How do the recruiters assign cast members?

[Buzz89]

I was just curious because the application and interview process are so vague... How to the recruiters sort through everyone and decide who's gets what role? Some people slip right in while others who appear just as qualified are pended. Thanks and good luck to everyone!

 

[ishbit92]

I'm bumping this because I also want to know the answer...

 

[Berlioz70]

This is my understanding...

Recruiter visits schools

CP Office (back in FL) schedules interviews

Interviewers do the interview (these are seasonal CMs located all over the country) then make their hire and role suggestions

Recruiters (or someone else back at the office as Recruiters are on the road) review availability and then assign role

Participant pays fee, then they are assigned location

Couple weeks before check-in, the location specifies the venue (based on openings)

Example:

Role - Attractions
Location - MK Adventureland/Liberty Square
Venue - Jungle Cruise

 

[Buzz89]

Thanks!

So you are saying for telephone interviews......"Interviewers do the interview (these are seasonal CMs located all over the country) then make their hire and role suggestions".... and as they type in your reply, they are also deciding if they feel the answers you give and the excitement in your voice were good enough to reccomend you as a "strong candidate" for the positions you selected or possibly the others they suggest for you?

Wow. I guess it works! It sure seems like work history, majors, and backgrounds would play a more important role in finding a good fit.

 

[DisneyGirlie]

Hey!

I happen to have knowledge on this because I called yesterday and asked "How did I get my role?"

(I'm very unhappy with my role as QSFB, so I figured if I couldn't change it, I at least wanted to know why I got it so I could have a little closure.)

I called and asked "Why did I get this role? I know I checked it off as a possibility, but in my phone interview, I wasn't asked about this, yet I was asked about all the other roles I checked off." The recruiter said it was because some roles have role-specific questions and others, such as QSFB don't. It is more of a general thing for most roles actually I think she said. So if you get asked questions in detail about a certain role, don't expect to get it and vice versa if you don't get asked questions, you could still possibly get that role.

She went on to further explain that I got my role as QSFB because of my limited work experience. Currently I'm a nanny so I thought that would show a high level of responsibility and they wouldn't judge so harshly. I was extremely disappointed with the way the recruiter answered my question. She made it sound like I was only capable of working QSFB. I genuinely thought the CP wouldn't be based off of work experience, but maybe other things like passion for the role. Example, I don't know how anyone would have "attractions" experience, so how do those people get their roles? I don't have any food experience so why did I get my role necessarily? It all seems a bit skewed to me just because everything at Disney is so much different from the real world anyway. Yes, someone may have retail experience, but I think WDW stores are a lot different. Maybe someone who knows every store well and all the merchandise should get that role, like me?

End rant. Sorry that came off like a lot of complaining, but that's my experience with finding out how you get your role.

 

[Dreamstuff]

Suprisingly I kind of didn't really want Attractions ( I know everyone seems to want this role) I mean I'm excited to do it, but it never gave me stars in the eyes with the exception of a few key attractions.

But I know EXACTLY why I got this role. My interviewer asked me about memorization, and I told him that just a few weeks ago I finished acting in a play where i memorized about 30-40 pages of text.

No other role requires memorization like that. That's how I got it.


I kind of wanted BBB or Character Attendant more but I'm still super grateful and happy. There's always a next time.

 

[kikiq]

Hey!
(I'm very unhappy with my role as QSFB, so I figured if I couldn't change it, I at least wanted to know why I got it so I could have a little closure.)

When my daughter interviewed for her CP, the recruiter added QSFB because she had worked for Starbucks at her college which is one of the busiest in the state. Nothing like morning opening at Starbucks with more than 20 cranky students/faculty waiting for their morning coffee. She was asked questions about her limited retail experience but also was asked how she would handle certain situations. She ended up in AK QSFB and loved it.
Her BFF was placed in merchandising which was her last choice and she had no retail experience.

