Hi there, folks. I need some experience and advice that's going to require baring a bit of my less proud moments in life. I don't expect anyone to be sympathetic to my situation, nor do I ask anyone to be, but I do ask that you please bear with me when I ask if the CareerStart program (or CP if I go to the local community college) could work for me.
It seems like I've made a number of developmental mistakes in life, and I might as well start with the most glaring one:
I'm in my early 20s and dropped out of High School when I was 18 for personal reasons. Although I would be comfortable discussing the background of that with employers if necessary, I'd rather not share the nitty gritty on-line. Perhaps this was not the best move, but my future was not immediately at the forefront of my mind when I made the decision. I'm now in process of getting into Night School here and completing the credits I lack to get a diploma (I literally had only a number of weeks left in school to graduation when I quit.)
I also lack job experience. Nothing too personal about this one, I'm afraid. My parents have been very generous to support me through life and never made any kind of demands or ultimatums for me to grow up and get a job. While I appreciate it, I'm becoming concerned about falling behind so far in life. Not to mention that my parents obviously will run out of patience at some point soon.
I hope this doesn't make you think I'm completely worthless. As I think is reflected in this post, I am a very good communicator and can display the right attitude. Much like almost everyone here, I'm passionate about Disney. I love to study the workings and details of the parks and my family has been park-goers since well before my birth when Walt walked through Disneyland. I'm a DL vet so being a CM would definitely not be "just another job."
So then: When I'm done completing my course to make up HS credits and get a diploma, is there any hope in trying out? If I look this bad on paper because of being older than the usual HS grad and having a lack of history, will I have a chance to plead my case with a person before it's all said and done? Or is it all done via application? I think these life issues will quickly iron themselves out if I had to oppertunity to do something I'd really enjoy. It's kind of crushing to think I may have blown my opportunity in life, but I just didn't seriously have a Disney career in my mind when they were made and things just turned out the way they did.
The second question is if it would be wasting my time to apply after receiving the diploma, if perhaps I should look into enrolling in the Community College and eventually applying into WDWCP instead of CareerStart? The recruiters do their presentation spiel at the local CC here so I assume it "counts." It seems there's a number of positions, including a few I wouldn't protest, listed on the CP role list that isn't on the CareerStart list. Are CS applicants simply barred from this stuff? I could understand the company being worried about kids out of High School having jobs that involve being near alcoholic drinks, but characters? That seems like more like something depending on height than age, and I can't see how a college education will assist someone who dresses like an orange dog and dances in full-body pajamas. :lol:
Thanks in advance for any replies, and if you actually read all the way this far, you get a cookie.
It seems like I've made a number of developmental mistakes in life, and I might as well start with the most glaring one:
I'm in my early 20s and dropped out of High School when I was 18 for personal reasons. Although I would be comfortable discussing the background of that with employers if necessary, I'd rather not share the nitty gritty on-line. Perhaps this was not the best move, but my future was not immediately at the forefront of my mind when I made the decision. I'm now in process of getting into Night School here and completing the credits I lack to get a diploma (I literally had only a number of weeks left in school to graduation when I quit.)
I also lack job experience. Nothing too personal about this one, I'm afraid. My parents have been very generous to support me through life and never made any kind of demands or ultimatums for me to grow up and get a job. While I appreciate it, I'm becoming concerned about falling behind so far in life. Not to mention that my parents obviously will run out of patience at some point soon.
I hope this doesn't make you think I'm completely worthless. As I think is reflected in this post, I am a very good communicator and can display the right attitude. Much like almost everyone here, I'm passionate about Disney. I love to study the workings and details of the parks and my family has been park-goers since well before my birth when Walt walked through Disneyland. I'm a DL vet so being a CM would definitely not be "just another job."
So then: When I'm done completing my course to make up HS credits and get a diploma, is there any hope in trying out? If I look this bad on paper because of being older than the usual HS grad and having a lack of history, will I have a chance to plead my case with a person before it's all said and done? Or is it all done via application? I think these life issues will quickly iron themselves out if I had to oppertunity to do something I'd really enjoy. It's kind of crushing to think I may have blown my opportunity in life, but I just didn't seriously have a Disney career in my mind when they were made and things just turned out the way they did.
The second question is if it would be wasting my time to apply after receiving the diploma, if perhaps I should look into enrolling in the Community College and eventually applying into WDWCP instead of CareerStart? The recruiters do their presentation spiel at the local CC here so I assume it "counts." It seems there's a number of positions, including a few I wouldn't protest, listed on the CP role list that isn't on the CareerStart list. Are CS applicants simply barred from this stuff? I could understand the company being worried about kids out of High School having jobs that involve being near alcoholic drinks, but characters? That seems like more like something depending on height than age, and I can't see how a college education will assist someone who dresses like an orange dog and dances in full-body pajamas. :lol:
Thanks in advance for any replies, and if you actually read all the way this far, you get a cookie.