Resumes

Creating a resume is a daunting task albeit perhaps the most important one in getting a job. Yes, even potentially more important than your degree, hot shot internship, or cool research project you worked on, because how can your recruiter know about those things if you can't portray them correctly in your resume?

While I do not proclaim myself on being an all knowing expert on resumes, I weirdly used to enjoy making them when applying to internships and full time positions. I feel like while I may not be the best writer in the world, I am good about making connections to my experience to the jobs I am applying for. There are many great places for resume advice like your school's career center, a parent, mentor, or professor, but here is some of the advice that I have picked up through my years of applying to positions at Disney (and even after sitting on a hiring panel once as well!)

My first step in creating a resume is opening up word and start listing EVERYTHING that you can thing of that you may want to put on a resume. Schools, jobs, volunteering, languages, conferences attended, major projects you have worked on (even if they were just in school), awards, scholarships, anything and everything you can think of: list it all out! I recommend this since listing everything out can really help you see all you have to offer and can actually help you focus more on the important things to include rather than trying to figure out what is most important to include off of the top of your head. Also, make sure to list all responsibilities that you had in roles or projects including software/machinery used (or whatever may be applicable in your subject area). This document could be 2 to 10+ pages long depending on your experience. Remember this is a starting point and not what you are submitting!

Then start looking at what positions you are interested and try and figure out what is most applicable to include on your actual resume. I recommend tailoring your resume to every position you apply for, so this is why the previous step is helpful: you don't need to start over every time you are applying to a new position. You have a starting place to plug and chug and modify as necessary to have a nicely polished, focused resume. 

Now while making your resume here are some tips:

- Don't try and cram everything on one page if you honestly have more relevant experience. It can begin to look sloppy and hard to read if you have too much there 

-Nowadays it is very acceptable to have a 2 page resume, but don't go over 2 pages unless they ask for a CV. Life has changed from when our parents and grandparents applied for their first jobs and the 1 page rule is becoming much more of a thing of the past

-If you do go over 1 page make sure you can fill 2. Doing 1.5 pages looks sloppy and most recruiters don't like it

-Try not to have more than 3 bullet points under a position. People are trying to get a quick grasp of what you did in that job that gives you the experiences to get the position you are applying for and listing too much is hard to look at quickly. Disney gets a lot of applicants and recruiters don't have time to read a novel no matter how cool the job was

-Look at the job description and qualifications and try and figure out what makes you qualified. Try and match similar keywords and connect your experience to the position

-Don't include positions that have nothing to do with what you are applying for if you are just trying to fill space and can't adequately tie it to something related to the position 

-Split your resume into 4 parts by making lines down the center of each direction of the page. Try to have even white space in each part as it makes it easier to read and is more visually appealing 

-Don't include a mission or objective. It is outdated and isn't worth wasting the space to just say you want xxx job at yyy company. This is another outdated practice and literally everyone who has ever given me resume advice says not to include it. You have limited space to prove yourself so don't waste it with something obvious. If you have sometime you want to say that can't fit in your resume, write a cover letter instead!

-Make sure to include key words from the job description. I cannot repeat this enough. Many companies, especially Disney, get a crazy number of applicants for each job positing. Therefore, resumes are often scanned by computers before people look at them so you need to make sure the computer thinks your a good candidate before you can even hope to convince a hiring manager or recruiter. On the flip side, don't just copy and paste entire phrases from the description as that is (obviously) plagiarism

-Look up resume action words and include them in your descriptions. Also, If you have a way to quantify parts of your projects, do it! Saying you were a biology tutor makes far less of an impact then saying that you created problem sets for 4 student peers a semester and anticipated difficult subject material for weekly sessions to aid in raising students' grades an average of an entire letter grade in an introductory biology course

-List your sections of your resume from most important to least important (but remember only important things should be making your resume in the first place). Many people will take a couple of seconds on their initial scan to see if a resume is cleanly put together and if there is something about this candidate that will make them want to read more of the resume. So don't include your most important skills and experiences at the bottom of your second page.

