working for Disney

[LoveAnn]

I know this question isn't right for this forum but I don't know where to look. I thought maybe someone out there knows how to get a "foot" in the door with Disney. My boyfriend has been sending in applications for various jobs but with all the resumes that Disney receives, you really need something "extra" to get noticed. Does anyone have any suggestions or even suggestions on other messages boards that might be able to answer this question.
Thank you very much,
LoveAnn

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

If you want to work at WDW, just about the only way to get noticed is to get a Casting Scout card from someone that already works for the company. It is POSSIBLE to be hired without one, but it helps a lot if you have one.

 

[lorileer]

What is a Casting Scout card?

 

[SRUAlmn]

Depending on what type of job he is looking for, they also have auditions around the country frequently. I am looking for a performance job there and have been keeping my eye out for open auditions in my area. I'm curious to know what a casting scout card is as well

 

[safetymom]

They are cards that CM's have that they can hand out to people.

 

[SRUAlmn]

They are cards that CM's have that they can hand out to people.

Thanks! I kind of guessed that's what they were. How does it work? Do they hand them out to people that have the right 'look' for something? Do they hand them out if people ask for them? I'm so curious

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

The basic essence of the cards is that someone who is currently a CM can get a card to give as a referral to someone that they think would be a good CM.

The text basically says "I think you'd make a good cast member, call this number to set up an interview" (phrased in a more elegant manner, of course, but I don't have one of the cards with me right now, and I don't remember the actual wording.)

The card has the phone number, plus information on the candidate's name, the referring CM's name, and a little bit of information about the CM that's filling out the card (dept, personnel number, etc).

They can be given out by just about anyone, it doesn't necessarily come from someone that works in casting.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Very cool! Thanks for the info

 

[PneumaticTransit]

It really depends what kind of position he is looking for. True, a Casting Scout card can help, but they are used most often for front line entry level jobs - such as F&B, Custodial, Merchandise, etc... They are handed out freely to Cast Members to give to friends, relatives, ... complete strangers, as a basic "hey, did you know Disney was hiring?" kind of advertisement. They even give prizes to the Cast Members who can recruit the most new hires. I personally don't think that they really matter, just because they are given away like candy. I've seen blank ones filled out and hanging on bulletin boards at the local laundry mat. Obviously the CM who put them there doesn't know if they person picking them up will be a good hire or not. Just because your refered by a Cast Member doesn't mean you'll get a job of course. Most front line postions are openly hiring throughout the year. You can call Casting at (407) 828-1000 for specific information that changes based on operational need.
But again, it depends what he is looking for. If he wants to be a character, he has to go thru an interview with Casting and then go to an audition. If he wants to sell Mickey Bars, he could probably walk into Casting without an appointment and get the job after a short interview. Salaried positions work a little different.
If he wanted to get into managment, it depends on his work experience. Disney will usually promote someone who has already worked here rather than risk hiring a new manager who, although he may have been in the same business for years, has never worked for Disney. I had a friend who was in the restaurant management field for 15 years, but they wouldn't hire him. He got an entry level hourly role for a few months, got in the "pool" for F&B managers, and is now a F&B manager at Port Orleans.

 

[CarolA]

I applied for a Financial Analyst job at Disney that was adverstised on their web site. I did get a phone screen, but Disney and I were WAY too far apart on the salary level for it to go any further. The jobs can be found on Disney.com

 

[WDSearcher]

You didn't mention what it is your BF does, so it's hard to say where to lead him in his job search. But, the big thing working against him is that he's not in FL. The easiest way to get a job at WDW is to walk in and apply for one. If your BF is sending in resumes "blind" -- that is, simply saying that he'd like to work for Disney without responding to a specific job ad -- it's not likely that his resume will get much notice. There are just too many people walking into Casting day in, day out.

If he's applying for a specific job or has a very unique specialty, then that's a little different, and would go through Professional Casting or Executive Recruitment or some other area.

If he's an actor or wants a performing role -- character, singer, dancer, etc -- then he needs to audition.

