Likelihood of Full Time

Time for another check-in! I know I am bad at blogging (I would say welcome to working full time and going to grad school, but I have gone through periods with 0 excuses). However, I am really good with following the intern Facebook pages and answering questions! I figured I may try to revive some blogging habits and do some posts on topics of frequent questions that I help answer in the groups, so here is my first topic!


Many people who apply for professional internships with Disney use it as a way to get their foot in the door to hopefully get a full time position. While many full time cast members in professional roles were once PIs, there is definitely not any guarantee of a full time offer during or after your internship. Because of this, a frequent question that people ask is the likelihood of going full time at after your PI. While I don't have any hard and fast numbers, I can tell you a bit of what I have learned from my experience of completing two PIs and staying with the company in a full time capacity. 

Work Ethic
Before you even think about full time, make the most of your PI. You aren't going to get anywhere with a full time offer if you cannot impress your leaders on your internship. Hiring managers will ask your leaders about you (they do it even for full time cast moving into new roles) so don't spend all your time worrying about the full time offer and not taking advantage of doing quality work and maybe learning a few skills to put on your resume. Recognize you may need to do 2 internships before getting anywhere, so build up the skills in your...

Area of Expertise
A big determination of how likely you can stay with Disney is what your background is in. For example, if you have experience in analytics, there are many teams around Disney that you may be qualified for and is an area that generally is growing. This means that you have more opportunity to stay, whether or not it is in the department that you interned in.  
On the other hand, if you are in Environmental Education, there is really one department you can work under. Thusly, by the nature of the team, you may not have a good chance of going straight to full time after the internship because their is a limited number of full time positions, so for this team you may need to go part time for a while (months or years) before getting a statused full time position. While going part time is an option for that area, not all areas have that option. Therefore, if the team you intern with is one of the only teams in your area, you may not have a good chance of staying with the company, because a lot depends on...

Timing
Timing is everything. If you are interning during an economic downturn, there may be a lot of cuts without many positions opening. This could also be conversely true with periods of growth as well. 
I always say that it is unlikely to stay with the team you intern with, because there has to be a lot of luck with the team either growing and gaining new headcount or someone leaving the team resulting with an opening. Not only that, you often have to hope that the position is going to be posted as an entry level position and the team enjoys your work enough to consider you. With those situations being few and far between, to take full advantage of your PI, you need to consider...

Networking
Networking is perhaps one of the biggest advantages of having a PI over applying externally. While I was awful at it (and really, REALLY lucked out to get a position without it), this is one of the biggest pieces of advice I give interns. Really use your time with the company to your advantage! It is such a big company with departments doing things you never knew Disney did, so take time to go and learn about them. The more you know about what you can do with your experience at Disney and the more people in those departments that may have openings during your time as an intern, thereby increasing your chances! If leaders can recognize your name in a stack of resumes, it can help increase the chance of getting interviews and potentially a full time position!

So when your on your PI, go talk to your leaders on how to approach networking, because who knows if you connect with a department or someone you network with and they end up having an opening on their team! Maybe I'll even do a post on how to network one of these days....

So to top it off, don't go in thinking everyone is going to love you and you will have a job offer in the first month (yes, there are some people that think this way), but if you work hard in your internship on your team, keep an eye out on my Disney Career for job postings, and do meet and greets, the timing of a great position and your skill set may align and give you that opportunity to stay with Disney post-PI! 

Update to Intern Park Passes

One of the greatest perks of being an intern with Disney is the free park admission. Can you imagine being able to enjoy the magic whenever you want!?!?! Even after two years with the Company I have to say it doesn't get old. While, I might not go quite as often as I did during my first internship because I wanted to make the most of my unknown amount of time here, I still go quite often. I love being able to just go for a few hours in the evening after the sun goes down in the summer, grab a bit to eat during Food and Wine at EPCOT, enjoy all of the holiday festivities, and more whenever I want. 

As a cast member, you even get to bring guests in to enjoy with you! While I am very fortunate to be statused in a full time position now so my guest passes work differently, interns (College or Professional ones) still get the same unlimited self admission and get some guest passes as well. I made a post last year about the old way that intern guest passes used to work (Old Intern Park Pass Post) but at the beginning of this calendar year Disney shook up the way intern passes work so I figured it was worth doing an update for those who might be itching to know what to expect.

