UK June Applicants 2010

Ahah! So it's on their facebook page. I must find that.

KatLou has already mentioned the timescale of the Jan applications, but that was uber fast compared to previous ones. This time last year, they didn't start looking at the apps until the start of August, we got emails about phone interviews about 2-3 weeks into August. The phone interviews were conducted in the next couple of weeks (end August/start September), and the F2F interviews were end of September/start of October. Then it's often another 2 weeks after to hear anything else. I'm kind of hoping we're more along this timescale than the January timescale. I've got some stuff in the pipeline that needs to happen prior to Disney applications, and it's looking like it might not!

 

Yeah, I think when it's a longer process more people get dates straight away, and when it's shorter there seemed to be two batches of dates given out- one in feb, one in april (and a few others in between).

Good luck everyone, and make sure you sell yourself well on your CV... apparently in Jan they had about 1000, and only gave 300 telephone interviews (or so the woman on the phone told me???). x x

 

That's usual numbers. Over 1000 Applicants, 300 ish phone interviews, 100 ish F2F interviews and 30 odd places given. The first cull is the nastiest one, so CVs have to SHINE!!!

 

You're really lucky to get a phone interview. This program is so popular now that you've really got to show you want it. It gets really scary having to wait, especially when you've put everything on the line for Disney!

 

Is the end of June too late to put down as a starting date?

 

nope! not at all! this is just the date that you are available from.
say if your on a works contract until November and cant leave before then, your earliest date you can start would be then, it just to let them know how soon they can send you out. but obviously, The earlier your available starting date, the more chance you will have, as they know you can go whenever

 

I don't know whether to go to college this year then or postpone it! Ahh. Come on msn x

 

lol hmm toughy!
sorry cant, im at work (im on lunch by the way, not skiving lol)

 

June 2010, or 2011? This set of applications will have departure dates early 2011. So a start date of June 2010 is perfect. Start date of June 2011 would possibly mean you end up on a waiting list rather than getting a position (assuming all goes well and you get that far). To be totally honest, it's worth applying for the experience of going through the application. You can always try again at a later date.

 

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ahh very true vicky! i just took it as this coming june, im not working ahead as 2011 yet hehe

 

Thanks for the info! I'm going to Trinidad and Tobago for a fortnight on the 30th June so I was hoping I wouldn't miss anything important during that time!

1000 applicants... I knew it was popular but that's a scary number! I wish I knew what they were looking for... but I guess the best thing I can do is try and sell all the qualities I do have and try and express how much I want to do this (which is lots!!)

I've already decided that if I don't get in this time round I'll apply again next time. I can just work in the meantime and build up my CV and try again!

 

Hey everyone,
I thought I'd share my pearls of 'wisdom' with those who didn't already know.
I applied and got a phone interview last august, and following that was invited to F2F in September. That very week, I was struck down with swine flu and spent the week sick as a dog feeling incredibly sorry for myself! Needless to say, I didn't go. I sulked for about three months.
Then I applied again and got another telephone interview and f2f, so I must be doing something right.
In the written application, I mentioned my years and years of experience in Customer service, and really emphasised how important a customer's needs were to me whilst in those positions.
I also mentioned my acheivements, charitable and volunteer work, which obviously helps no end. If you have no real experience, try to find yourself a volunteer post. For example, I have worked with two different charities set up for disadvantaged children. Not only does it show that you care about people, but that you are willing to give up your own time to make a difference in other people's lives. Time is the best gift you can give, believe me! If this isn't possible, really put emphasis on any experience you do have, where you are in a position of responsibility and have to show dedication. It could be a project you lead at college or uni.
I also spent about three days intensively searching the internet for tips on how to make my CV really stand out. I put a few lines about myself underneath my name at the top of the CV. Then, I added a personal statement into my cover letter as opposed to having two seperate paragraphs. Limit CVs to two pages; there are ways and means of doing this (I never put references' details on my CV)

