep an eye out for hiring fairs or open days in your area. Local businesses often need a boost during peak times, so don’t hesitate to drop in and chat directly with the team at places like Hireful.
✨Join Customer Support Communities
Dive into online communities focused on customer support, like forums or social media groups. This is a fantastic way to connect with others in the field, learn about unadvertised roles, and share experiences. Plus, you never know when a connection might lead to an opportunity at places like Hireful.
✨Show Off Your Skills!
Since you're targeting a seasonal role, create a quick online portfolio showcasing your customer support skills. Whether it’s resolving customer queries, handling difficult conversations, or just general customer engagement – put it all out there! Make sure to share the link when you apply to Hireful.
✨Be Prepared for the Busy Season
You know seasonal work can get intense, so brush up on common customer queries and best practices before interviews. When you’re prepared to talk about handling high-stress situations, it shows you’re ready to step in during the crunch periods. This is likely to impress the team at Hireful!
We think you need these skills to ace Front of House in Hillsborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Support Skills:In your CV, make sure to highlight any previous experience you've had in customer support or related fields. This could include resolving customer issues, handling complaints, or even just being a go-to person for friends and family. Use specific examples that demonstrate your capability to help others effectively—the more relatable, the better!
Tailor Your Cover Letter with Enthusiasm:For a seasonal role at Hireful, we want to see your excitement for both the job and the company. Use your cover letter to express why you're interested in customer support specifically and how you're eager to help customers during peak times. Mention any relevant skills or experiences that make you a perfect fit!
Flexibility is Key:Seasonal positions often require adaptability, so emphasise your willingness to work varying shifts or tackle new challenges. Let us know about your flexibility in your cover letter, as it shows you're ready to jump into action when needed and helps us understand your availability throughout the season.
Emphasise Soft Skills and Teamwork:In customer support, your soft skills are just as crucial as your experience. Highlight qualities like patience, empathy, and communication in your CV and cover letter. If you have examples of working in a team to solve problems or improve processes, shout about them—they'll show us how you can contribute to a great atmosphere at Hireful!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hireful
✨Showcase Your Customer Empathy
In customer support, empathy is key! Come prepared with examples from past experiences where you handled customer issues. Think of specific situations where you turned a frustrated customer into a satisfied one, because those real-life stories will show Hireful that you've got the right attitude for their team.
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with popular customer support tools like Zendesk or Freshdesk. If you've used any chat or ticketing systems before, be ready to discuss how you navigated them and any challenges you overcame. This will demonstrate that you're not just a people person but also tech-savvy, which is super important in this field.
✨Prepare for Role-Playing Scenarios
Expect some role-playing during your interview where you'll be asked to deal with a hypothetical customer scenario. Practise handling common issues, such as a complaint about a product or service delay. This will give you a chance to display your problem-solving skills and how you maintain professionalism under pressure.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Enthusiasm
As this is a seasonal position, let your passion shine! Talk about your willingness to dive into the role, your adaptability to busy periods, and how you thrive in high-pressure environments. Share why you're excited to join Hireful during this peak time and how you can be an asset to their team.
