The application process

Since I waited to start this blog until after I already got accepted, if there's any future CP hopefuls reading this, I thought I'd take a little time to talk about the application process. Basically, there are 4 steps in the application process for the Disney College Program.
1. Attend a Campus Presentation or watch the E-Presentation
The Presentation is an opportunity to learn more about the program and is required for all applicants. If you attend a campus presentation, it's also an opportunity to talk to a recruiter and ask any questions you may have. When I first started seriously considering this program last March, I attended a presentation at MATC and when I left, I knew 100% that I wanted to do this. However, if there is no presentation at your school or a school near yours, you can watch the e-presentation which provides the same information, it's just online. If you're hoping to apply as soon as the applications go up, definitely watch the e-presentation. No matter which you decide to do though, at the end of the presentation, you will receive a confirmation code which is necessary to complete the interview process.

2. Complete the role checklist/Application
This is the step where you select which roles you will be receptive to if accepted into the program. With the exception of the role checklist, the rest is just like pretty much any other job application where you fill out your personal information, past work experience, etc.

3. Web-Based Interview
This was the step that scared me more than any other because the results of your WBI determine whether you will be eligible for a phone interview. The purpose of this interview is to evaluate your personality. It's filled with questions about if you're on time, a team player, reliable, dependable, etc. The questions are very basic and scored on a Strongly Agree/Strongly Disagree scale. However, there are many instances where the same question is asked multiple times but in different words. Such as, "I am always on time." and "I am never late." The purpose of doing this is to make sure you remain consistent with your answers. The best way to complete the interview is to answer honestly(it's easier to remain consistent that way) and answer strongly whenever possible and avoid neutral answers. Immediately after the WBI, you will see your results and whether you can continue on and schedule a phone interview.

I actually applied for the program for Spring 2011 and failed the WBI. This time, I made sure that my answers were consistent and (obviously) I passed. I also think it's important to note that if you do not pass the Web-based interview, you have to wait 6 months before you can retake it. So if you applied now and failed the WBI, you would have to wait until September to reapply even though the applications go up in August. Back when I applied for Spring, I applied the first day they went up in August and had to wait until February to reapply.

4. Phone Interview
Like I said before, the results of your WBI will determine if you can schedule a phone interview. This is really the most important part of the application process. They ask you a lot of basic questions about the Disney look, receptive to minimum wage, past work experience, etc. but then they also get into more specific questions about the roles you selected. When preparing for the phone interview, blogs from former/current cps were extremely helpful, but another resource was The Dis. There is an entire board dedicated to College Students and a lot of the topics have to do with the Disney College Program. So when you're preparing for your phone interview, I'd definitely check it out as they have common interview questions for almost every role in the program. They also have some wonderful interview tips that were extremely helpful.

Here's how my interview went. I applied February 17, 2011(6 months after I last applied) and my phone interview was February 19th at 9:30 am. During the first part of my interview, we went over my application where I was asked about the Disney look, if I was receptive to being paid between $7.25-$8.75, if I'd been convicted of a crime, if I had a valid drivers license, etc. These questions were all pretty easy to answer with a yes or a no.
The second part was where I really got to talk.
1. We talked about my past work experience and she asked which job that I've had has been my favorite.
2. The ever important why you want to work for Disney and if I'd ever consider working full time with Disney. This is definitely something you're going to want to have an answer prepared for as it is always asked. I was also asked if I had a favorite park or attraction.
3. Would you rather work in groups or independently?
4. How would you describe your work pace?
5. She of course asked what my top 3 roles were and asked if I would be interested in adding custodial or housekeeping. She made a comment about how I had a good long list of roles at the beginning of the interview. This really made me nervous even though she said there was no right or wrong answer and after I said no, she just said ok and we moved on. It's quite common for interviewers to ask if you're willing to add roles such as QSFB or housekeeping to your checklist as these are roles that require a lot of people but not many people want. If you really don't want to do them, don't be afraid to say no. I said my top 3 were Attractions, Merchandise, and Character Attendant.
6. Why do you want to be a character attendant?
7. What have you done in your past jobs where you've made a guest feel special?
8. How would I instill Disney magic from beginning to end at the entrances? Or something like that. This was a question directed towards Main Entrance Operations.
9. Do you have any cash handling experience? I mentioned working at a fast food restaurant at the beginning and after asking this she was like, "Oh at Culvers', right?"
10. She asked about my experience speaking in front of groups and how it makes me feel. I mentioned most of my experience was from presentations in class so she asked what the longest speech I've had to memorize was.
11. She also asked how I'd feel about doing a job that was repetitive. Then she asked what I'd do if I was interrupted while giving a speech or something.

That's pretty much all I was asked. Overall my interview took about 20 minutes. I actually really wasn't sure how it had went because while my interviewer was so nice, it seemed like at the end she was ready to hang up. I had a feeling that if I was going to get accepted I'd get QSFB because it was on my role checklist and I have experience in fast food. It definitely wans't my first choice but I'm not upset about it. I'm just going to make the most of it. At the end I asked if I could request a work location and since I said my favorite park was Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom she said that she had put that in. However I did send an email yesterday requesting outdoor foods at the Magic Kingdom as my work location.

At the end of the interview I was told that it would be 3-4 weeks before I heard anything which is pretty standard but plenty of people hear before that. I was accepted 10 days after my interview. How you are informed of your acceptance also varies. Most of the time, they send out acceptance emails but also some people just receive the purple folder in the mail.

I guess that's pretty much all about the interview process. This is such a long entry but I hope anyone who's reading this as a CP hopeful found it helpful. That is if anyone made it through the entire thing.

I'm off to Disney World Saturday for my spring break. I'm so excited and can't wait to enjoy some warm weather for a change. I'm also going to a Braves game at the Wide World of Sports which will be a lot of fun. I've never been to the Wide World of Sports before and as someone who loves baseball, I can't wait to see a live game again, even if it's not my team(Go Brewers!)

Again, sorry for the novel.

On an unrelated note, Go Marquette!! Beat Louisville!