Spring 2017 Application FAQ

Spring 2017 Application FAQ

by Brittany DiCologero

:::DISCLAIMER::: For the most up to date information on anything Disney College Program-related, please visit disneycollegeprogram.com and disneyprogramsblog.com. I do not work for Disney College Program Recruiting, and I do not claim to-- I'm simply an alumna of the program with a lot of experience into the application process.

Q: A lot of experience you say? What exactly are your credentials to be writing this post?

A: I have been researching the college program since about 2006. I've networked with alumni of the program who completed it from the 1980s until the most recent season. I've applied to the program every year since 2011. I've been rejected, accepted, and everything in between for multiple jobs within the Walt Disney Company, and I've completed seminars with outside human resources departments and recruitment companies to gain insight into how the application process works based on the software used by Disney. In addition, I've been selected by Theme Park Press to publish "Brittany Earns Her Ears," a book documenting my personal experiences with the program, and I regularly write well-researched articles on the subject for Theme Park Tourist.

Q: I applied to the college program a couple of years ago. How has the application changed?

A: About three years ago, the Disney College Program application stopped offering web-based interviews to every applicant. Prior to the Spring 2014 program season, each applicant was offered the opportunity to take the initial interview after submitting his or her application. In an effort to narrow down applicants due to an increased number of students applying each year, this is no longer the case. Students now must submit an application, and wait for an email, or check their dashboards, to see if they are selected to take the web-based interview. Successful completion of the web-based interview, as always, will lead to an invitation for the phone interview.

Q: What is submission? How do I avoid it? Is it random?

A: Submission is the stage of your application process, where you application has been received by recruiters, and has undergone an initial review stage, however you have not been asked to move forward with an interview-- but you have not been rejected either. What exactly is submission? Well, put most simply-- it's frustrating. 

To better understand what submission means, think of the college program on a much smaller scale: You are a hiring manager for a small company, and you receive four applications for one open position. Two of those applications are outstanding, and you offer them interviews right away (think "in progress). One of the applications is not what you're looking for at all ("no longer in consideration) meaning, this person is not going to be offered an interview. That last application however, draws a middle ground. The application shows enough potential to not be immediately discarded, however with the other two outstanding candidates, it is not yet clear if this applicant should be offered an interview (submission). If the first two candidates look closer to what you're looking for on paper, you're probably going to interview them first. This is not to say that the submission-ed candidate is bad, it's just to say that the competition is better. If the two outstanding applicants do not accept the job, the "submission-ed" applicant might be offered an interview. If one of the outstanding applicants does accept the job, the submission-ed person will likely be in submission until he or she is ultimately rejected. While it can be a difficult concept to grasp, especially because the Disney College Program obviously receives a lot more applications than our hypothetical small business, it's a very common practice, that is going to occur in nearly all of the jobs you apply for-- you just won't know about it, because most jobs do not have a dashboard telling you that you're in submission.

What's important for you to know, is that BEING PLACED IN SUBMISSION IS ABSOLUTELY NOT RANDOM. This is a rumor that resurfaces each program season, and quite frankly, it has no truth to it at all. Don't believe me? You're not alone, apparently a lot of potential CPs don't believe me on this, so we'll say it one more time for the people in the back. BEING PLACED IN SUBMISSION IS NOT RANDOM.  Still don't believe me? Let's see what the official Disney Internships and Programs blog has to say on the matter: here, and here. If you'd like to still believe that you may be in submission due to some completely made up lottery process, be my guest, but I think the more important thing to do would be to focus on how to make your application the best it can possibly be, so that you do not end up being stuck in submission.

Disney College Program Recruiting has not, and likely never will, disclose exactly what they're looking for in an application, so please do not assume that I'm just trying to act like a know-it-all here-- I'm just going to use what I've learned from a mixture of Career Services at my and other local colleges, discussions I've had with human resource professionals, and with leaders at my work locations in Disney to decipher what I think the best application would be like, and you can take it or leave it. :)