-Give your resume to friends, family, or anyone you trust to give constructive feedback. Other people might notice mistakes you missed or even remember something useful that you may want to add before submitting the final product

-Save your resume as a PDF before submitting it. This will ensure that formatting won't change depending on who is looking at it (don't worry, the computer scanners don't have issues with PDFs)

I had two pages when I was applying for jobs as I had a diverse background and wanted to include both relevant experience and project work without cramming too much in a short space (which I know is ironic given how lengthy my blog posts tend to be 😃)  The important thing to remember is to sell yourself in a clean presentable format. This may mean different things to you or what field you are in, but resumes are perhaps the biggest impact on getting to that pone interview where you can sell yourself even further!

If you made it through this, congrats, you are on your path to start creating a stellar resume!

Spring 2017 Professional Internship Applications

So I've been behind on this semester, but we are in yet another round of Disney Professional Internship applications. Many of the applications have closed, but there are still some out there for those interested in applying and I bet they'll be additional ones posted here and there. I've been following along on the Facebook pages and this year does seem to be working a bit differently than in the past. I'm not going to pretend to know how the process works, but I will let you know some of my observations from this time around.

1. Phone Screenings: In the past you generally only had one phone screening that counted for all of your applications. Occasionally, someone would get called up to ask a few separate questions, but for the most part you generally only had one screening whether it be for PIs in different departments or for Management Internships as well. This time around people are reporting getting more specific phone screenings and one for different positions. I remember for my second PI I applied to a wide variety of positions, including analytical ones, animal ones, and MIs and had one phone screening that I was told would be used by all.

2. Animal Programs: In the past Animal Programs PIs skipped the phone screen completely (so if you only applied to these positions you never had a phone screen) and move straight to the Animal Programs team who requested the applicant fill out a questionnaire. This year it looks like Animal Programs is acting more like other PIs in having phone screens and skipping the questionnaire. There is still the familiar outreach from the hiring team, but instead of a questionnaire it just wants to ensure people are still interested in being considered. Then people are getting the typical leader interviews for the positions. The questionnaire/phone screen swap is an interesting change, but perhaps will make it more streamlined.

3. Timeline: Overall it looks like they are changing it up to perhaps get the timeline moving faster than the past. Then again every semester everyone thinks it is going faster than previous years, and it normally works out to be the same time (or in some cases later) to hear back for positions. This year does seem to have more of a drastic shift in how the process is running, but people have been told to hear back as early as the first week of October to early December (some of these people being in the same department!). I guess only time will tell how the changes earlier in the process will influence things down the line.

As always, the current semester's Facebook page is one of the best sources of information and to unite with other applicants going through the process. Disney Professional Internship | Spring 2017

If you applied for this round, good luck and if you have any questions always feel free to comment on a post or reach out to the Facebook group as the people on the pages are great resources.

2015 Twitter Q&A: Additional Questions and their Answers

So I previously included a link to a Professional Question and Answer session recruiters held on Twitter. (see post here: Disney Professional Interns Twitter Q&A) While looking around twitter I noticed that not all the twitter answers were included in the link that Disney provided from their Twitter Q&A session. 

It looks like there were additional questions asked and answered so I figured I would compile the other questions answered by Disney Recruiters here. I have grouped them into related questions. In addition, a couple of the answers from the Disney recruiters (@WayneH1991 and @JulianaDisneyPI) didn't have corresponding questions, so I've included their answers, but the question is missing so in some cases I've made an educated guess at what the question might have been. Enjoy!

Applying for internships (eg when to apply)

Q: When will summer opportunities be available to view & apply for?

A: Posting timelines will vary so we recommend checking the website regularly for summer opportunities.

How many internships can we apply to?

There is not a limit, apply for roles you’re interested in and qualified for, just stay focused in your job search

Do you happen to know if there will be any ESPN/ABC News internships for rising college seniors for summer?

We anticipate internships in both those areas next summer, and will post them on our website later this Fall

Most of your summer production internships are for undergrads. Will there be great opportunities for grads next year?

