What CP area would you recommend for a Management Operations PI?

[DisneyJosh]

Hello everyone!

I am very, very interested in doing the CP. Following the CP, I'd like to do a Management Operations PI. What area would you suggest for the CP that would be beneficial to my management operations PI application? Basically I would like to work all of this up to being a full time manager; that's my goal.

Does anyone have any experience doing a management operations PI? And if so, did you move on or were you encouraged to apply to be a full time manager? Also, any idea what the salary would be for this particular PI?

Thanks!

 

[Flower4Pwr]

Hello everyone!

I am very, very interested in doing the CP. Following the CP, I'd like to do a Management Operations PI. What area would you suggest for the CP that would be beneficial to my management operations PI application? Basically I would like to work all of this up to being a full time manager; that's my goal.

Does anyone have any experience doing a management operations PI? And if so, did you move on or were you encouraged to apply to be a full time manager? Also, any idea what the salary would be for this particular PI?

Thanks!

I'm actually applying for an operations Management Internship for Fall. I did my CP in Mainstreet Ops and I've also done a PI in Wedding Services. Also, I've been a campus rep since 2004. From what I've been told having your managers support is imperative to getting a MI which is why they are so hard to get if you haven't done a CP and don't have any previous leadership experience. I have 2 roommates who have also done MIs and both were offered salaried positions once their internships were up. I will let you know how everything goes with my application process! I've so nervous about this because my plan is similar to yours and I really hope this ends up being my career!


p.s. My friends who have done the internships tell me that you sign a contract stipulating that you wont discuss your salary. But if you send me a PM I will let you know what they did tell me!

 

[AndyCP]

I would recommend trying to do attractions for your CP. Work hard, try to have perfect record card, etc. I did attractions and I was surprised how easy it was to impress managers and such just by showing up to work and working hard.

I'm either going to apply for the management operations PI for the fall or the spring. I haven't heard about many people who got it and what kind of experience they had to get it but from the little I heard (and like the above poster said) having your managers on your side is almost a must.

 

[DisneyJosh]

I would have no problem approaching one of my managers and asking to talk with them for a bit about what I'd like to do when they have a chance. Do you think they would be open to discussing it with me? I think the information from them would be extremely valuable, and the opportunity to show them that I care is very important to me.

Once again, thanks to all of you who have responded thus far. This information is extremely helpful!

 

[AndyCP]

Really depends on the manager. I applied just for the heck of it for the management operations this past fall (thought it wouldn't hurt to apply even though I was pretty sure I wouldn't get it) and when I approached my managers each acted different. I mentioned it in passing to one manager and they sat me down for about 45 mins and showed me the management training guide and the list of guidelines for managers. I mentioned it to another manager and they laughed and said they are hard to get and I should buy people cars or something cause they would help. So yeah it really depends on the manager you talk to but most seem open to talk about it since once they were in your shoes.

Not to ruin the dream but it seems like it usually takes much more than just doing the CP to land the internship. Maybe do the advantage program, maybe extend your program. Leadership experience before seems to be the big question everyone always asked me about. Maybe try to work at the local amusement park or attraction and gain some experience there before/after your program. If you are good at what you do staying full-time/part-time after your program would help as you could most likely easily become trainer and then perhaps land a coordinator gig after a few months and thats seems like that on a resume would give you one heck of a chance.

Another thing I recommend, that I've done, was look at the information for the "casting call" to be managers (pretty much the application process for people not looking for an internship to become a manager) when you are down on the CP as it might give you a few more hints as for what they are looking for. Attendance seems to be HUGE. If you are late/sick/call in personal/forget to clock out - any of those happen a combined total of 3 times then forget about the internship. Also the casting call usually gives some other general tips.

 

[DisneyJosh]

I was thinking about probably doing two CP's, both advantages. Maybe one in attractions and one in something other than that. I think that would help my chances. Any ideas?

 

[DisneyJosh]

AndyCP? Anyone? Please?

 

[AndyCP]

Well lets back up a second why do you want the management operations PI? You want it to be a bullet point on your resume? You looking for a career with operations of amusement/theme parks?

If you are looking to get into management with amusement parks (or even with Disney) then I'll be honest maybe a second CP program wouldn't be the best thing. The CP is fun (best time of my life) and you meet great people, get your foot in the door, etc. I would recommend it to anyone. However if you are looking to make a career with Disney and are slightly "brave" then I suggest taking that time you would have spent on another CP program and go full time or part time with the company. First off you'll make more (well probably just $.25 at first but could be more if you went to a different role). Why? With attractions (this doesn't seem to be the case with food and beverage and other roles) you can't be a trainer or coordinator until you are part-time/full-time. Think about it if you stayed after your CP program for another 6 months or so and maybe took a few classes down in Orlando or via online and worked at your location and became a trainer... saying you're a Disney trainer (yet alone coordinator) would seem to make you almost for-sure get that internship.

For example I want to be in the amusement park industry. I did the CP program and went part time when my program ended a few weeks ago. My managers were telling me I could easily become a trainer in a few months and a coordinator by the end of the year. all the while I'm going to school. I firgured if I was a coordinator and applied for that internship next year or such I would have a GREAT chance. But just to show you how quickly doors open when you had a great CP program then stay with the company... I already got a "promotion" (not within attractions, but to a much nicer position within the resort - I really don't want to post the details on out in the open). The best part is at Disney they let you still pick up hours where ever you are trained so I'm going to try my hardest to still pick up mayb 15 hours a month at the attraction I'm trained at to keep my foot in the door with operations.

My point is if you want to make a career out of amusment parks or Disney staying after your CP can open big doors for you if people liked you and then you can use the new things to be points on that resume to land the management internship.

If you want to do two CP programs I would do attractions as the second one (the one closest to the time your applying for the internship). That way your attraction managers will remember you the best and can help you with getting the internship. I would say maybe a front desk row or something that has a lot of guest service to it would look nicely.

 

[DisneyJosh]

Thanks, Andy. I never really considered going part-time after doing my CP. I agree, that does sound like a better idea. Better pay, better hours, etc.

The one thing I am concerned about though is school. I don't really know how I'd do that. I need to see if the school I'm interested in offers online courses. How did you juggle both? Did you do online courses or attend a school down in Orlando?