jobs at disney..difficult?

dponisci

Member
Original Poster
hey folks, i just returned from a fabulous week in disney. i continue to love spectromagic more and more. i have been doing some thinking about working at disney. i am graduating college on sunday! and am working for a year doing some volunteer service but after that is up in the air. how difficult is it to get the "right" job at disney? now i'm not sayin that working as a cashier isn't my dream job or anything, but coming out of college with a degree in psychology, i wouldn't want to do that. any thoughts?
 

LRV3400

Member
My first post!

I too just graduated from college this past December. I had the fortune of being able to land a professional internship at Disney durring school. I took a year off to work full time in an office building in Celebration, FL. It was great fun, the time of my life.

Now I have the itch to return to Disney. (Who doesn't?) Unfortunately the area that could use my professional tallents are not currently hiring. :( The good news is that things are looking to turn around probably by the fall in at least one of these departments and I may be able to land a job.

Till then I am going to take a leap and move to Orlando anyway. While a behind the scenes CM I had tha fortune of CrossUing both in MK and on a Monorail station. So now my plan is to go get an hourly job in attractions or transportation to immerse myself and get some good contacts.

One would hope my previous employment with the comapny would help me get in one step up, but I am not holding my breath. I fugre this will just be a summer job.

Now... your answer:

It seems hourly jobs are VERY easy to get. The don't pay well but the turn over seems high enough that they are always hiring.

Professional jobs are another story. Findign a way to get in as an intern is best. Disney takes many college students each semester. Unfortuntely they don't take grads in this program. The next best thing is to know someone in the comapny. I was fortunate enough to meet a few VPs and Directors while intering and was able to network into many departments.

Without contacts the only thin you can do is apply constant pressure. Send your resumee often and move to the area. Find out the names of some people and start cold calling. It is hard but I was able to find some obscure references to a secratary within the company that helped me break though the secrecy around Disney. The best thing is to be frendily yet presistant.

I think disney has uses for psycoholgists in both attraction and resort design as well as operations and quality assurance programs. You just have to weasle in. :D


Whoa, long post. Sorry, I'm excited about my upcomming move to Orlando and the entertainment industry in general.

Damon
 

cm1988

Active Member
First post? May there be many more!

Originally posted by LRV3400
...professional internship at Disney durring school... have the itch to return... area that could use my professional tallents are not currently hiring... things are looking to turn around probably by the fall......had tha fortune of CrossUing both in MK and on a Monorail station.... plan is to go get an hourly job in attractions or transportation to immerse myself and get some good contacts... hope my previous employment with the comapny would help me get in one step up, but I am not holding my breath....

...seems hourly jobs are VERY easy to get.... don't pay well... Professional jobs are another story.... get in as an intern is best. ...next best thing is to know someone...Without contacts...Send your resumee often and move to the area. Find out the names of some people and start cold calling....be frendily yet presistant....
You made many excellent points there - and are looking squarely at the challenges. And I think, too, there is cause for optimism in the fall. My guess is there will be a technical/salaried hiring surge right before or after the Fiscal Year end (Sept 30).

I avoid the 'professional' term because to me, every cast member can be professional, and the vast majority are; regardless of their duties or pay status. More than the folks back in the offices, they need to be --- they're the 'front line'.

It's also good to keep that perspective that your hourly role and contacts may not quickly lead to a technical/salaried opportunity. It could be several years. I've known several who've had a long walk on that path. But if you have the means to financially get by, and you have the karma to enjoy a role in the parks or resorts... drawing satisfaction from your interactions with cast and guests... well, thank you very much and please head on over to the Casting Center! It would be good to be working with you.
 

cm1988

Active Member
Getting in the door

Originally posted by dponisci
...just returned from a fabulous week...
Always good to hear that! Wishing you many happy (and persistent) memories.
...thinking about working at disney... am graduating college... doing some volunteer service but after that... how difficult is it to get the "right" job at disney?
To quote me pappy, "It's a long row to hoe!" But some are 'lucky'... luck being defined as having the serendipitous combination of a skill that is needed, a well-placed contact who knows that you have it, and perfect timing! It happens every day --- for a few --- while for many, it does not yet happen.

If nothing else, you may want to keep an eye on Monster.com Many WDW salaried positions get posted there.

All the best in your volunteer service! :wave:
 

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