Please help with my extreme worries! :)

[LostAtSea]

I'm going to apply for the WDWCP this Fall, and I'm soo scared I won't be accepted! I want to know, how hard is it to be accepted? If you're interviewed with multiple people, do they only pick one from that group? What are the answers they look for in the interview? I'm really bad at those types of questions (what would you do in this situation, etc..). I'm so incredibly nervous, even though it's still a couple of months away before I apply, I can't stop thinking about it! If I tell them I'll even work custodial, will that up my chances? I'd literally do anything to go! Also, how do you do the advantage thing? Is that harder to get accepted in? Or do they offer it later? Thanks for any help!!!

 

[mousermerf]

You need to be able to answer the questions - if you know what they are, just keep rehearsing your answers.

Confidence is what you need to get in. If you can't handle an interview you wont be able to handle a couple thousand guests in a pinch. Lots of CMs quit during training when one of those "pinches" do occur. Be it crowd control for a parade, a ride breakdown, the evening rush at a store, etc... You need to know how to react in stressful situations.

What are you expecting from this job? Have you worked before? This is not a free-trip and extended stay at a resort. It's a little room with unruly roommates, a job with co-workers who typically resent your existence until you prove your worth to them, very little pay, extremely demanding guests, and very little freetime or energy to explore WDW itself.

Can you tolerate being just in 1 area, possibly just backstage, 10 hours day? What about the parking lot? At the Wide World of Sports? While its raining? In an ugly outfit? By yourself? With thousands of cars honking their horns? With a blister on your foot? And there's no spaces in the handicap section either!

Not trying to be mean or shoot you down, just hoping you realize its a job, it's hard, and it can be very rewarding but it is not any sort of vacation or sight-seeing trip.

 

[LostAtSea]

I know it's not going to be easy... I know what to expect out of the job itself, I've read up a lot about it, I know how to deal with 120 degree weather and being by myself. I'm not worried about that... I'm pretty sure I can handle it, I've had to deal with mean people before as a courtesy clerk ...especially being a scab worker and having the old workers stand outside the store yelling names at me! But when I get put on the spot, I tend to blank out. And I don't really want to seem like I've rehearsed my answers, but I'll just do my best... and if at first I don't succeed..... cry and try again.

 

[mousermerf]

Rehearse - it shows you care enough to have prepared.

 

[WDWKat26]

Yikes mousemerf, what a serious post!

Anyway, the best way to practice is just think about different questions that they might ask you. For example, say a guest came up to you and was unhappy with something they had just purchased, how would you handle their problem? Always use words and phrases like "Preserving the magic" and always show that the guest is always right

It's really not that hard to get into the College Program, so don't be so paranoid! Really think about what you want to do, and remember that you will be doing that job for a few months. So, would you possibly consider working a night shift cleaning up everyone's stuff and cleaning up dirty toilets? In my honest opinion at least consider something like attractions or merchandise (we have a lot of positions open for merchandise right now). My sister settled for "anything" just so she could be down here her first year, and she ended up at Backlot Express serving fries all day, and she really didn't enjoy it but thought she would just because she was down here for the program.

As for mousemerf's post, there will be days where you will deal with unruly guests and days where you just want to roll under your bed and yell "I'M NOT GOING TO WORK!" but there are way more positive days than negative from my experience. Not only that but you can also pick up extra hours doing other things so you're not always in ONE specific area.

Just relax, be peppy and use Disney words like "magical experience" etc. etc. If you have any questions don't hesitate to PM or IM me

 

[se8472]

I know it's not going to be easy... I know what to expect out of the job itself, I've read up a lot about it, I know how to deal with 120 degree weather and being by myself. I'm not worried about that... I'm pretty sure I can handle it, I've had to deal with mean people before as a courtesy clerk....

How about saying like that during your interview?

 

[MyNameisStitch]

Hey LostatSea,
I'm going through the same thing and its killing me. I have my interview over the phone on Wednesday at 8:00 am. I haven't been this nervous about an interview before and I'm still 5 days away from it. I know the waiting afterwards will be the longest couple weeks ever. But I'm staying positive and I will remain positive and confident through my interview. I have already started thinking about some of the stuff I want to tell them. Such as I work as a projectionist for a movie theatre and if something happens I can keep a cool head and get the problem solved and I can apply the same principles to solving guest problems. Keep a steady head and make sure that the problem is fixed in a timely manner to your full potential plus a little extra. Does anybody know how long it takes to get an answer back? Will they tell you something during the interview or do you have to wait for them to mail something to you?

-DGJ

 

[MyNameisStitch]

Also one more question,

How much should I tell them about my love for Disney? I will admit it, I am obsessed with the place but I don't know how much to tell the interviewer. I'm not doing this thing to get a free trip to WDW by any means. I have wanted to work at the parks for a long, long time. Its been my dream for a long time. And I really believe the CP could be my key to getting into film making. Excellent opportunity for networking and that's what its all about.

-DGJ

 

[CrashNet]

Guys guys. Just be yourself. One of the things they look for is someone who is genuine. Think of the interview as talking with a good friend and just a conversation. That's all. Don't think of it as a question and answer session. When I spoke with my recruiter, we talked about all kinds of things including Disney, and throughout the conversation he would ask a few questions that really are easy. Just simple things like "why do you want to work with Disney" and sometimes as simple as "where did you hear about us"

Just remember to be yourself. Make the interview fun and not an obstacle.

 

[stitch82]

relax. you'll do great. and if not...TRY try again. you can do it.

 

[se8472]

Also one more question,
I will admit it, I am obsessed with the place but I don't know how much to tell the interviewer. I'm not doing this thing to get a free trip to WDW by any means. I have wanted to work at the parks for a long, long time. Its been my dream for a long time. And I really believe the CP could be my key to getting into film making. Excellent opportunity for networking and that's what its all about.

I think that right there is a good start. But don't be to worried about showing your love for the company. Its a good thing to show off, not a bad thing.

 

[jm0ney79]

All you have to do is just be able to have a conversation with them. It is not bad. They just really ask you what you would do in a certain situation, and that shows your personailty.

 

[LostAtSea]

Thanks to everyone for your help! You have all helped me so much!!! I have been trying to think of good answers for the questions.... How is this?
Q. If a guest was throwing a fit after being told that a ride was down, what would you tell them?
My A. I would try to calm them down as best as I could, and explain that the ride is being worked on and we are concerned for the guests saftey, and it should be working again shortly and they should check back in a while. If I could not calm them down, I would then get a manager to help them with the situation.
Is that good, bad? I've never been told what to say/do in these types of situations, so I'm not sure... but that's what I would do... I just don't know if it's right. That goes with most of the other questions. Haha. I guess I'll just answer as best as I can.. I'm just worried because there will be a lot of others interviewing too, since they go to hundreds of schools. Disneyworld can't be all that big...? They must turn down a lot of good people.

 

[marie82]

Lost at Sea... Im going on the international program but from what i've read the questions seem similar to what we were asked...
I was asked give an example of when you've shown disney level customer service? Your ride example sounds great, i'd maybe add that you would speak to a manager etc see if there was anything you could offer them to make their day better like maybe a fast pass for the time of their choice for when the ride was open again or something. As disney said at presentations that if for example a bird did a dropping on someone so it doesnt ruin their day you should give them a free (one of the cheaper ones!) t shirt.

Best of luck! I'm sure you stand a good chance. Here in the UK they recruit 100 of us for the UK pavillion a year. So just think how many Americans they must employ to fill the rest of disney world!!!!
Hope to see u at disneyworld,
Marie
xxx