My thoughts:
I'm not a CP or international. I'm not even full time, i'm just your typical little Casual-Regular Disney employee.
I work in Operations. I am an Attractions Host.
My job, if anything, I would say is what people who want to "Go work for Disney!" shoot for. Certainly many people also want the other numerous jobs available, but the most glorified and "glamorous" position (of the entry-level) in the public opinion is Attractions.
Its the unique "theme park" thing. You can do food service or merchandising anywhere, but where can you be an attraction operator?
A quick note about entertainment, it requires a good deal of skill and talent for most positions, so I don't consider it entry level. Just so no one thinks i'm leaving them out
Anyways.. I sought out the job after a breif stint doing the "Ivy League" thing - which, everyone was right, wasn't my style. I've always been interesed in themed design and aside from hearing "You need a degree in engineering or architecture" I also was informed that everyone I really look up to started as an Attractions Host.
So, I drove my little car halfway across the state (after calling ahead and making an apointment and quitting my other job) and went to Casting. I knew I wanted into Attractions. and I really didn't expect to be hired. Sure, I had a very disney-conservative and yet "sheik" outfit, a bigger than life smile, and my "Please please please hire me..." speech prepared, but I really had no experience.
When I arrived I really thought my chances were slim. The building itself was intimidating. I was interviewed by a woman who informed me that she normally only hires upper-level excutive management and that today she was doing my interview in order to help out with the crowd.
And, to make matters worse, she point blank asked me, after a bit of formality.. "You have practically no work experience... Why should I hire you?" and then just sat there staring at me.
After my near death experience... and a really good speech I pulled out of nowehre about my love for the Disney company and the envy for the quality of work and magic they create, I was offered my current position.
So.. I started work. I was trained. Getting into the groove with the complexities of the system were a bit difficult at first. I went 3 days without knowing where to clock in or out. I went through 2 different trainers because my original was transferred. I got lost on more than one occasion, and made some really big mistakes.
I got yelled at. I had days I never wanted to go back. I had days I wanted to storm out. I had days I was completely miserable but forced myself to finish.
But then I started to fit in. I had fellow CM's i thought could care less about me, looking out for me. I got a nickname. I started helping others with problems I had when I first started. I knew how to handle unhappy guests. I got rounds of applause from time to time. I actually made some really good friends. I gained a sense of accomplishment when things went well.
All of this, i wasn't expecting.
Sure, I don't get paid much, and i'm probably going to drop my hours down to one or two days a week when I restart college this fall, but I managed to make myself a part of a team. Or actually, we're more of a little family. We look out for each other and sometimes get paid to have a wonderful time doing what we do.
So, I like my job, and I know other people don't though. It jsut depends on what you want. The ones who don't like their jobs are the ones who often just wanted a job. I wanted the experience - the whole experience, the good and the bad. I can live without money, but not without a sense of purpose, and I found a nice little job that gives me both
-Rob
PS: The unhappy miserable ones don't "quit" very often.. They get terminated.
