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

PDD (Post Disney Depression) and some Post-Disney Reflections

My time at Disney was- dare I say it-magical. I met so many friends. Had my first real relationship. Gained a lot of good experience, professional and otherwise. I got to freakin' live at the most magical place on earth for an entire year. It was amazing to not live with feet of snow and spend an hour or two at a park whenever I wanted. College wasn't always amazing for me, and Disney wasn't without some bumps here or there, but I truly was able to find myself and I was the happiest I had been in a long time.

That being said,  the first two weeks home I was really depressed. I was missing the warmth (it's been a cold summer in Michigan. When I first got home there were very few days above 80, but it has been a bit warmer the last week or so.) I was missing my cubicle at Maingate. I missed logging into SIMBA and seeing the weekly reports being updated. I missed modifying my Starbucks/DLR 60th forecasts. I missed my apartment at Falcon Square. I missed my friends. I missed (most) of the roommates I had had during my year in Florida (all 8 of them). I missed DAK. I missed the rides. I missed the resorts. I missed hearing the Sandhill Cranes calls. I missed running around Independence. I missed so many things. 

I had applied for a few positions and hadn't gotten most of the positions. When I found out that I hadn't gotten the one I was most hopeful for (and would have kept me at Maingate Merchandise) I cried. I cried a lot. I honestly felt like my dreams had been crushed. During the weeks since the bad news, I've actually had a few more interviews, including what would be a dream job for me. I found out I didn't get one position, but there is still one I am waiting to hear back on. I think I will still be really disappointed if I don't get the position, but I am beginning to be okay with staying in Michigan. If I don't get this position I might cry, but I have come to adopt the mentality that a few of my old Presenter friends who left Disney have said: Disney isn't going anywhere anytime soon. So if I don't get the position, right now I am going to hold of on applying to more Disney positions and look for some jobs around Metro Detroit. Then once I pay off loans (and maybe get sick of being at home) I can always go back with the added experience. 

I think all ex-Disney CMs should have that mentality: Disney isn't going anywhere. It's going to be there for the foreseeable future, whether or not it is just for a visit or if it is there to stay. 

That being said, fingers crossed for some good news in the next week or two. :)

The Waiting Game: No news is good news

One thing that you will quickly figure out when applying to Professional Internships is that the process involves A LOT of waiting. Some people talk about not liking to wait for College Program acceptances to come out, but PIs are MUCH WORSE. CPs are supposed to hear something back within 3 weeks of their phone interview. Many times they hear back sooner than that, and they are told if they are accepted, no longer in consideration (NLIC), or if they are pended. Those that are pended have to endure waiting, but PIs really trust your ability to be patient. 

There is a common saying on the past few cycles PI Facebook groups: No news is good news. 

This is generally pretty true. Since there are so many different Professional/Management Internships, it is really hard to predict timelines compared to the College Program Application Process. However, I am going to put this as a warning: if you have other opportunities and other people have gotten responses long ago for your position, don't hold your breath. It isn't uncommon for people to never go NLIC for some positions. I think that generally they are good about changing people over on the dashboard, but since applications go between so many departments, I think some positions get looked over. On that note, it isn't uncommon for people to be accepted after the date they say everyone will hear by, and it isn't unheard of for people to get accepted after others have for the same position or even after already going NLIC. This isn't very common, so once again, don't hold your breath, but it does happen. I think people aren't always NLIC right away after others are accepted or after going NLIC is that some people drop out after accepting the position and so they will contact people who where the other top choices.

The PI process involves a TON of waiting, so it can be helpful to join the Facebook groups to connect with others (misery loves company, right?) and to see how the positions you applied to are progressing. Just remember, no news is good news!