Buzzwords: Use them, and use Disney-specific ones. Base everything you write in the job description portion of the application off of the Four Keys: Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency. Instead of saying "helped customers," say "assisted guests." Use adjectives like "excellent, efficiently, safely," etc... Use specific examples of how you can work independently and as part of a team. Even if your job is fairly basic, you can think of examples of how you've used the Four Keys there if you try hard enough. The first time I applied to the program, one of my work experiences was as a volunteer greeter for a local historical society's museum. At a most basic level, my job function was to sit at a desk in the doorway and greet visitors, and tell them when the next tour would start. Instead of saying just this, my application read something like, "Enthusiastically greeted each guest to Buckman Tavern. Taught guests about the history of Lexington, MA on an individual level, based on the guests' ages and background knowledge of the subject matter. Efficiently maintained tour schedules, assuring that guests would be able to join the tour time of their choice. Put safety first while completing emergency evacuation drills of the house museum, and while reporting anything that might pose a safety hazard to guests and/or coworkers. Actively engaged guests by seeking out those who appeared to have questions, and making sure their visit to the museum exceeded their expectations." See the difference?

Roles: Again, this is my personal understanding of the application process, as we know that Disney College Program Recruiting will likely never disclose this kind of information. I would strongly suggest applying for any role you would honestly pursue on the program. Say Lifeguard is your absolute first choice, followed by Recreation as your second, and then Attractions. If there are any other roles you are receptive to, I would strongly suggest putting them on the application. A recruiter might think you're a great fit for Character Attendant and nothing else, and if you don't check it off as an option, you're likely going to receive an NLIC (no longer in consideration email) or remain in submission until the end of application season. At the same time, do not put interest in roles that you are absolutely not receptive to doing. (If you've been in the Facebook group for past seasons, I'm sure you've seen the post by the person who checked off Housekeeping and is horribly upset when he or she is offered the role because it wasn't their first choice). Be flexible in your roles, knowing that you can mention your first choices in the phone interview, but don't be so flexible as to check off roles that you'll ultimately refuse to do. 

Have work experience: Volunteer experience counts too! Just make sure you have work experience. Technically speaking, the college program can be your first job, but it's become so competitive these days that you honestly can't expect to be handed an acceptance with no work experience when you're competing against other students with years of experience. Personally, I value work experience, especially in young people. I've had a job since I was fifteen, and I think working and doing something for yourself at a young age teaches you important lessons that simply being a full time student can't. If you have no work experience, be aware that you're going to be competing for a spot in the program against other students who have upwards of four or five years of work experience, so getting a summer job before you apply for the program might be to your advantage. 

Work on your resume: The best way to make all of this fit into your application is to work on your resume, and have an updated one on hand when you're applying. If you have your resume, with buzzwords in the job descriptions ready to go, you can copy and paste this information into the application when you apply. Another place where applicants go wrong is that they are so excited to apply that they rush through the application. Having a well thought out resume on hand means you can be ready to go with the application, regardless of how anxious you are to apply. 

Q: Is it better to apply right when applications open? Should I wait a week or two instead?

A: It makes no difference. Anything else you hear is superstition/rumors. It might make a difference if you don't select a lot of roles and you apply near the end (ie: most of the Merchandise spots have been filled, and that's the only role you put interest in, so you're competing against a lot of people for one role-- but remember when we said about roles in the previous question). I've applied on the first day, the last day, and everywhere in between, and for me personally, it has made no difference. You can also check the official blog (again) for further proof if you don't believe me. 

Q: I applied on the same day as Bob, and Bob already has a phone interview, but I'm in submission. What gives?

A: I'll never know, Bob will never know, and you'll never know. Bob's application is different than yours, and even if you claim its "exactly the same" his job descriptions might not be, and he may have selected different roles. You know who will know what gives? Disney College Program Recruiting. But since they will never tell you what gives, it's best not to stress too much over it, and avoid comparing your application status to others.

Q: I've heard certain roles/applicants with first names starting with A/applicants in certain time zones/those gifted with unicorn blood are accepted in waves?

A: Incorrect. You are given an acceptance when you are accepted, there's no rhyme or reason to it that anyone who is not part of recruiting will understand-- so again, it's not worth stressing over.

Q: I have more questions! Who can I contact?

A: Check out this link for official Disney College Program contacts. You can also feel free to contact myself, or any of the other admins on the Spring 2017 Facebook page with more questions. The application process can be confusing, and we're happy to help!

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"Brittany Earns Her Ears" is available on Amazon! Click here to get your copy today!

Want to read up on some debunked myths about the Disney College Program? Click here to check out Brittany's latest article for Theme Park Tourist.

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