The self admission main entrance pass still works the same, but instead of getting 3x 6 use passes at the beginning of your internship, interns and seasonal cast members now accrue their guest passes based on hours worked.

Need to actually type how the new passes work. I believe that once you have worked 150 hours you will receive three 1 person park hopper tickets. These could all be used on the same day or different days, it's up to you! Then after you work another 150 hours you get three more 1 person park hoppers. Finally you will recieve 3 more after the 450th hour worked. I believe at that point you will stop accruing so during your internship you will likely get nine 1 person park hoppers. 

If you were to let in the max of 3 people each time you used the old version then technically you got more under the old way (max 18 across 6 days) and could do so from the day you got your main enterence pass was nice. However, the felxibility of when you can use the new passes is nice too! Why did this change happen? Perhaps Disney was trying to avoid people starting a CP/PI using the perks and then quitting and/or trading away shifts as a CP but maintaining their own entrance to the parks. Who knows the exact reason this changed but I haven't heard many complaints about the new system besides when it was first announced, so I assume it has been going well. But let's be honest: who can complain about getting in free to Disney and having the opportunity to intern at such a great company!!!!

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.

Guest Relations Numbers

One of the most popular Alumni Only Professional Internships is the Guest Relations Internship. For Alumni Only you have to have done a CP or PI to be eligible to apply (or currently doing one). Guest relations cast members are very highly regarded in the parks and is perhaps the most coveted front line position. Since this is an internship with such high interest and acceptance should be rolling out in a matter of weeks/days, I decided to look up how many current Guest Relations PIs there are. Note that this is one of those internships that is very likely to vary the numbers by semester. For example, I have heard that while My Disney Experience with the new FP+ system  and magic bands rolled out a lot more interns were accepted than normal to help with what was anticipated to be an extra crazy time in the parks. 

Right now there are currently a total of 32 Guest Relations Professional Interns and here is how they break down by park:
15 Magic Kingdom
7 EPCOT
2 Animal Kingdom
4 Hollywood Studios
4 Disney Springs

It seems to change each semester when Guest Relations PIs find out which park they are in. I remember a semester when the recruiter used to tell you when they were giving the offer. There have also been semesters where your future leaders will reach out a few weeks after your acceptance (similar to how MIs find their placement). I think there have been a few different scenarios as well so who knows how this semester/future semesters will play out. I guess we will all just have to wait a little longer to see! Good luck to all who have applied!

Here is a link if you want to see a similar post about MIs: Management Internship Numbers

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

Disney Professional Interns Twitter Q&A Fall 2015

For a couple of weeks the official Disney Interns Facebook and Twitter pages advertised a Twitter Q&A. Basically, leading up to Sept 8th people could ask questions with the hashtag #AskPI and then recruiters answered the questions on September 8th. If you are interested in knowing what questions people asked and how the recruiters responded. Check the link to view the chat! Just remember, there is a character limit so the answers weren't always super specific. 

Disney Interns Twitter Q&A

If you have questions that aren't answered out there, feel free to post them in a comment and I would be more than happy to answer them! I have had a varied experience here at Disney and have friends in a WIDE range of areas, so even if I don't know the answer, I probably know someone who does. :)

Park Passes for Interns

One of the coolest perks of working for Disney is free entry into the parks! Cast members can get into the park almost every day of the year using their Main Entrance Pass (also called their Main Gate). There are a few set day that cast are blocked out, such as 4th of July, New Years, 24 Hour Days, etc.  If the park reaches a certain capacity cast can also be phased out. This usually particularly happens during the holidays. Typically only Magic Kingdom gets blocked out for cast, but occasionally other parks will be hit, too. For example, in October EPCOT is blocked on the day of the Wine and Dine Half Marathon.