 

[BadDad]

My S worked 5 seasons as an usher at the Local Amphitheater (Warp Tour, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Santana, Billy Joel, Dave Matthews, etc). He applied for attractions and QSFB. I thought he would be working attractions/crowd control. He got QSFB and likes it!

I read Attractions can be rough as people get tired or waiting and sometime take it out on the CMs.

 

[Iris]

Hey!

I happen to have knowledge on this because I called yesterday and asked "How did I get my role?"

(I'm very unhappy with my role as QSFB, so I figured if I couldn't change it, I at least wanted to know why I got it so I could have a little closure.)

I called and asked "Why did I get this role? I know I checked it off as a possibility, but in my phone interview, I wasn't asked about this, yet I was asked about all the other roles I checked off." The recruiter said it was because some roles have role-specific questions and others, such as QSFB don't. It is more of a general thing for most roles actually I think she said. So if you get asked questions in detail about a certain role, don't expect to get it and vice versa if you don't get asked questions, you could still possibly get that role.

She went on to further explain that I got my role as QSFB because of my limited work experience. Currently I'm a nanny so I thought that would show a high level of responsibility and they wouldn't judge so harshly. I was extremely disappointed with the way the recruiter answered my question. She made it sound like I was only capable of working QSFB. I genuinely thought the CP wouldn't be based off of work experience, but maybe other things like passion for the role. Example, I don't know how anyone would have "attractions" experience, so how do those people get their roles? I don't have any food experience so why did I get my role necessarily? It all seems a bit skewed to me just because everything at Disney is so much different from the real world anyway. Yes, someone may have retail experience, but I think WDW stores are a lot different. Maybe someone who knows every store well and all the merchandise should get that role, like me?

End rant. Sorry that came off like a lot of complaining, but that's my experience with finding out how you get your role.

My daughter did not even check off QSFB as one of her roles but during the interview the recruiter noticed that she had a lot of quick service experience and asked if she would consider that role as well. She reluctantly said she would consider doing it but her preference was attractions, merchandise or costuming. She was assigned QSFB. She didn't hate it and most of the time enjoyed it. She was assigned a small resort location which really helped. Of course, as soon as she could, she changed roles for her extension

 

[DisneyGirlie]

.Her BFF was placed in merchandising which was her last choice and she had no retail experience.

That's the sort of thing that bugs me. Someone taking a role I'm so passionate about and they don't even appreciate it. I don't feel bad kind of complaining about QSFB because I've yet to hear anyone say "Oh, I WISH I could get QSFB!"

Anyway, that being said. I wanted to add that my recruiter said I got my role based primarily off experience (or lack of it supposedly in my case), but also I agree with what a previous poster said about your voice. Enthusiasm in your interview is VERY, very important. I've heard that from more than one person and I made sure I was very enthusiastic during my interview. Not overly so to the point of being fake, but I made sure they knew how bad I wanted in the program. I gave passionate answers for the roles I was asked specific questions about (Merchandise, Attractions, Full Service FB) so I thought that passion would have helped with the role. However, in my case, experience is what gets you your role and enthusiasm/passion is what gets you in the program.

If I do an extension or another CP, I'm hoping I can get a role I'll like (even if it isn't my dream one of Merchandise) because my work experience will include a semester of working for them which should upgrade me to SOMETHING. haha.

(Also, I'm not trying to look down on those who have QSFB- I think it seems like I am. It just really isn't something I had an interest in personally.)

 

[carly3592]

That's the thing about QSFB... Disney has a certain quota they need to fill for each role (attractions, merch, etc...). Because most people have QSFB down at the bottom of their list, Disney really makes an effort to get people to sign up for it. So, if you even say 'maybe' to QSFB, chances are, you'll get QSFB (even though you might be a perfect fit somewhere else).

The only way to make sure you don't get QSFB is to *politely* decline if they offer it to you on your phone interview. But even then, there's still a .01% chance you'll get QSFB.

 

[DisneyGirlie]

I figured that would be part of it. I imagine its hard to get people to actually have a desire to make it their top choice. So I guess basically people get their roles based off experiences, enthusiasm, and quotas/role availability.

