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!

Montage Interview

Montage Video Interview
This cycle it seems like a lot more Professional Internships started using this video interview software called Montage. I had heard of past cycles a small handful of internships having to do a video interview, but it seems like a lot more positions have started to use this software. It is a lot like Skype, but for businesses. 

Interview Offer Originally when I got the email to schedule the interview, it said that I was having a phone interview. I then got a separate drop down saying Animal Programs Callback. This drop down was really only used for this interview. However, because of this I wasn't sure what position I was being interviewed for. Luckily, since I had been talking to people through Facebook I guessed it was for the Conservation Education Presenter position. If interested, there are other blogs that pretty much give the questions, but I don't feel comfortable sharing them here. However, two days before my interview I got an email describing the video interview process with Montage. It seemed a little confusing, but it really does walk you right through it. I recommend going to the room and getting familiar with it before your interview.

The Actual Interview My interview was with two of the managers of the Animal Programs team and was specifically for my Conservation Education Presenter Role. They asked questions that I felt prepared for. Unfortunately, I had some bad things happen for my interview. I was at home for spring break and our internet isn't the best. Since my connection was slow and the video was lagging, they called my cell phone for the audio. THEN, my phone dropped the call. I was like, SERIOUSLY! My phone never drops calls! Luckily they used the messaging system and called me right back. The one interviewer (who was also from Michigan and knew someone who was a full-timer in my department at the zoo) said she had her call dropped during her interview when she had first applied for her internship. 

The complications really threw me off and I thought I spoke too fast and did awful. Luckily, I must have done better than I thought I did since I got the offer!!!

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.