Every summer, we offer exciting internship opportunities. Please visit http://www.disneyinterns.com  this Spring to learn more

I'm in my senior year graduating with degree in computer animation. When can I apply?

Students typically apply one semester prior to participation. Eligibility includes students and recent grads.

Can you apply for a PI your sophomore year in college, or should you wait until closer to senior year?

Be sure to review the qualifications in the posting. Some require specific academic levels, but not all do.

If I attend a school that is on the quarter system, can the internship schedule be different than what is on the job description?

Our internships are compatible with academic calendars for quarter schools. Specific dates are given at offer.

When are the ESPN internship opportunities for Spring or Summer 2015 in Bristol, Connecticut posted?

Spring Positions will be posted this weekend, and Summer positions will be posted just after the new year

Do you have the same PI job positions for both the spring and fall?

Internship opportunities may vary each season, so please visit http://www.disneyinterns.com  for all current openings

Is applying for a professional internship a better idea at the beginning or nearing the end of a persons college education

Most PI's are looking for a minimum of Junior level status, so see the job descriptions for more details

How can I still apply for an opportunity with Disney if I've passed the graduation max requirement?

hose who graduated over 6 months ago are not eligible for internships so check out http://DisneyCareers.com  for jobs

College Program

Can you apply for a CP and a PI at the same time? If you get accepted to both can you do the PI instead?

Of course! If you receive multiple offers we will work with you to determine the best role for you.

Is it possible to get a PI without first having completed DCP? Or do they have first priority?

While there are some Parks roles that do require the CP, there are also many that do not across the Company

Does having previous experience as a College Program Intern help when trying to apply for a Disney Professional Internship?

CP experience is a great way to learn our Culture, network with leaders, and prepare for the next step in your Career

No Question (probably something like, can you apply for both a CP and PI)

You can apply for both the CP and PI, and if offered both would make your selection at the time of offer

I'm graduating this semester, hopefully doing the college program in the spring, can I apply after that internship?

You are able to complete two internships back to back if selected

Cover Letters/Resumes

Q: Is it better to write a general cover letter if you plan to apply to multiple positions or write specific letters for each?

A: Be sure the position requires a cover letter. If so and the positions are very similar, one cover letter is fine.

What is your FAVORITE thing to see in a cover letter?

Be sure that a cover letter is required. If so, highlight your passion for Disney and your qualifications.

If you have different resumes on your profile, can you choose which one is attached to each application?

Yes, you can customize each resume for each application, or use one resume for all applications

Interviews

Q: If we apply for both Alumni Only & Alumni Only Events positions, do we still get one screening for all positions?

A: Only one phone screen is needed. Some positions may then require additional steps such as another interview.

Top 3 tips for a phone screen?

Have confidence, share relevant experience to the role, and be professional throughout the interview

Do interviewers work around your schedule for phone interviews?

If selected for an interview, you and your interviewer will work together to select the best time for both parties

No Question Listed (Probably something like: what are the number of interview for each position?)

The number of interviews will depend on the role, anywhere from 1 - 3 interviews on average per position.

Time Frame/Dashboard

Q: I applied for a position after interviewing for another. The status bar moved to "In Progress". Am I being considered?

A: In progress shows that your application is under review by the recruitment team, and you are in consideration

After submitting the application, what's the usual time frame to hear back for a further step with the application?

Typically, our Spring decisions will be made by late November/early December

Under my application status I see an eight step procress chart. As an applicant, what are those steps?

imelines can vary depending on the position, and range from application submission through final selection

How long are the Internships, in the Spring? Is it based on Semester or quarter system? Thanks :)

Internship lengths can vary between 4 and 7 months on average

I applied thru the Disney Hub , but I left recently , will I be able to still check the status of the app

You should still be able to view your dashboard by signing in through the external site, http://DisneyInterns.com   

Other Questions

What is the number one thing an applicant can do to stand out?

Be sure to review the qualifications for the internships for which you have applied and know why you meet them. 

