Getting a job at Disney is not hard provided you have the skills and experience. The good thing with Disney is that it pays its interns and employees well. Attraction cast members make on average $11 hourly while princesses are paid $13-26 per hour with mickey making about $26-30 hourly. The highest-paid job at Disney World is Character Attendant who makes about $125 000 annually.
Disney employees enjoy a range of benefits too like weekly pay, health insurance, fitness programs, paid time off, on-site child care, etc. Moreover, it does not take long to get hired. If after the interview they see you are the perfect fit for the role, you can start immediately. At times it make take 4-7 days.
Here are some tips on how to land a job at the famous Walt Disney Company!
Look for Specific Disney Programs
Look for Disney programs that are hiring. To get into any of them e.g. summer internships, but in order not to waste your time first make sure you qualify and you have the skills required. Applying to things you aren’t qualified for may be fun but ultimately your odds of getting a job are much lower. Stick with what your resume matches for optimal results.
Check Out the Disney College Program
Are you a college student looking to add some work experience to your thin resume? Then Disney’s College program may be just the thing for you! Students and undergraduates alike can apply for this program. *Graduates can also apply even though it is meant for undergraduates only.
The program isn’t open to just anyone though. You need to be a student at an accredited university, and they will ask you to prove this so you’ll need transcripts or some official document of enrollment from admissions. Only applicants who meet all of the programs requirements will proceed on to the interview stage.
Application Requirements
Disney has laid out requirements for applicants quite clearly. Check them out before applying. Some of them include:
- You should be enrolled in an accredited college or university and have completed your first semester. Disney does not hire students who have called off their semesters. Graduates can apply as well but only within 12 months of graduation
- Have unrestricted work authorization.
- You must be 18 and above, or be 18 when the program starts.
- Be eligible to meet school requirements for participation. This includes the G.P.A level, grade level, etc.
Online Interview Stage
If you pass the application process, you’ll be asked questions online. This is so that they know you better.
Take your time before answering the questions. Make sure you understand each question before submitting your answers.
Some questions may ask your opinion, in such a case it’s advisable to go a “strongly disagree” or “strongly agree”. It shows you’re sure of what you want.
Also, to show that you are enthusiastic about becoming part of Disney’s team; put a high scale e.g. between 1-10, you can even write 10 in all of them.
Phone Interview Stage
If you do well, they will invite you to a phone interview. Some people find this stage the hardest of them all. However, if you are well prepared you are good to go. Keep track of the time the interview is supposed to happen, don’t be caught off-guard.
You can research for the most asked questions. If you’re skeptical about remembering the answers, note them down on paper for quick and easy referencing.
Also, be sure to ask questions for clarification. It’s always better to ask the question than not and make a mistake later or regret not finding an answer. You can even ask them anything related to the job to show you are enthusiastic.
[alert-success]Ready to apply to the Disney College Program? Start here: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/disney-college-program[/alert-success]Disney Professional Program
This program is more of a career improvement and growth. Hence, folks who want career-oriented roles, this is it. The program is competitive though because the number of roles offered is limited. Unlike the above mentioned college program this is specifically designed for people with some work experience who are looking to take their careers to the next level, potentially with the Disney corporation.
Below are a few tips and insights we’ve gleamed from interviewing people who have applied as well as researching online forums and communities where people share their application experiences.
Make your Resume Unique
“Uniqueness” is the key thing. No, we’re not talking about adding color or graphics to your resume design. The design should be simple, professional, and standardized. If you need help picking a design we have a library of professionally designed resume templates you can download and use for free.
When we say your resume must be unique we’re talking more about the contents, the words that describe your experiences and skills. Your resume needs to show exemplary skills that differentiate you from the competition and explain why you’re perfect for the job. Ensure that your resume uses Disney-friendly language. Also, make sure you qualify for the job you are applying for.
Knowing how good having experience at Disney looks on a resume, there is stiff competition during the application process. There are a lot of people looking to add the resume builder as well as gain valuable business skills, so writing a perfect resume is the most important first step in rising above the competition to making it to the interview stage.
Have a Compelling Cover Letter
A cover letter shows your personality which isn’t written in a resume. It is the very first impression you make on an HR gatekeeper and thus must be succinct and detail-rich to incentivize the reader to proceed to the next step, which is reviewing your resume and considering you for an interview.
Take advantage of the power of a well-written cover letter and first impression and include only the most meaningful details that couldn’t be included in a resume.
Below are some top tips on how to write a compelling cover letter that will pique an HR’s interest and lead them on to your resume for consideration and potentially an interview and employment after that.
Choose the Best Format
The best format aligns with the company’s style. It shows you understand even the intricate details about Disney. From your Word, choose the template that best matches Disney’s style. We have some free standardized cover letter templates you can copy if you’d like.
Include Current Address
Addresses are in a way deal breakers. If the job is for locals don’t write an out of town address. Write your future address if you are planning to move out. Ensure you write your email id in your address.
Personalize the Recipient
This makes them feel like you’re only talking and interested in them. Writing a generalized recipient that can apply to any company isn’t a good idea. You can write the name of the hiring manager. If you don’t get the name, use “Dear Hiring Manager“ not “Dear Sir/Madam”
Be Convincing
To get the hiring manager’s attention, write something unique and surprising. Remember, if you don’t get their attention, they will not bother reading the rest of your letter. Not good, because maybe that’s where the ”juicy” part is.
Be convincing and make them like you. Use the company’s requirement to structure a convincing prose.
Proofread
A single error can make or break your odds of landing an interview. The thinking is, if you don’t have the ability or the patience to go and proofread your cover letter and resume then that will probably translate into sloppy professional work as well and HR will always look down on that work style.
So, give yourself some assurances and make sure to proofread your resume at LEAST 3 times before sending it off. Check for spelling errors, formatting problems and general readability. We have a round-up of the top 7 most common cover letter mistakes you should read during your proofreading phase for maximum results.
Follow-up
To show you are enthusiastic about the role, follow up. Make it look like there is a possibility for an interview. By so doing, you show your eagerness to join the team. Following up should be done within 48 hours of interviewing and should consist of a formal letter. Read our follow-up guide for the specifics on leaving a positive lasting impression.
[alert-announce]If you are an experienced candidate and looking to take your career to the next level apply at Walt Disney here: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/[/alert-announce]Ace that Interview
All interviews require thorough preparations. Look up to questions and their answers that are likely to be asked, like,
- Please tell me about yourself?
- What is your biggest strength?
- What are your biggest weaknesses?
- What are your career goals?
- Why should we hire you?
- Why do you want to work for us?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?.
- Why did you leave your current job?
Depending on the role you are applying for, Disney may or may not drug test. If the role involves customer safety, like cooks and security guards be ready for a drug test. Before the interview, make sure you’re “clean”. You can do this by avoiding drugs for a while or detox.
Dress appropriately. Avoid extreme styles and colorful outfits, go for neutral colors. Just be classy and professional. Use your accessories and jewelry sparingly. This avoids creating unnecessary attention.
Alternatives
Walt Disney is a titan in their industry and working for them may be your dream, but sometimes, often due to forces outside of our control as individuals, dreams don’t always come true. Still, there are other companies that exhibit Walt Disney’s professionalism and innovative spirit. We’ve also written guides on applying to these high-demand, high-growth companies as well.
If you are interested in Disney you may also want to check out our guides on working at Buzzfeed, Netflix, Google, Tesla, Nike, & Apple.