 

[LoveAnn]

Thanks for all the advice. He would be looking for a management or Imagineering job. Originally he did send in his resume "blindly" and then he started sending it in to specific jobs on the website.
But with so many people wanting to work for Disney, it seems impossible to "break through" unless you know someone. We did get the impression that they hire "within" first and that they probably don't post alot of the jobs, especially the more specialized ones.
As for the suggestion to "walk in" if we lived in Florida, we will definitly be going there this spring or summer so I'm sure he'll try that too.
If any one has any more advice, we'll take it!
Thanks

 

[WDSearcher]

OK ... but management of what? Imagineering with what specialty? That's still REALLY broad.

I'm not trying to be nosy or anything, but if you want practical help regarding what he's likely to find (or not), something a little more specific would be helpful.

 

[LoveAnn]

"The Boyfriend's Reply": Can't thank you enough for your input. Although I understand the need for specifics, the concept doesn't necessarily apply in my case. My original objective in contacting Disney was to tell them my story and let them decide where I fit their needs best. Obviously, that's not how things work, particularly since they're not much different from any other corporate bureaucracy, and one that's inundated with unknown, unindoctrinated outside applicants. Being noticed was, I suppose, wishful thinking on my part. The problem with getting specific with my "specialty" is that my life and career has endowed me with a myriad of skills and, with all humility, I'm told I'm multi-talented. From knowing how to use just about any hand or power tool you can name, to 21 years as a professional graphic designer and (4th generation) printer, to more than thirty years as a commercial and fine art photographer, to personal interest and professional exposure to a wide variety of mechanics and engineering, to my current canvas, upholstery and boat repair enterprise, not to mention the planning, administering and management of my companies over the last 25 years, there isn't much I can't do or learn to do. I know I'm sounding boastful, but throw in additional things like videography, puppeteering, theater, classic car restoration, house remodeling, research on artificial muscles and high mileage carburetors, I'm not sure I can walk into Disney and say "I specialize in Thus-and-Such". So, the way I see it, the process of being recognized may best be represented by the fellow who took a low level hourly job for a few months to get his foot in the door, then applied from within to get where he wanted to go.

 

[PneumaticTransit]

To LoveAnn's Boyfriend:

First off, I don't work in Casting. I work with Engineering, which works closely with Imagineering. Sadly, however, they cut back the Imagineering Department about a year ago. A lot of people got sent to California. Imagineering is a very spansive field though. My (engineering) manager at Epcot was considered a part of Imagineering. When you hear the work Imagineer you image those people with really cool jobs who design all the rides and attractions, but that is only one segment really. For the most part, that is all done in CA. And very hard to get into. I do not know your educational level, but you would need at least a bachelor's degree in engineering to get a second glance.
You seem a jack-of-all-trades. Unfortunately, Disney doesn't really have a specific job for that. Casting really tries to hire what they have a need for at that time. I had a co-worker who was a 7-11 Store manager for many years, they tried to push hourly F&B on her which would have been a big step down. You would really have to narrow down your search and focus on one area of interest. You could work in engineering, which has so many different specialties from decorators, upholsters, marine mechanics, ride & show techs, computer ride & show techs, etc... You could also work in entertainment - there are stage techs, set designers, show directors. You have background in graphic design which would be great for Disney Design Group.

But, from your interests - IMHO you would be best suited for something like a computer ride & show tech. They are the group of engineers who I worked with at Epcot Innoventions. They are in charge of the computer controls for park lighting, back ground music, event scheduling, etc... as well as maintaining the on stage exhibits, animatronics, etc... Basically, they do a lot of stuff - and it all varies depending on what department/location you're in. Most of the guys I worked with were electricians by trade. They became Computer Ride & Show Techs by working in the area, and then they take a test to be a ride & show tech, and then a computer ride & show tech. Unfortunately though, you would probably be taking a pay cut. They don't get paid a whole lot. But that is true of most jobs at Disney.
So in conclusion, if you are really ready for a change, move to Florida. You can go to Casting and they will give a list of higher level openings such as management and Office & Technical. But, they really like to promote from within. If need be, get any job you can in the field you want to work in. The Disney experience will speak louder than previous work experience or college degrees, and it will be easier to transfer to a higher position.