Besides experience in their field, what are some things students gain from an internship at Disney

Learning from industry experts and networking with leaders from across the Company are two unique components

What are some of the classes given during the program ?

Classes are not offered as part of Disney Professional Internships.

Is is appropriate to add recruiters on LinkedIn?

Not all Recruiters will accept all Linked In requests but be sure to include an intro when requesting.

Who do I contact about an internship in Archives and corporate record keeping!

For questions about any of our internships, you can contact wdpr.professional.interns@disney.com

Generally how any applicants are there per program

We do not have a specific number, and welcome as many qualified applicants that choose to apply

Can experience hurt you? For example, work in theme parks for an extended period of time

Previous experience is a great way to showcase your knowledge of the field by telling us your story

Screening Interview Questions and Tips

After applying, people wait for the moment they get the email for their screening interview. This is a big step, but I think people psych themselves out more than they need to. The following is what the Disney Professional Intern recruiters have to say about the first round interviews from the Official Disney Interns Blog 

"First-round interviews with the internship recruiters help weed out those who aren’t qualified. Though they may ask more general questions, you should know exactly what position you’re applying for and steer the conversation in the direction. Help them help you."

So while the screening interview is important, it is largely to help the recruiters get an idea of what positions you are most qualified for so they can pass on truly qualified applicants onto the hiring managers desk. From the experience I have gathered, it is most common to have one screening interview for all of the positions you have applied for. However, it isn't unheard of to have recruiters call back to ask additional questions or even schedule additional interviews (especially if you apply to additional positions after your interview). 

This interview is going to be more to see if your a fit with the company, if you are qualified for the positions you applied for, and is likely to last an average of 20 minutes. However don't worry if yours goes longer or shorter than that. Sometimes recruiters are short on time if they get behind. Sometimes they don't need as many questions to see to an idea of your personality/experience. Sometimes if they have time they would love to talk with you about their Disney experience, etc. 

My recommendations are to be calm, pull up your resume and job descriptions on your computer or print them out so you can refer to them during the interview, listen to a Disney song beforehand, smile, and be yourself. You worked hard to even apply for these positions so be proud of your accomplishments and the positions you've held!

This interview asks typical interview questions so if you Google "possible interview questions" those are likely to be possibilities of things you might be asked. However, I did put in some leg work and scoured some blogs and compiled a list of questions that others have said they have been asked in the past (I barely remember the questions from interview. lol) There is no way you will be asked all of these questions, but if you can answer these, you'll be golden for your interview!

Beginning Questions

-Why do you want to work for Disney?

-What are your career goals?

-What would you like to get out of a professional internship?

-List your top 3 positions that you've applied to. (especially asked for Alumni Only)

Situational Questions

-Tell me about a team project you have worked on and how you accomplished your goals.

-Tell me about a time where you were working on a project and something didn’t go right, how did you react?

-Tell about a time when you had too much to do and not enough time to do it all. How did you handle it?

-Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with a co-worker, manager, or guest.

-How would you handle a disruptive guest?

-Talk about a time you were in a difficult situation.
-Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a guest, how did you manage the situation?

Leadership Questions (mostly for MIs)

-Tell me about any leadership positions you have held.

-How do you define leadership and what qualities are needed in a leader?

-What do you look for in a leader?

-What is the most challenging part of being a leader?

-Tell me about a project you were a leader and how you handled it?

Other Experience/Personality Questions

-What do you believe you will be doing in this role?

-Tell me about the positions you have held and how have they prepared you?

-How would a past manager describe you in 3 words?

-Who is your favorite Disney character and why?

-How do you you stay organized?

-Name an accomplishment you are most proud of.

-What do you think your biggest strengths are?

-What computer programs are you familiar with?

-Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?

Ending Questions

-Why are you more suited for the job than other applicants?

-Is there anything else you'd like us to know about you, or are there any questions you'd like to ask us?

