Professional Careers at WDW

[ndj1982]

I am currently working on completing my bachelor's degree and wanted to know if anyone else on here has had much success getting into the corporate or other professional careers in WDW? I did not do the college program because I am in my late 20's and just want to finish my degree as quickly as possible and I am afraid that doing an internship would just mean another semester left to complete in the end after the internship. I love florida and love WDW, and even Universal Studios, and I wanted to know if it is very difficult to get a career job at either of these places? I don't mean like a full-time job that pays like 12/hr, but like being a hotel manager, or some type of professional job in the business aspect of the company.

Just wanted to know if anyone else has had any luck doing so. I realize that an internship probably increases your chances or getting a career job with the company, but I wanted to know what the chances are of getting into the company if you are fresh out of college and never did any prior work with the company.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Doing an internship does not always improve your chances.
2) However, be aware that the competition is very tough.
3) Expect to start at the bottom of the professional/manager food chain.
4) Most jobs at Disney are promoted from within. *
5) Just plan to work your way up over several years.
6) And, plan to live frugally - Disney pay is famous for being low.
7) Most positions only pay in the $24k-$32k range to start.

* There do hire from outside for many levels of jobs, but the experience needs to be spot-on. I was offered an Engineering Manager position, but it paid only about 2/3 of my non-Disney salary at that time.

 

[eadavis]

Don't give your hopes up,

You are able to start a cp AFTER you graduate just as long as you do the application/interview process while you are still a student. That is what I am doing. I graduated in May and started my CP a few days after, a professional internship became available (all CP's notified by email) and now I am about to start a professional internship, after being in the CP program for only two and a half months. It is possible to get to those positions you want, you just have to keep an ear to the ground, a clean record card, and keep a good rapport with managers

 

[Berlioz70]

Here is my short two-year career path...

Education:
BA in Communication Arts: Electronic Media and Public Relations
MEd in Higher Education: Student Affairs with a Community College Teaching Certificate

I earned my MEd in May 2008 and went into the CP Fall 2008

Aug 2008 - Character Performer (CP)
Jan 2009 - Technical Writer (PI)
June 2009 - Opening Team Trainer for The Pirates League
Dec 2009 - Selected for a Cross-U (in addition to my regular job) as a Once Upon a Time Facilitator (MK Welcome Tour for CMs)
Jan 2010 - Resource Assistant
Aug 2010 - Learning and Development Consultant
Aug 2010 - Selected for another Cross-U as a Traditions Assistant

Even though a CP was not required, it got me into the company so I could start networking. Other than my PI, the other roles were only offered internally. One was not even posted, I was just called with the offer (based on networking). I know it's not ideal to start at the bottom with a degree in hand, but a lot of us do it and you'd be surprised how much more support and respect I get because I did start at the bottom.

However, if you network and volunteer then there's a greater chance you'll get noticed and start that move up!

Good luck!!