 

[LoveAnn]

The Boyfriend Again: A very thorough and thoughtful response ... thanks. I'm reading that you suggest manual labor for the most part. I'm, perhaps, interpreting it would be a way to start on the ground floor. I may consider such a move, but frankly, it's really come time for me to share what I know, as I have here and there as an employer, so I'm really looking for something in management ... something that would monitor production or groups or teams, perhaps even teach methods or techniques or even both manage and teach. At forty-eight being a grunt isn't necessarily a problem or beneith me, but I feel it's time to pass on a lifetime of skills to those who will have more years to use them. I've considered getting a head-hunter on my side for representation, but it would probably work best to use one that Disney's already dealing with ... know any? I know this is a long term process for my objective, but may well be worth the effort in the end. A Footnote: Even hands-on labor wouldn't necessarily be a step down financially. Self-employment doesn't always pay what people think. It's not a guarantee to financial stability ... in fact frequently the opposite.

 

[WDSearcher]

To the Boyfriend ...

Disney is no different than any other creative company. Their worst nightmare is someone coming in and saying, "I can do a whole bunch of stuff and I'm good at all of it -- where do you want me?" Their answer to that tends to be, "Um ... well ... we have a lot of specific needs, so we're going to go fill those, and you can call us when you figure out what it is you're looking for." By billing yourself as a generic manager candidate or a jack-of-all-trades creative, you're expecting Casting to look at your skillset and determine where you want to be and what you want to do. It's very difficult for them to do that -- mostly because if they choose wrong and you decide you don't like what you're doing, they've just lost time, money and training. If working at Disney is something you want to do, you need to figure out where at Disney you want to be and base your search on that. Now, that doesn't mean that you can't switch gears halfway through the process if something cooler presents itself, but if starting somewhere -- anywhere -- is what you want to do, then simply pick one of those many things you're good at and focus on that area. Then move around later.

One caveat to the "move around later" thing ... transferring can be difficult, depending on what you're hoping to do. Any job you take at WDW has to be something you could see yourself doing for at least a year. Even though you CAN transfer after three months of service, it doesn't mean that there will be something to transfer TO after three months. Creatives and managers tend to stick around. So if you take even an entry-level management job to just get your foot in the door, realize that you may be stuck in that job for a year or longer before something else comes up that you feel good about moving into.

When I started, I came in entry-level in my field, even though I had a masters degree. I was okay with that because I wanted to work at Disney, and I wanted to learn the company from the bottom up. It took six years to get promoted through to the level I thought I should be at, and a couple of years after that to exceed that level. I had a ball during those six years, and wouldn't trade that time in the trenches for anything. And as a 15+ year CM, I'm extremely happy with where I am now, so the patience paid off.

Disney's creative areas -- Imagineering, ride & show, Design, Entertainment, etc -- are filled with creative, intuitive, clever, jack-of-all-trades kind of people. You will find yourself a fish in a very populated pond. And, truly, the more specific you can be about what your specialities and interests truly are, the more likely Disney is to recognize what it is you can do for them and the more likely they are to find you a career path.

 

[PneumaticTransit]

I would just like to pop in and say almost all of my current & previous managers started from the ground floor. My former general manager started off making peanut brittle on Main Street. My current general manger started off selling ice cream in Disneyland. I actually can't recall a manager than I've worked with that didn't start off lower in the company (although there was probably a few).
The Executive Vice President of WDW has worked in housekeeping, F&B, etc... I don't believe he even has a college degree, but obviously managed to work his way up.
Many management job postings will have a required qualification of 2 years WDW experience. I have spoken to college students (who do not work here) that say they want to be a hotel manager and that's what they're studying in college. I ask them if they've ever worked at hotel, and they say no. How can you want to be a hotel manager and never have worked in a hotel? You might hate it. That's why Disney wants you to have Disney experience for higher level jobs, so at least you've worked in or with the department and have some understanding of it. That way you don't get shell-shocked and transfer or quit after they've spent the time & money to interview, hire, & train you.
Me, personally, started off as a front line Cast Member working Front Desk. It was what they were hiring for at the time, and something that I had never tried before. I had worked with food & beverage and merchandise in previous jobs. I never want to work in F&B again but enjoyed merchandise, but wanted to try something new. I stuck with Front Desk for over 2 years. It was okay at first, but I really grew to hate it. I transfered to be a Maintenance Coordinator which was a promotion for me. It was my first time putting in for a transfer, and was hired the same day as the interview. Honestly, I think I would have taken any job to get out of there - luckily it ended up being a department I really enjoyed working with. I worked there for a year, but the department was moving to another park and I would have been left behind doing icky data entry. I scrambled to put in for a transfer to any job that I was qualified to do. I put if for over 30 positions, only got 2 interviews. Finally, I saw a position for an opening team as a engineering coordinator. I new it would be perfect - I put in for it and got an interview. I was hired 3 days later, another promotion for me. Now I am considering attending an information session for Park Operations Management and have applied for a 6 month internship with Animal Programs (I am currently pursuing a degree in Biology). All the irony in this? I originally wanted to be an animator and started school at the Ringling School of Art & Design which costs more than Harvard. I got to thinking, and I didn't want to spend that much money for a department that hires 1 in every 2000 applicants. It was a good decision too, because I would have graduated in 2004 - the same year the animation department closed.
You never really know where you're going to end up working at Disney because there are so many jobs. You may end liking something that you've never considered. Every week when I check the job postings, I alway run across a position I didn't even know Disney had working here.