 

[NayNayMarie]

I had QSFB checked off but not listed as my top (merch, attractions, and MEO were my top) but when asked during my interview if I would mind either QSFB or custodial I stated that I wouldn't mind either and that I can understand why those roles might have a bad rep and can be harder to fill although I would obviously prefer one of my top choices if possible. She thanked me for being honest and said something along the lines of that I would be considered for my top choices first

When I got my invite 3 weeks later I had been accepted for merchandise, my top choce. Which didn't surprise me becaue I have 6 years of retail experience, but at the same time dd surprise me because I thought maybe I cursed myself for agreeing, bcause even if there are roles we would gladly do, everyone still hopes for their top choice regardless. I also have 2 years of food service from my stint at a movie theater consession stand so its certainly not true that you'll automatically get it just for answering maybe even if you're possibly more experience for a different role.

 

[Kelsers!]

Their wish for you to have work experience is totally true. First time I applied I had none- was rejected. This time I had a bunch-accepted for Attractions (first choice).

I think I was accepted for Attractions because of my insistence that I love fast paced environments and that I have a really good memory. My interview was really laid back as a whole. My interviewer and I really just chatted, cracking jokes. I confided that I really wanted to work Jungle Cruise, she got excited because that's where she worked. We started reciting the spiel together. Bit dorky, but hey, whatever works, right?

When they ask if you are -willing- to accept QSFB and Custodial they won't immediately place you there. That choice is there in case your preferred roles are unavailable. If you say no, and they can't hire you for your other choices you'll just get rejected.

 

[Dreamstuff]

I don't know how much they look at work experience considering back in Fall 08 the program was my very FIRST job. I was QSFB however, so they probably do stick many of those with little experience there.

 

[littlewitch34]

Thanks!

So you are saying for telephone interviews......"Interviewers do the interview (these are seasonal CMs located all over the country) then make their hire and role suggestions".... and as they type in your reply, they are also deciding if they feel the answers you give and the excitement in your voice were good enough to reccomend you as a "strong candidate" for the positions you selected or possibly the others they suggest for you?

Wow. I guess it works! It sure seems like work history, majors, and backgrounds would play a more important role in finding a good fit.

If you have a work history... but even then, it depends. I know a girl who is working merchandise at my location, but worked four years in Quick Service back home at a Taco Bell. She was 100% sure she was getting QSFB, especially, she said, based on the questions they were asking in the interview. Somehow, though, she got merchandise (and is thrilled, because she was sick of going home smelling like tacos!)

 

[Buzz89]

The actual how's and whys of the decision process still seems to be a huge mystery... It almost seems like the recruiters take a vow of silence! Maybe it is as simple as huddling in a back room tossing darts at a "role call" board!

Oh well, I wish there was an insider to spill the beans. Until then, just hoping everyone gets a bullseye!

 

[Nola Girl]

My DD REALLY wanted character attendant or attractions. She got merchandise. She has no merchandise experience. She is an education major with at least six years of summer camp and child care experience. She was hoping to work directly with kids and was very disappointed. So she went to the entertainment audition.She NEVER expected to get it. She is 5'6 (a very competitive height) but luckily has also had nearly 17 years of dance training. She has 0 theater or acting skills! She was accepted as a character performer. It was NOT easy at her height! Her short friends had a much easier time. DisneyGirlie if you are in the 5ft to 5ft -5"2 range or if you are any height and can dance think about auditioning--it can't hurt!

 

[DisneyGirlie]

Thanks for the tip! But I'm 5'6" and most definitely can't dance! LOL.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

Thanks for the tip! But I'm 5'6" and most definitely can't dance! LOL.

me either! lol
I find it interesting hearing your stories. Im applying for the CRP program and we only get a choice of FB Attractions or Merchandise, and if you wanna hear something funny everyone wants F & B in CRP Well except in F & B for CRP you eventually end up full service making tips.

Is there anyway when you get to florida you could try to change roles or for CP is it you stick to what you're assigned?