Professional Internships

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

I would love to learn more about professional internships! Anyone have any experiences? Do they only hire former college program grads?! And can I do it while in school still? I am getting to be a junior/senior...and while I love Disney feel a professional internship would be more beneficial for my career than the college program!
Thanks!

 

[wilkeliza]

I would love to learn more about professional internships! Anyone have any experiences? Do they only hire former college program grads?! And can I do it while in school still? I am getting to be a junior/senior...and while I love Disney feel a professional internship would be more beneficial for my career than the college program!
Thanks!

I have not done a professional internship yet but I will tell you that they do tend to hire people who have already done the college program. I am a recent graduate who is actually doing a college program in 30 days and although I know working at the parks is not my ideal after graduation job I know it is what I need to do to make sure I can continue to a PI and then onto a permanent position with the company. I also know it will help when I want to apply for other positions with the Disney company.

Also I don't want to come off as rude but don't think the college program is below you. What do you want to do at Disney? Before you can do the professional internships or the manager internships they want you to have a working understanding with the company and that comes from completing the college program. It also proves to them that you can follow the Disney look and rules and respect your position and the company. I don't know if all PIs come from the college program but I would venture to say the probably look at former CPs first before they fill it with people who have never worked for Disney before. I have 6 years of working experience and could easily ask to be made a candidate for promotion at my current job but know that the CP and any future opportunities that may come out of it will still help my career even though I already have a B.A.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

There are some Professional programs that require you to have done a college program, but most do not. While the majority of professional and managerial interns have done the CP before, there are a number of them that have not as well.

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

I have not done a professional internship yet but I will tell you that they do tend to hire people who have already done the college program. I am a recent graduate who is actually doing a college program in 30 days and although I know working at the parks is not my ideal after graduation job I know it is what I need to do to make sure I can continue to a PI and then onto a permanent position with the company. I also know it will help when I want to apply for other positions with the Disney company.

Also I don't want to come off as rude but don't think the college program is below you. What do you want to do at Disney? Before you can do the professional internships or the manager internships they want you to have a working understanding with the company and that comes from completing the college program. It also proves to them that you can follow the Disney look and rules and respect your position and the company. I don't know if all PIs come from the college program but I would venture to say the probably look at former CPs first before they fill it with people who have never worked for Disney before. I have 6 years of working experience and could easily ask to be made a candidate for promotion at my current job but know that the CP and any future opportunities that may come out of it will still help my career even though I already have a B.A.

Thanks for the info, I don't feel it is below me...it's just that the career center at my school and other people have all discouraged me from doing the college program. Saying it provides no real experience for what you're trying to get into (computer information systems) and I would be much better served in the long run getting an actual internship with a different company. I brought up the whole "Disney guest service training" and etc....but they discounted that...not sure what to believe anymore . I always said I was going to do the college program...but with only a summer left before I graduate I can't really afford to waste any time.

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks for the info, I don't feel it is below me...it's just that the career center at my school and other people have all discouraged me from doing the college program. Saying it provides no real experience for what you're trying to get into (computer information systems) and I would be much better served in the long run getting an actual internship with a different company. I brought up the whole "Disney guest service training" and etc....but they discounted that...not sure what to believe anymore . I always said I was going to do the college program...but with only a summer left before I graduate I can't really afford to waste any time.

I know this thread is old but I just wanted to provide you the story of my traditions trainer yesterday. She did a college program and worked in hotel reception. She used the program to network and after she complete her program she did a P.I. in casting. At casting they saw she was great with technology and she moved into a full time role in the technology department and now she tests the computer systems for all of Disney and is currently working on the Tokyo Disney project. Although she lives here in Orlando she tests all the computer systems for all over the world.