Getting an IT job at WDW. Tricks, Tips? Outside the box ideas?

[dvcwill]

My wife and I recently moved to the area, about 15 minutes from Celebration, and would really love to get in at Disney.

Obviously patience and persistence is key, but I guess I'm wondering if anyone has any "outside the box" advice. Perhaps ways to connect with CM's, meetups, should I make a Disney specific resume etc.

We are both in our 30's in IT, so we're mid-career and can't do the internship or start at the very bottom.

I don't have a degree, which makes it 10x harder for me to even get through the door, but I do have some decent experience in the entertainment industry working with clients like Blue Man Group, Hamilton, and other celebrities and am a manager who answers to C-Level stakeholders. I'm sure I'd make a great candidate for some of the jobs I'm applying to, I just don't know how to get that chance to show them.

After a few dozen applications, I'm really starting to feel defeated. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and if you're a corporate CM reading this, want to do lunch? My treat!

Thanks
Will

 

[DisneyJoe]

Do some research and find the companies that Disney outsources their IT. Perhaps start with the IT layoffs that happened over the last few years.

I've also found that many Disney technical jobs are NOT in the Orlando area. Only 6 of the 18 pages that I saw for Disney IT were in the WDW area.

https://jobs.disneycareers.com/cate...nformation-services-jobs/391-5733-5732/1945/1

 

[rob0519]

In the current IT climate, I can tell you that not having that degree is going to make it 10 times harder to get an interview without some help. Most major HR departments use resume' scanning software. If the requirements are having a college degree, anything scanned without that information is basically sent to the side. Best of luck. I hope you land something at Disney.

 

[flynnibus]

In IT, experience and certs within the product space you are working on trumps degrees. Degrees are usually only checkboxes for manager roles/etc. If the job is for a DBA and you can demonstrate history and competency... no one gives a hoot about your old degree or GPA.

Answer the job postings with specific experience in the role's requirements. Disney is a big enterprise company like most. Stalk the listings and keep pounding.

 

[dvcwill]

Thanks Joe.

Yeah, I've been reaching out and connecting with recruiters. My lack of degree really hurts me.

My wife has a degree and worked at a couple colleges, but we keep getting told "its who you know". One CM friend told me that it took her BF a year to get in there. So I guess we just need to keep being persistent. I'm hoping I can meet someone who has a little insight into the inner workings.

I think I am going to try to go to a Toastmasters meeting that is for CM's but open to the public.
I've also begun searching "friends of my friends who work at Disney" on facebook and just trying to meet CM's, though most are performers/photopass etc.
A recruiter suggested the Panera in front of the Celebration offices.

I also posted to LinkedIn asking this same question and was contacted by another recruiter.

 

[dvcwill]

In the current IT climate, I can tell you that not having that degree is going to make it 10 times harder to get an interview without some help. Most major HR departments use resume' scanning software. If the requirements are having a college degree, anything scanned without that information is basically sent to the side. Best of luck. I hope you land something at Disney.

In IT, experience and certs within the product space you are working on trumps degrees. Degrees are usually only checkboxes for manager roles/etc. If the job is for a DBA and you can demonstrate history and competency... no one gives a hoot about your old degree or GPA.

Answer the job postings with specific experience in the role's requirements. Disney is a big enterprise company like most. Stalk the listings and keep pounding.

Haha, almost two opposite answers and oddly, they are both correct. I'm old enough that most of the technology I use today didn't even exist when I very briefly went to school and I have numerous certificates and have examples of results. I have several certificates with example products developed. But as rob0519 said, I'm not even getting looked at because I get removed right away for not even having a degree.

That's kind of why I'm looking for the "outside the box" method mentioned. I think I would be a good hire, but I need to know someone who can get me past that first hurdle.

Perhaps do some pro-bono work for a Disney related project or specific person?

 

[rk03221]

Just keep in mind disney is going through a big lawsuit with their former IT workers. They laid off hundreds of their IT workers and replaced them all with workers from India, not only that but the workers being laid off had to train their replacements.

 

[ford91exploder]

Haha, almost two opposite answers and oddly, they are both correct. I'm old enough that most of the technology I use today didn't even exist when I very briefly went to school and I have numerous certificates and have examples of results. I have several certificates with example products developed. But as rob0519 said, I'm not even getting looked at because I get removed right away for not even having a degree.

That's kind of why I'm looking for the "outside the box" method mentioned. I think I would be a good hire, but I need to know someone who can get me past that first hurdle.

Perhaps do some pro-bono work for a Disney related project or specific person?

You would be better off with a State IT job better benefits and the majority of Disney IT is outsourced

If you still want to work AT Disney in an IT role apply with Cognizant for jobs in the Orlando FL/Celebration FL area working FOR Disney in an IT role unless you are a PMP or Senior IT leadership candidate is unlikely

The key once again is WDW has outsourced most of their IT and Development and all that remains is Senior IT leadership and Project management offices and Cognizant has the lions share of IT technical and support roles