 

[LoveAnn]

The Boyfriend Again: WDSearcher ... Being cited as "their worst nightmare", you've generated the next best thing to hysterical laughter with your response. Laughter in a good way. You've reminded me of a life-long friend who, being a career banker, frequently gives me a reality check (of corporate America). Several words and phrases come to mind with your points: "Catch 22" and "Politics" and "Cog in the Wheel" and also "Delicate Balance" and "Tug-of-War", not to mention "Trust". Having been an employer and built systems and teams, I fully understand the cog-in-the-wheel principles virtually any organization uses to accomplish its goals. The unspoken phrase in any interview process is "We don't know you, we don't trust you and we don't believe you can do what you say you can, so prove it or go away and don't waste our valuable time." Most human beings are "control freaks", whether they want to admit it or not. They also wish (well, more than wish) to believe that everything they're doing is ok, they're really good, smart people and why don't we all simply believe that and accept them for it. I suppose I'm no different. The irony, and the humor, in your points was that "slap" to get me back on the track of how things REALLY are. Being a creative, as I'm apparently categorized, I tend to live in idealism, but fortunately both sides of my brain function well and I don't dwell in fantasy. The back half of the phrase we've been using, "Master of None" is only partially applicable in my case, but, sadly, for the purpose of becoming part of the Disney team, that's basically irrelevant. You've reminded me of the Practical in the course I've chosen, which is that if I expect to step out of self employment, in which I have a great deal of control and broadly based influence on the system, and become part of an organization wherein specialty is what defines my purpose, that is my exclusive approach. I know I may be stating the obvious to some degree, but (even before this) I've recognized this quest as a transition from one fundamental structure to another. Fortunately, not one that I am completely unfamiliar. Frankly, I can't think of anything more fulfilling, or more intimidating, or more challenging, than sitting in a Monday morning meeting with a group of "creative, intuitive, clever, jack-of-all-trades kind of people" presented with a problem or project to resolve or bring into being, finding a set of solutions, and then breaking away for the rest of the week to accomplish our respective tasks to make it happen. To me, that is the quintessence of balance in a real world. No man is an island. Only true eccentrics believe they are. People who need (or even crave) having a sense of accomplishment, know that they can only do so by contributing to the successful completion of tasks by a greater whole ... thus, an "organization". Disney, in my view, is one of the few places in the world I'd feel comfortable plunging into with any expectation of fulfillment. I can't thank you enough for the depth of your input and I will endeavor to stay on track with a realistic perspective.

 

[skfulkers]

To Pneumatic Transit and WDSearcher:

This entire thread interests me greatly. I am a Project Engineer by trade (BS in Mechanical Engineering) and have always dreamed of being an "Imagineer" or part of any division in Disney engineering. I have never actually sent a resume, so the fact that I am not accomplishing this dream is my fault entirely. I have heard the horror stories of engineering grads who have sent resumes to Disney and have received absolutely no response, and I have heard that Imagineering has thousands of resumes on file should they ever need to call upon them.
My question is this--does Disney really hire engineers, either on a contract basis or within the company, that frequently? I have 6 years experience in my field (material handling, conveyor and automation systems), so I am not "straight out of school," but I always saw Disney as a huge corporate entity that tends to hire from within as opposed to looking outside the organization.
Does someone like me really stand a chance? I know that is a tough question to answer--there are too many factors that go into the hiring process. But I guess my real question is this: would a resume such as mine be looked at twice or would it simply be thrown into the stack?