I'd like to give a quick shout out to these blogs for having a excellent posts on the screening interview and are where I got the majority of the questions found on this list. So check them out if you want to read more about their specific experiences before your interview day! Good luck!

http://wdwcollegeprogram2011.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html

http://professionalmousekeeter.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-phone-interview-for-alumni-only-and.html

https://design2disney.wordpress.com/2014/09/20/typical-interview-questions-for-those-pursuing-a-professional-internship-with-disney/

http://kristyndoesdisney.blogspot.com/2014/03/second-interview-complete.html

http://todisneyandbeyond.blogspot.com/2014_02_01_archive.html

http://sharonmooresmith.blogspot.com/2012/02/disney-professional-internships-step-3.html

Management Internship Numbers

Every round people want to know how many people are accepted for each internship. It is really hard to say since it varies so much by position and by recruiting season (there can be everywhere from 1 person for a posting to 29 for the Conservation Education Presenters). 
Someone on the Facebook page asked a question about estimating the number of Management Interns and someone replied with some estimates she got last year by an MI recruiter (this person has done a few internships and you can see her blog here)

Here are her estimates: 
20 for F&B
15-18 for Merch
13-15 for Park Ops
13-15 Lodging (including 5 for recreation)
3 for ASE
1 for ESPN

I decided that I was interested in knowing this A quick search using some of my excellent creeping skills, it looks like there are 120 current management interns. That number isn't by line of business, but here is how it looks like when I try to break it down:


10 F&B Quick Service
3 F&B ODV 
17 F&B Full Service 
26 Merch
4 Recreation
8 Attraction
5 Custodial-Parks
6 Entertainment
11 Housekeeping
12 Front Desk

5 Custodial-Resorts
6 Catering
2 Animals, Science, and Environment
1 Culinary
1 Transportation (river boat)

If you are counting that is only 116. I didn't go one by one through all 120, so I don't know where the missing 4 went, but I know there is a missing ESPN intern and potentially additional culinary interns. I was clicking there a few to try and find the missing ones and there just seemed to be a TON of F&B, Custodial, and Merch, so maybe a few missing ones go in there. 

Now some of the ones I've listed above fall under the same posting (eg. attractions, transportation and custodial fall under park ops=19 interns. housekeeping, front desk, and recreation fall under lodging=26 interns) Well actually, custodial can fall under park ops or lodging so those numbers might differ a little, too. However, I hope this gives people a better idea of how many management interns there are. Obviously it can, and will, differ semester by semester by area needs, funding, etc but this is hopefully a start.

I cannot help with how many apply for each position, but they are definitely competitive so take your time in preparing your application and for each interview you may receive. Good luck and hopefully you'll be making your way to management at Disney soon!

PI Timeline Part 2

This timeline is a bit more confusing than the first since I am making it so much later. Additionally, I never got official emails/notifications about not being in consideration any longer about a few of the internships. I also applied to A LOT more internships than the first time around. I applied to internships and got NLICs at across a wide timeline so that makes it confusing. Ultimately, it is just a big mess, but I eventually got an offer and that's what counts, right?

Spring 2015 Professional Internships

5 Sept 14- Applied for Management Internship-Animal, Science, Environment Operation

12 Sept 14- Email request to schedule a phone screening interview

18 Sept 14- Applied for Consumer Insight Market Research, Workforce Management Science, Learning Analytics & Evaluation, Forecasting and Planning, Travel Ops Planning, Analysis, & Optimization 

1 Oct 14-  "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Workforce Management Science 

6 Oct 14- Applied for 3 Animal Programs positions (Conservation Education Instructor, Behavioral Husbandry, Education Project Specialist)

13 Oct 14- Applied for Pricing Strategy and Analytics 

16 Oct 14-"Application Complete" email from Animal Programs team

20 Oct 14- Email to set up Montage video interview for Conservation Education Instructor

29 Oct 14- Email to set up Montage video interview for Education Project Specialist

30 Oct 14- Montage video interview for Education Project Specialist

               - Montage video interview for Conservation Education Instructor

3 Nov 14- Applied for Strategic Initiative & Integration and Consumer Insight

7 Nov 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Learning Analytics & Evaluation 

12 Nov 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Management Internship-Animal, Science, Environment Operation

17 Nov 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Education Project Specialist, Behavioral Husbandry, and Conservation Education Instructor