The exciting thing is, that not only do you get yourself in for free, you get a certain number of guest passes! That means you can get friends or family in for free, too! When you are an intern (whether it is on a college program, a professional internship, or management internship) you will get 6 guest passes. These 6 passes allow you to get 3 people in at a time. If you only bring 2 people into the park, the 3rd pass expires. Unlike your maingate pass that lets you into the park, your guest pass has a lot more restricted dates. Usually block out dates are posted for 3 months at a time and can be found on the following website: Block Out Dates

Another cool perk, is your Main Gate works at any Disney park in the world, besides Tokyo Disneyland. That means if you are really lucky during your internship you could try and make a long weekend to visit Disneyland! I have even heard that if you use your guest passes there they do not count against your guest pass usage at Disney World! If you go there I have heard you have to go to guest relations to get your passes using your company ID. 

Note: This information is for interns at Walt Disney World. Disneyland is a little different. I heard that interns there do not get guest passes.

More about Montage Interviews

I previously posted about Montage Interviews, however as more internships this cycle begin to have second interviews I figured I would make an additional post about them. Montage is a video interview service that Disney uses that is a lot like Skype, but here is some additional information.

What positions use Montage?

Some of the most common internships that I know definitely use Montage are Animal Programs internships and Management Internships. Animal Programs don't have a screening interview and this will be the only interview animal programs will use. Note, not all animal programs uses Montage (I had a phone interview for my Chemistry interview) but most do, especially if they are at Animal Kingdom or the Seas. It seems like ones based out of the Land do them a little less often, but it can depend on the position. 

As for Management Internships, if you pass the screening interview and are extended an invitation for second interview you will have two choices: an in person panel interview in Florida or a panel interview with Montage. In the invitation it says that the in person ones are mainly for locals, but it isn't uncommon to hear of people flying down to do this interview. In my opinion, I would say not to waste the money on a plane ticket/hotel to come down for the interview, but it is really up to you. I know people who have gotten it from the video interview and I don't think it would be offered if they weren't going to actually treat the applicants the same. However, if you have the money and really think you will make a better impression in person than go for it.

Other positions may use montage, but it varies much more by position. I know my current managers have never used montage for interviewing and don't really see the point in it, but are being more heavily encouraged to use it by Casting than before. 

What to Expect

A few days before your interview you'll get an email which includes instructions and a link to the Montage "room." There are instruction videos about what to do and it allows you to test to ensure you software/webcam are on the correct settings so it will work optimally during the interview. You will be allowed to "enter" the room at any time to see what it is like. Definitely log on to your interview at least 15 minutes early to make sure everything works. Sometimes a person from the Montage team will come on to make sure everything is working well and give recommendations to help make sure everything is working correctly. During my first Montage interview, my webcam was being funny and she was a big help in making sure it was fixed before my interviewers came on. Make sure you are in a place that has good cell reception and that you have a pair of headphones nearby. 

I have had 4 different Montage experiences: 2 that everything has gone flawless, one where the interviewer had never used Montage and couldn't figure out the sound so we both put our microphones on mute and he called me, and one that was kind of a disaster technology-wise. In the disaster interview, everything was going well at first and worked great with the Montage team, then I was asked to use my headphones since there was a ton of feedback from the speaker. This is not an uncommon thing to do since the interviews ultimately don't want to hear themselves. Then my video lagged a TON and the sound wasn't really working so we were typing to figure things out. They then called my cell phone to use as the sound with the video still going so we could see each other. Then my cell phone dropped a call (one of less than 5 times since I've had a cell phone) so they called me back on my home phone to finish the interview. Funny enough, the two where the technology worked perfectly were the positions that I did not get. So if something goes wrong, just take a deep breath and know that it isn't uncommon and the people interviewing you will not in any way hold it against you. 

After the first time using Montage the process seemed pretty straightforward since I had prepared by reading/watching everything included since it really walks you right through the entire process. I know it can seem kind of confusing and nerve wracking if you have never done a video interview before, but it really was great to interact with the interviews more than what you can do via phone interviews. Just be prepared from the technology side so you can prove yourself and why you should have the position. Good luck!

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!

The Screening Interview

As this application cycle gets underway, I am seeing a ton of people on the Facebook page wanting to know more about the screening interview. For my first internship I only applied to Animal Programs positions, which do not require a screening interview. Instead the animal programs team as a questionnaire they send out to applicants that helps them determine who they are going to continue to consider for interviews.

