Who wants to work for the mouse?
That would be me!
Is it not every Disney fans dream job? Perhaps it’s just me, but I want to be able to give back some of that Magic that I have so gratefully received from Disney Cast Members around the world. Ok for some it may ruin that magic and they would never want to do it, I can understand and respect that, but for me? Well I think it will enhance my appreciation and understanding of what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ to make that little bit of Disney Magic! I also love working in a Customer Service environment, and who does customer service better than the Big D?
I’m currently in the process of applying for a job at Walt Disney World as part of their Cultural Representative Program. This means if successful I will be working in the Epcot theme park, in the UK Pavilion within the World Showcase area of the park. It’ll be an entry-level job, working in either Merchandising or Food and Beverage, and it’ll only be for a year, but I’m guessing if I am successful it will be the best year of my life? I’ll end up spending a year living on site in Disney accommodation, and being paid to be there!!!
To briefly describe the application process, it involves sending your CV to a recruiting agency, they then review your application and decide whether to take you to the next stage, that’s the telephone interview. This is a 15 minute telephone interview asking the usual interview questions, as well as a few questions with a bit of a different Disney touch to them (and by that I don’t mean Disney Trivia!). Once you have passed the telephone interview stage, you have to go to a face-to-face interview, this is in your own country, no all expenses paid trips to Florida unfortunately. This is where I am currently, I have my interview next month in London, and I am actually quite excited about it.
One unexpected side effect of this application process is the people I have come into contact with on the way. Through an online community of applicants, current participants and past participants, I have managed to get in contact with some great people who are in the same position as me. It’s great being able to discuss how we feel, and our plans and hopes for the interviews and the program. I’ve actually made some great friends through this already, and I’d like to think we’ll keep in contact even if we don’t all get through (I really hope we all do!!!!) *Waves Hi to Meg, Kirsty, Nat, Chris and Andrew* In fact we all get on so well, we’ve all arranged to get together the night before our interviews for a meal and a couple of drinks, some of us are even sharing hotel rooms! Maybe it’ll boost our confidence a bit for the interview?
Anyway, that’s pretty much where I am at the moment. If any of you are interested in reading up on the program the official information is here
Cross your fingers for me!
February 22nd, 2006 at 2:34 pm
All I can say is, good luck Colin! I cannot think of a better person i know for the job. The whole process sounds really exciting, meeting other people along the way and at the end of it the opportunity to get some great experience, which you will not only enjoy but will make an excellent addition to your CV if this is the field of work you are going to take on in the future! Good luck!
February 22nd, 2006 at 9:59 pm
Hey Colin. You’ve described the whole process really well. Our little online community has been fantastic. Can’t wait to meet you and everyone else in March for our interviews! Fingers crossed that we’ll all be heading off to Orlando to work for the mouse very soon! It would be a dream come true! Nat xx
February 23rd, 2006 at 5:27 pm
Hey Colin *waves back*.
I agree with everything you’ve said. I’ve made some amazing friends and know that they are for life even if I don’t get through. Hopefully though we will all be out there next year celebrating the time we are having. So excited, yet nervous as I know most of are.
*Huggles*
Kirsty