Making requests

smileitslisa

Earning My Ears
Joined
Jul 24, 2010
Messages
20
I was just wondering, is it better to make requests for work locations during your phone interview or after you find out what type of role you have? I have multiple places I would love to work at depending on what role I would get so I was thinking it might be better to wait until they assign me a role so I don't confuse them with a huge list of places I'd want to work at lol. But I don't want to lessen my chances of getting a certain role by not making a request so I was just wondering if you guys think it would make a big difference when I requested a work location. Thanks for all your help! :)
 
If your interviewer tends to ask questions mostly about one role, and it fits into the interview well, then you might be able to slip in a few 'hints' rather than requests. Sometime that helps them decide on your role (I know people that have done this, hoping for spieling attractions).
Most times, it's just easier for everyone if you request locations after accepting your role offer. Keep in mind, nothing is ever guaranteed, but they will place it in your file if you email recruiting after you accept.
 
Ok that's what I figured! thanks :) I was also wondering, can you make multiple requests? Or would that annoy them if I listed a bunch of places? lol
 
You can make as many requests as you feel necessary, I suppose. I requested five restaurants, didn't want to make it seem like I was too needy or anything. Just be short and sweet, maybe a few specifics or a park or something... They'll email you back letting you know they can't make any promises, and then it's up to luck.

...and the waiting game will continue.
 

I'd suggest doing it during the phone interview for a couple of reasons.

The first, and what I think is the most important, is that it shows that you have a certain level of familiarity with WDW. It is one thing to say "my family visits there every other year" and a whole other thing to be able to specifically cite locations with their proper names.

Secondly, the person doing the interview will most likely list this in their notes. The person doing the interview isn't the final decision maker on if you get in or not. they also aren't the ones who decide which role you get or who actually decide placement later on. Mentioning it during the interview and getting it into the notes will make sure all of the people who look at your stuff later on see it and take it into consideration.

As for sending requests in later, sure they will accept them and tell you that they notated it, but how do you know? If they are getting overwhelmed with requests, it is easy to for them to respond saying they notated it, but there is really no way to tell if they really did or not. I guess you could argue that they may not do it during the interview too, but they are typing away with notes, so there is probably a better chance.
 
Yeah that would make sense to do it during the phone interview. Would you suggest I take my top 3-4 roles and list which places I would like to request? I was thinking about requesting after I find out my role just cause don't want to overwhelm them with requests.

The requests I'd probably make are:
*BBB-I'd request to work in the castle
*Attractions-I'd request GMR (or any spieling attraction cause I really would love to experience working from a script) or the AI Experience (cause I love that show! lol)
*FSFB-I'd love to work in a highly themed restaurant like 50s prime time, the Sci-Fi Dine In, or Cinderella's Royal Table.
 
I think during your interview you'll get a feel for the proper time to bring it up. They are going to review your role checklist with you and you can mention why you picked the role listed and that you would love to work at _______.

the interviews are a lot like conversations once they get underway (after they review your name, address, and all of that).
 
I have a couple of suggestions of things to be careful of, especially if you decide to make your request during the interview. The biggest is that you don't want to make it sound like your happiness on the program is entirely dependent on your location. It's one thing to want to work in certain locations over others because you are passionate about the area/specific job, it's something totally different if the interviewer thinks you would only be content working in a certain spot (or worse, that you're going to get there and leave if you're not in one of the spots you requested). I'm sure you've heard already that no requests are guaranteed; make sure the person you're requesting to knows you know this too (ie, if you say something like "I know no location requests can be guaranteed, but if at all possible, I would really love to work in this spot" that would be good, because you've acknowledged that there's a possibility your request will not be honored and it doesn't sound like you would quit if it doesn't work out).

The second is to be careful about assuming based on your interview questions what role you're going to get. For example, in my interview they asked me 5 or 6 questions about being a character performer and 2 or 3 about attractions, and none about merchandise; I ended up being accepted for merchandise. So, if they ask you lots of questions about being FSFB or BBB, don't say that you would be happiest working at MK near Fantasyland, at least not without making it clear that that's where you would want to be just for those roles (otherwise they might not realize you were only talking about it for BBB and FSFB, and you might get attractions and end up working It's A Small World!). I've heard about them asking which park you would prefer; it seems like your best bet for a blanket statement would be to say DHS, since most of your ideal locations across the roles are located there.

If you still wanted to try to list multiple locations for multiple roles, I'd say your best chance would be to say something like "I would most prefer to work in one of the four main parks in a location where I could contribute to a very highly-themed environment, such as at the '50s Prime Time, Sci-Fi Dine-In, or Cinderella's Royal Table for FSFB, or the Great Movie Ride for attractions." You could modify that to fit your needs. It's kind of a mouthful, but it expresses your desired work place in a way that is probably more Disney-y (and makes you seem like a better fit for the company than someone who wants to work somewhere because it's "the cooooooolest!", for example).

Wow, that's pretty long! I hope it helps a little!
 
Thank you that helped so much! I definitely don't want them to think I would quit or anything if I didn't get a spot I requested (because I wouldn't since I know it's not guaranteed and I would love any job in Disney). So I think wording it similar to the way you did would definitely help! :)
 
In my experience, they haven't listened to requests.
Program 1 (hospitality): asked for a moderate, got a deluxe resort.
Program 2 (attractions): asked for MK, got DAK.
Program 3 (concierge): asked for value or moderate, got a deluxe resort.

P 1+3 were requested during phone interview. P 2 didn't have any interview at all, but put requests in my online application.
 
I think it's a toss-up when it comes to requests:
CP 1- I didn't request anything
CP 2- I got my second choice, which was global (my first choice was performer)
CP 3- I got my top choice
CP 4- I got my top choice
CP 5- I didn't get any of my choices (I requested JC or GMR, and got TSM)
CP 6- I got my top choice
 
I never requested anything. First program, I didn't know I COULD request anything. Second program, I didn't even have an interview.
 
Well I sent an email requesting park greeter for the MK or Epcot after I had been accepted. I'll see if it made a difference at the end of Aug and let you know!
 




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