24 Nov 14- Applied for CMR Tech Solutions, Marketing Campaign/Analytics

26 Nov 14- Animal, Science, and Environment email about NLIC/feedback

28 Nov 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Travel Ops Planning, Analysis, & Optimization 

3 Dec 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Forecasting and Planning 

4 Dec 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Management and Analytics

6 Dec 14- Applied for Travel Operations Reporting Analytics

8 Dec 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Consumer Insight Market Research

11 Dec 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for CMR Tech Solutions, Marketing Campaign/Analytics

2 Jan 15- Applied for Merchandise Planning Internships

14 Jan 15- Phone call to schedule a phone interview for Merchandise Planning Internships

15 Jan 15- Phone interview for Merchandise Planning Internships

               -Email from recruiter to set up follow phone call

16 Jan 15- Merchandise Planning Offer Phone Call!!! 

               -Accepted offer

               -Welcome to the Team Email

               -Emailed about being added to Housing Waitlist

19 Jan 15 -Got email about being added to Housing Waitlist

19 Jan 15 -Got email about a spot in Company Sponsored Housing

22 Jan 15- Email about Arrival/Transfer Information 

25 Jan 15- Transfer Date between internships

27 Jan 15- Start date

2 Feb 15- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Travel Operations Reporting Analytics

Second Interview

Other News First
Went to Hope College (my alma mater!) today to meet up with one of my professors about the work I have been doing for the Chem Department from home. I thought I would be done, but I still have a few more hours of work I'll have to do on Thursday. It was really hard to say goodbye to a bunch of my professors. This is the first time in 4 years that I don't know the next time I will be in Holland. While there were times that I really didn't want to be there, I had a lot of good times on campus. I will really miss it. I am really sad I didn't get to see the professor I did research for since he is moving to Spokane, WA in 2-3 weeks. It is really hard since it is one of the first times that I feel like I possibly won't ever see someone again. I keep telling myself my family used to live in Spokane and since that is were I was born there is a chance that I could be back there someday. I am still glad I got to back, but for the first time in forever (cue Frozen music) I am I looking forward to the next time I can go back.


Onto the Purpose of this Post...Second Interviews!
So I already mentioned the screening interview that most of the Professional Internships have to do with one of the Disney Recruiters. After your screening interview (or right after you have submitted your application) the recruiters will pass on applications that they think could be a good fit to the managers in the Line of Business for your position. This is often where the waiting comes into play. These managers are often have a full time job to complete before they can even look at intern applications. 

Possible Next Steps After Screening Interview After the managers look at your application, there are a few different things that can happen: you can get a supplemental application, you can get a second interview, or you could potentially not hear anything. Don't fret! Not hearing anything isn't necessarily bad. Some positions, especially Alumni Only ones, don't even have a second interview. However, positions like MIs (Management Internships), pretty much have a set number of interviews from year to year. MIs often have two or three interviews (including the screening one) so if you don't hear about a second interview and other people are getting thirds, it might be a sign that you not get the position. However, until your position goes NLIC you don't have to lose all hope. 

Types of Second Interviews A lot of positions have phone interviews for second interviews and some do an internet video interview. Very, very few will even give you the option to interview in person, but MIs are the only ones that I know of that typically do have the option to do an in person second interview (but you don't have to!). Second interviews vary a ton between positions; a lot last about 20-40min, but it isn't unheard of for some people to have ones that are HOURS long. If you ask me, if you get an interview a couple of hours long, I think there is generally a pretty good change you will get the position because I don't foresee many people having a lot of time to do more than a handful of interviews of that length.

If you want to know about a specific position, feel free to ask, but a good place to go is to join past Professional Internships group pages on Facebook and search to see if there is anything about it. Since I did a Montage Interview, I can post about my experience with that next.

