Professional Internship Question

[violindollie]

Hello, I am an incoming sophomore undergraduate majoring in the sciences and engineering. I am interested in learning more about anyone's experiences with applying for the Professional Internship program as well as working there. Since I'm working toward a degree in the sciences or engineering I am leaning more toward applying for internships that require my kind of expertise. I plan on landing an internship next summer or even during a regular semester if I have to.

Just to start off with one question: How competitive is it for scientists/engineers to be admitted into the program? What are some programs you recommend/find interesting from your own experience?

I want to hear everyone's experiences as well as any tips they have to offer when applying.

Thank you guys so much!

 

[violindollie]

Also, can anyone clarify if there's a difference between an imagineering internship and the professional one?

 

[eadavis]

Imagineering Professional Internships are among the most competitive that the Company has to offer, only taking the best and brightest.

In my very humble opinion, I strongly recommend doing a College Program first. Its not impossible, but it is very difficult to land any kind of Professional Internship without first having some experience with the Company. Especially if you want to get involved with Imagineering. An ideal candidate would be someone who knows the engineering side, but also the guest service and "Disney" side to help create and design additions and modifications our property. I don't have a source on that, but use some common sense.

As far as what other options are out there, given the amount of numbers related courses engineering degrees have, you may want to look into Consumer Insights. Its a division of marketing and strategy that manipulates raw data collected from our guests in addition to following trends in the industry. Its more statistics than anything. There are also a lot of analytical roles out there, however, you may want to brush up on your computer programming skills.


As with most of the scientific/technical internships the Company offers, very few, if any one posesses the precise skills. Being successful in those roles is utilizing your current skillset and adapting it to your surroundings.

Many of the roles I've held in the Company I never had the exact skill set, however, I was able to use prior experience. Understanding spreadsheets can transistion to Yield Management. Once you understand Yield Management, you can apply those skills to Finance. But it all started with a College Program.


Thats how I applied my skillset, how will you apply yours?

 

[violindollie]

I'm aware starting with the College Program is a great jump starter, but I was a bit hesitant about doing it over a semester long period because I don't attend school in SoCal. Does the program allow students to take a semester off so he/she can focus on the Program?

As far as skillsets goe for me, I've conducted my own research and experimental procedure on extracting food additives and measuring their content (I have mostly taken chemistry classes because I am currently a declared Chemistry major, but hoping to maybe try for a dual degree in Chemical Engineering and Materials Sciences). I'm also currently taking a programming class on MATLAB. Outside of class, I am part of a professional fraternity that caters to the sciences and engineering departments' publicity and outreach as well as networking with other professionals and professors in their respective fields. So far I have only conducted graduate school and research panels to allow the student body to have access to vital information and advice from professors.

This doesn't seem much for now, because I only finished one year of school. But this fall I plan on applying for a job to work in a lab stockroom which basically involves preparing sample solutions for chemistry classes in a lab setting. I'm also considering applying to be a research apprentice for a professor, but I don't know which projects yet because they're not listed yet. I also am interested in taking Business classes in Marketing and Consumer Behavior as it would be a good stretch away from the technical side to also consider how to meet consumer demands and trends.

 

[Wishes Count]

Almost all participants in the CP take a semester off of school. It's more of a matter of can YOU take the semester off to do a program. You would need to discuss this with an adviser at your school to make sure you wouldn't mess up your schedule, miss classes that are only certain semesters etc. This might be too hard to do with your major, but since you are still in lower levels it might be possible!

Also just as a side note. The program at DL is very small, you can also apply to WDW which is a bigger program.

 

[Gizzard]

A couple of things:

First, be aware that Walt Disney Imagnineering (WDI) is the CREATIVE arm of Disney Parks & Resorts, and is actually a separate company. They are under the Disney umbrella, but they have different structure, rules, roles, etc. Most engineers who work for Disney are not Imagineers. Most Imagineers are not engineers. WDI will post some Professional Internships on the disneycareers.com website along with all other facets of Disney, and the description will specifically say that it is for a position in WDI. Again, most engineering related roles and internships are not with WDI.

Second, is there a specific part of the parks or resorts you would like to work on? Environmental, Biological, or Animal sciences? Ride & Show Design? Creative Design? Facilities Maintenance and Operations? Manufacturing & Central Shops?

As far as taking a semester off from your school, that depends on whether your school or department will allow it. Consider it like a study abroad program. You will move to FL or CA and live there for a semester.

I can't speak for the CA college program, but if you do the FL college program and take the Engineering Development course, you will be exposed to all of the different engineering and science roles that make WDW run. No matter what you role is (I was a lifeguard), take the time to meet people involved in whatever you are interested in, and explore as much as you can. For example: if you want to design roller coasters, meet the people who work at attractions and discover how they run and work.

If you're not interested in the CP and want to do a Professional Internship, take a look at the ones that are posted. Odds are they will be looking for the same thing next semester.

Hope this helps!

 

[ibaw]

In my very humble opinion, I strongly recommend doing a College Program first. Its not impossible, but it is very difficult to land any kind of Professional Internship without first having some experience with the Company. Especially if you want to get involved with Imagineering. An ideal candidate would be someone who knows the engineering side, but also the guest service and "Disney" side to help create and design additions and modifications our property. I don't have a source on that, but use some common sense.

I would be hesitant with this advise. It has been my experience (both witnessing many individuals and participating in 2 PIs and obtaining a FT role with the Studios in CA without ever working as a CP) that prior experience with the company is NOT the driving factor of an individuals application. For the most competitive roles and especially for those requiring specialized education / professional training, the company is looking for (and can choose) the best and the brightest in their respective fields. Therefore interning with (or participating in an apprenticeship under) a well known industry leader can (and has) helped individuals obtain those coveted Professional Internships with Disney without any prior Disney experience.

Only "Alumni Only" PIs require prior participation as a CP. I would suggest researching the roles you are interested in and if the role is not an "Alumni Only" role, find out how you can become the BEST candidate to fulfill the requirements for the posting (realizing that the path to the PI may not include prior Disney experience).

Best of luck in your pursuit.

 

[violindollie]

For those who obtained an internship in the sciences or engineering, or if you know anyone who successfuly obtained one, can you describe the skills and experience you had prior to the internship? Or maybe why you think you got it? Just so I can get a good idea of how much experience and expertise Disney expects to see in their applicants.

 

[AliSW]

I have a PI question too although it doesn't have anything to do with this I don't want to make another topic haha.
For the housing event planner internship, if I wasn't a campus rep or an RA, which are two of the preferred qualifications, would I still have a chance? As in would that automatically knock me out as I feel like you should have all the desired AND preferred.

 

[Wishes Count]

I have a PI question too although it doesn't have anything to do with this I don't want to make another topic haha.
For the housing event planner internship, if I wasn't a campus rep or an RA, which are two of the preferred qualifications, would I still have a chance? As in would that automatically knock me out as I feel like you should have all the desired AND preferred.

I think they want you to have been a campus rep or RA because they know you have event planning experience. If you have comparable experience I think you would still have a good shot. I would recommend that you indicate that it is your #1 choice as I have been told that many departments only look at the resumes/interviews of people who put it as their #1

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[AliSW]

Ok thanks, that's great then I have an event planning internship now!
I'm really going to have to think about which one will be my first choice now though, that's pressure haha.