For my second round of applying for internships, I applied for more of a variety (Animal Programs, an MI, and other PIs). Once again Animal Programs doesn't use a screening interview, but since I had applied for other positions I recieved an email to schedule time for a screening interview. I believe it showed up under my MI, but this screening interview (as the recruiter will tell you when you start) can be used for any/all positions you applied for. I actually applied to many of my PIs after my screening, including the one I ultimately was hired for. I have, however, heard of individuals who have been called back to answer additional questions and even someone on the Facebook group mentioned having 3 screeners last year!

Almost everyone who has passed the computer resume screen gets a screening interview since it is often how the recruiters decide which names to pass on to the individual hiring managers. However, don't be worried if you don't receive one right away, or even after other people on the internet have had them. It looks like this year they are starting with people who applied for Alumni Only, but they have a ton of people and will eventually get to you (unless however the department you are applying within doesn't use the screening interview). 

When you do get your email for a screening interview you will use your dashboard to schedule a time. Don't worry if you don't see a time available on the site. Times are always getting added so just try waiting a few hours to a day to see if more open up before reaching out to the recruiter if you really need some more options. There are all sorts of times, too. I have seen people have them for just about any day of the week at almost any time (I think I remember seeing people schedule them past 8 o'clock at night!) Just make sure to schedule your interview within 2 days of getting the email and make sure to chose a time that will allow you to be in a calm place, without distractions, and where you won't have to be rushing from one place to another. 

After scheduling your phone screen, sit back and try to be well prepared about thinking of potential interview questions and questions you want to ask the interviewer. Depending on the position you are applying for this might be your first of a few rounds of interviews or it might be the only one used to help make a decision. Because of this, try to be yourself, smile, and be proud of your work and accomplishments so you can prove to those recruiters that you are the perfect person for the job. Remember, don't stress too much! The recruiters are really nice people who want to see people succeed and know how nerve wracking it can be. So prepare, have some notes, but make sure you are calm so you can ace that screening interview!

(I'll do a post on potential questions when I get a chance!)

2014 Fall Presenters Stats

It's been a little over a year since my group of presenters started our internship. Since I have had a ton of time on my hands I've decided to dig a bit to see where we are all now.

-There were 29 of us in the Fall 2014 Conservation Education Presenter internship Group.

-There are currently 15 of us still employed by the company (not including the 3 that are still seasonal presenters).

-Of the 15 of us left, 10 have positions still within Animal Programs. (This is a little lie since in reality one person works with Natural Encounters, Inc which is a contractor, so she technically isn't really a cast member and isn't in Animal Programs, but it's close enough...)
-The 10 who are in Animal Programs currently hold positions as Summer Conservation Camp Instructors, Education Programs Instructors, Wild Africa Trek Guide, Pangani Trail Guide, Animal Keeper, and Wilderness Explorer Coordinator Internship (called Conservation Education Operations).
-Most of the people in Animal Programs are part time. The Conservation Day Camp Instructors are on a Full Time TA for the summer but go back to part time Instructor positions afterwards. 1 person is an intern. The one who is a contractor with NEI is full time. The Keeper at DAK Lodge is on a Full Time TA.

-The 5 of us who aren't in Animal Programs are in widely different positions from Revenue Management to Secretary to Cruise Line Trainer to Attractions Host to a position that I don't understand.
-The 5 of us that aren't in Animal Programs are Full Time or have Full Time TAs

So that's a peek into what a Presenter Group looks like 6 months post-internship completion. I loved my group and can't wait to see where Disney takes us, whether it is a life long career or a place to vacation.


As a side note, the 14 who aren't employed by Disney have a wide range of jobs too, including Museum Education Manager, part time Zoo Keeper, a couple Zoo Educators, Au Pair in Germany for a year, one still in undergrad, an Education Coordinator, one going to dentistry school, one works with the Salvation Army, one is getting her PhD, and a few that are between things (such as just moving across the country and getting married to her marine fiance, another getting married in a week or so, and a few that are a bit of a mystery to be honest after finishing their second PIs a month or so ago)

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