Supplemental Applications

At some point after you submit your application you might be contacted to submit additional materials or fill out a supplemental application. Some positions that do this are graphic design, journalist, etc internships that ask to submit a portfolio. Obviously if you have read my other posts you know that I didn't apply to those internships, so I will briefly talk about the Animal Programs and Agriculture Sciences Supplemental Applications. I got both of these shortly after I submitted my application. 

Animal Programs The Animal Programs limits that a person can only apply to 3, so people on the Facebook page that applied to more had to say which 3 they wanted to stay in consideration for through this email. I already knew this, so I had only applied to 3 (Education Conservation Presenter, Chemistry, and Reproductive Biology). The Animal Programs application had a set of standardized questions for each of the positions that I applied for through their department. The questionnaires for each position pretty much wanted to know that I did in fact have the qualifications list, list experiences and such. I then had to email those back and a cover letter that covered all 3 positions. They also ended up asking me for another copy of my transcript since they had had difficulty opening the one I had uploaded on my dashboard.

Agricultural Sciences The Agricultural Sciences one (for the Biotechnology position I applied for) asked for a cover letter, transcript, and letter of recommendation. They didn't have any extra questions. I, however, decided to withdraw my application for this position at this point in time.



OTHER UPDATES: 1 week until I leave for Florida! Oh, and how can I forget?!?! One week from today I will be leaving for Florida (well hopefully by this time we will be in Georgia for the night). I can't believe it is getting so close! I felt like I was doing well on packing, but now I feel like I have so much to do and no time to do it in! Tomorrow I am heading over to my college to finish up my work there and then Wednesday I have 2 doctors appointments and my family is going to the Tigers game for my dad's/sister's birthdays, so I will pretty much have zero time to get stuff organized. Also, with my OCDness I pretty much planned my sister's college class list today so she will be ready to register tomorrow. Well, off to make sure I have everything ready for my day trip tomorrow! 

PI Application

I figured since there isn't a ton of information out there about the PI application process I would make some posts each day before I leave about different parts of the process. This first post will be about the application itself!

Recruiting Seasons
PI applications generally follow two recruiting seasons, Summer/Fall and Spring. Spring applications generally comes out at the end of August, while Summer/Fall ones generally come out in January. However, professional internships can be posted at any time and can range in length from 3 months (summer) to 1 yr. The majority run about 6 months and go from January to June or June to January.

The Application

The application itself is relatively straightforward. It is recommended when applying to only apply for ones that you have all of the required qualifications and some/most of the recommended applications. Then since before any person sees your application, a computer reviews your resume, so many people recommend wording your experiences in a similar manner as is worded in the posting. 

Once you start the application you pretty much just enter your information, job experience, upload your resume, and answer a few qualification questions at the end. It is also a good idea to upload anything that is mentioned posting (eg. if they ask for a transcript you should upload it!). If you are applying to a general posting like Alumni Only or Marketing, you might check off which specific positions you are interested in. 

Cover Letter

Some people say you should always include a cover letter so you can possibly stand out. Other people say to only include what is asked because they want to see if you can follow instructions and won't even look at it. I didn't upload one, but I was directly contacted by the department to submit one. They didn't ask for one in their posting since they wanted just one cover letter to cover all internships that I applied for within their department so they don't ask applicants until later since people will just submit individual ones. Therefore, I would use your best judgement on whether or not to include extra things like cover letters to your application since I am not a recruiter or hiring manager so I don't know what they are looking for.

That is pretty much it to the applications! You should really have a few people look over your resume. It is better to wait until everything looks good rather than be the first person to submit your application.

My Experience
I literally applied on the last day applications were open and got an offer! I already had a full time job offer and didn't know if I should apply for an internship. I wouldn't recommend waiting until the last day in case something goes wrong. I ended up applying for 3 Animal Programs internships (Chemistry, Conservation Education Presenter, and Reproductive Biology) and 1 Agricultural Sciences one (Biotechnology).