I come asking for assistance

[Shultz23]

Ever since finishing my college program experience about 4 years ago, I knew that after graduating College I wanted to come back to pursue a dream career with the Disney Company once again. Being from Pennsylvania I saved up enough money to survive for a little in Orlando while I pursue this dream. Along with my family and friends support, I left the State and came down here to only find my dreams diminishing. I’m looking for any help, suggestions, advice anyone can give me to gain a professional position with the Disney Company again. I’m not looking for an Executive position here, just something entry level where it made sense going to school. I’ve gone to the casting center many times, only to be misled numerous times. Please help.

[Keggy]

Originally Posted by Shultz23

Ever since finishing my college program experience about 4 years ago, I knew that after graduating College I wanted to come back to pursue a dream career with the Disney Company once again. Being from Pennsylvania I saved up enough money to survive for a little in Orlando while I pursue this dream. Along with my family and friends support, I left the State and came down here to only find my dreams diminishing. I’m looking for any help, suggestions, advice anyone can give me to gain a professional position with the Disney Company again. I’m not looking for an Executive position here, just something entry level where it made sense going to school. I’ve gone to the casting center many times, only to be misled numerous times. Please help.

I also did the college program. My advice to you is work your way up. Higher level positions, not even executive positions are very competitive. Get an hourly job and prove yourself. Having completed the college program successfully will look good on your resume.

I waited tables and worked at Disney at the same time so that I could pay my bills. Your hard work will pay off, but it is very hard to walk in the door and get a higher level position unless you have a very specific skill like IT or HR.

Kelly

[mjkacmom]

I suggest you get a job, any job. In this economy, there are so many college graduates unemployed, willing to work anywhere. To limit yourself to one company is crazy right now. It is easier to find employment when you are employed - looks good on the application. Really, the market is flooded with college graduated, and lots of folks with post graduate degrees.

[MosMom]

Get a job in your field with another company if you need to so you can gain some experience and maybe work part time at Disney waiting tables or in ride operations. It might take some hard work to earn that position you are wanting.

Good luck to you!

[CapeCodTenor]

Originally Posted by Keggy

I also did the college program. My advice to you is work your way up. Higher level positions, not even executive positions are very competitive. Get an hourly job and prove yourself. Having completed the college program successfully will look good on your resume.

I waited tables and worked at Disney at the same time so that I could pay my bills. Your hard work will pay off, but it is very hard to walk in the door and get a higher level position unless you have a very specific skill like IT or HR.

Kelly

I've never did the college program, or worked in the parks, but it has been my understanding, according to those people I've talked who have worked in the park, that working your way up out of hourly and into higher positions can be just about impossible. Is this true? I hope I'm wrong and I don't mean to discourage the OP, but I just had to ask.

[pr surfer]

WDW seldom hires for professional roles from the outside. Other areas within TWDC are more lenient, but not WDW.

If you're set on a professional role at WDW, take whichever job they offer you and from day 1 after traditions start applying for roles that you truly want.

[pr surfer]

Originally Posted by CapeCodTenor

I've never did the college program, or worked in the parks, but it has been my understanding, according to those people I've talked who have worked in the park, that working your way up out of hourly and into higher positions can be just about impossible. Is this true? I hope I'm wrong and I don't mean to discourage the OP, but I just had to ask.

It can be extremely hard.

I remember working in entertainment many moons ago with a recent Harvard grad who was having a horrible time finding a higher up position within the company.

Unfortunately, Disney has 1 thing in common with many major companies. It's not always about what you know, but who you know.

[CapeCodTenor]

Originally Posted by pr surfer

It can be extremely hard.

I remember working in entertainment many moons ago with a recent Harvard grad who was having a horrible time finding a higher up position within the company.

Unfortunately, Disney has 1 thing in common with many major companies. It's not always about what you know, but who you know.

A friend of mine got extremely lucky a few years ago when she applied for a job with Disney. She found a job she wanted, working as an imgaineer in construction, and sent her resume online. She got through the interview process and is now working in the construction area and loves it, but as I said, she was a rarity.

[Keggy]

Originally Posted by CapeCodTenor

I've never did the college program, or worked in the parks, but it has been my understanding, according to those people I've talked who have worked in the park, that working your way up out of hourly and into higher positions can be just about impossible. Is this true? I hope I'm wrong and I don't mean to discourage the OP, but I just had to ask.

Everyone I know in managment positions or in other executive level positions worked their way up, except for 2 who were hired from outside in and they both work in IT. Now, I am speaking of only around 50 - 100 people in the grand scheme of things.

Positions are highly competitive and they will pull from internal candidates first, depending on the position.

I am a recruiter and one of my very good friends used to work in recruiting there. She also did CP.

[pr surfer]

Originally Posted by CapeCodTenor

A friend of mine got extremely lucky a few years ago when she applied for a job with Disney. She found a job she wanted, working as an imgaineer in construction, and sent her resume online. She got through the interview process and is now working in the construction area and loves it, but as I said, she was a rarity.

well, like I said in the other post, while rare, it's more likely to happen in othe divisions of the company, other than WDW.

[dizchick]

I did the college program also about 6 years ago after I graduated. I was interested in getting a professional job at Disney too after my CP was over. Like many others have said, I believe the way into the company is to start out with an hourly position and work your way up. Out of my managers and other higher ups that I spoke to at the company, almost all of them worked their way up. You're still young and have plenty of time to climb the ladder into the career you want there. It just may take time. Remember how many more professional jobs are posted on the internal casting website than the Disney career website? Disney likes to hire from w/in.

Financially I think it would be difficult to make in on such a low hourly salary, but I'm sure it can be done. Find a few roommates down there through friends or craigslist to help with the rent. Call the extra hours line and work in as many different areas of the parks as you can to meet as many managers as you can (and earn extra $$). Show them you're determined and hard working. Go to the networking opportunities that are available. They used to have higher management come and speak about their career path. That's a great opportunity to learn and to introduce yourself. Looking back I wish I had the guts to do what you did and move down there to pursue what you want to do! Be persistent and it'll work out!

[ChristmasElf]

Originally Posted by CapeCodTenor

I've never did the college program, or worked in the parks, but it has been my understanding, according to those people I've talked who have worked in the park, that working your way up out of hourly and into higher positions can be just about impossible. Is this true? I hope I'm wrong and I don't mean to discourage the OP, but I just had to ask.

Yes this is true. Unless you are specifically recruited for a specific position, it is VERY difficult to advance withing the Disney company. Regardless of what people have said to you.
Disney has a hiring freeze in effect right now and even transferring from one place to another within the company is difficult if not impossible.

Also know that there are a lot of other places of employment in Orlando (that will pay better wages too) that you may want to consider.

[Feralpeg]

Sadly, Disney is not hiring for many positions right now. When I was hired, they told me I was very lucky to be getting the position. They have a waiting list of over 1000 applicants and did not expect to start hiring again for six to nine months. Sorry things are not working out for you OP. Maybe you could get on somewhere else for awhile and try back at Disney when things turn around and they start hiring again.

[Cheshire Figment]

What field, general and specialty, is your degree in?

Are you an IT person or horticulture?

How can we give a meaningful answer without knowing what you are capable of?

[Shultz23]

I wanted to thank everyone for their input. I have decided to put the job search with Disney on hold a little. For the last post, I have experience in the HR field and wanted to enter into a basic entry level HR or personnel position. Unfortuntaly most of those positions are professional interns. I'm kind of stuck in the middle. Once again, thank you all.