Good Morning All!
Catching up on my reading again and I have a few comments of my own to add to today's topics.
On the 'fairness' of the process / qualification requirements: No process is with its flaws. This was my first year applying (I missed the window last year) and although I did not make it, I had a blast going through the waiting room with all of you. At the time of the applciation, I expressed concerns on how they determine if an applicant meets the qualifications listed on the website. For example, if they pull 'last visit' from your Disney profile and screen applications against it, mine might have been thrown away from day 1, unless they check against the DVC database as well.
I don't know that a heavy social media background is entirely what they were looking for in an applicant. Although, it does seem to have some bearing. I was certain that I had a great application. I work in the on-line world as a project manager for on-line banking, so the great wide web and planning are my FIRST nature. And I have a pretty good understanding on how things work behind the scene. I host my own website complete with blog, I have an active Facebook account, I am on DISboards, I just bought into DVC and I recently joined Twitter, although I don't really use it. On top of that, I have in the past had a license to sell wine at a food services establishment I once owned. I even hosted wine tastings!
(Q #3) Add to that my worldwide travels (Q #3 again) and my life-long obsession with all things Disney and the fact I plan
Disney vacations for friends and family, I thought for sure I would make it to round 2!
Looking back on my application, I think I approached it too much from a resume perspective and not from the fun Disney fanatic point of view. I am certain that those who did make it to round 2 are qualified and will represent the larger group well. I will certainly give it a go again next year.
There may possibily be some people who advanced with the assistance of networking. But hey, that is the REAL WORLD. If I had the opportunity to network with Leanne or Laura, I'd do it. That is exactly why you should network with people when looking for a job. It works!
As for the late 'you made it' email after already receiving the 'thanks for applying' email. I can totally see where this could happen. Again, working in the on-line world, all it takes is the DBA to set the flag wrong in the database for a particular application for this mishap to occur. Again, no process is without flaws. Although, that is what QA is for.
I did find the three 100 word essays to be a very limited area to convey all that is you. I do fully understand the need for brevity since it appears that only two to three people read the essays. IMO, they should ask some qualifier questions that are multiple choice and multiple answer. These would be quick reads for them when evaluating applications and could show skill sets. For example, if social media is an important piece of the puzzle then there should be a question that reads something to the effect of "Moms Panelist interact with people from all over the world via the World Wide Web. What ways do you communicate or interact with people on the Internet? (Check all that apply): <Insert List of Social Media> Perhaps a question on time committment would also be valuable. If for no other reason, it may make some people rethink their application and not withdraw after making it to round 2. Okay, I'm ready to do requirements gathering! (That's my PM voice!)
Okay, that's enough commentary on that topic!
I have to check my email a few times a day -- there's always something there for me to respond to.