For the phone interview, know some crazy and interesting facts about where you live. Like I mentioned before I was asked both times about my town, and which Disney character I would be. Give your answers depth; they probably hear a million times how "I'm most like this person because they are always happy and blah blah blah." Think outside the box! There are Disney characters that always get forgotten about. If an obvious choice comes to mind, make sure you have a REALLy good answer. I said Cinderella, but I gave a reason that had Nick silent for a few seconds; then he told me it was one of the best answers he'd ever had. Disney characters are no different from movie characters; profile them!
Still, I'm not going to pretend I know it all because I was like a fish out of water at the F2F. You'll get given lots of information about what goes on at Disney during the presentation; make sure you have plenty of questions to ask about it and NEVER EVER ask about money or holiday time. It just sounds unprofessional.
I was waitlisted, but was lucky enough to be in the first round of people to be offered dates and get off the list. Except don't do a Natalie (thats me) and delete your acceptance email without seeing it. I was lucky that Nick chased me up by phone, or I would never have known I was offered the job! Believe it or not, I am a natural blonde
When I asked hannah about the list, she told me people would be given dates depending on availability and performance at F2F. I put my availabilty as September and I am going in December.
Remember, the whole process is going to cost about £800, so with this in mind, put your earliest possible availability.

Apply anyways, and put you're start date as available from September. Then, if you don't get offered a position, you have college to fall back on. If you do get offered a position, you can always put college off.
I am going to stop waffling now, but it may be worth asking people who actually got offered positions straight away or people who are experts and have actually been (Louisa ) but literally bleed people for information!!

Best of luck guys, I am rooting for you.
Especially my fellow Suffolk Girl

Much love and pixie dust,

Red xoxo

P.S Sorry if I have bored you to sleep or sounded like a know it all. I'm really not, promise

 

thanks so much for all the info Nat! i have already redone my CV and cover letter for my third attempt at applying! but that just made me want to go over it, go over it again, and over it again (it cant hurt to check over it... can it? )
but yeh like i say i am sureee there is something in my CV or cover letter i can improve!
congrats on getting accepted by the way! i just cant wait untill its my turn, whenever that may be, im ready now! but just a longggggggggg waiting game

thanks again for the info

 

Yeah I agree with natalie re. application process. For the character I said Dory as she's really positive with her "just keep swimming" but also forgetful in a cute way...I got a laugh at that!

For covering letters, I think it's good to have your own reason for doing the programme, and make sure it's what you believe. For some, it's disney, wanting to work for an amazingly well recognised hospitality company- this is what the person I interviewed with said and she got waitlisted too. For me, it was more the "cultural" experience, living with people from across the world and sharing my own cultures and customs.

Make sure you highlight your extra experiences like Natalie said- voluntary work looks good (I'm a geography ambassador for the RGS so go into schools and do activities etc), or even stuff like you're a good team worker because you play football on the weekend. It might not sound like much but just adds something more to a list of places where you have worked.

Doddi- do not postpone college, apply anyway, you can always drop out if something better comes up . Keep your options open. If Disney happens (which I'm sure it will) then drop the college place and take up the opportunity with disney!!!

Finally, if any of you have more questions please feel free to PM me. I have my final exam on Saturday so will be happy to help after then.

Oh well, back to the last 5% of my degree! x x x x x x x

 

I agree with everything everyone else has said Haha

I got waitlisted twice before I got offered a job (three lots of interviews in total....eek!) but it was mainly because I couldn't go out until a certain time and there were no arrival groups available. I got there eventually though, and going to all those interviews meant I knew a whole bunch of people from here. I may not have got the job a couple of times, but by meeting people on here you feel really happy for them. You can make some real friends for life!

The cover letter really needs to be about why you want to work for Disney. For me its simple; I want to make magic more than anything, and if doing two programs hasn't got that out of my system, I don't think it ever will. The hardest thing is coming back and reading people's blogs about them making magic and wishing that you'd never had to come home because you'll never be able to recreate that feeling of making someone smile anywhere else.

I find that a lot of people who get this job have a real passion for guest service. The reasons for wanting this may not have anything to do with being in Disney and Florida, but if you want to learn about amazing guest service, The Walt Disney Company is where you do it. Just be really true to yourselves, and be really passionate about why you want to do the CRP.

 

This is an exert from my cover letter to give you all an idea. Obviously this is personal to me, but it might help to know what other people have written.


Dear Sir / Madam,
I am very excited to have been presented with this opportunity and I believe I would be an asset to Walt Disney World.
I enjoy travelling and socialising with friends, which has taught me to be culturally diverse. I have friends from different backgrounds and countries around the world, and I have enjoyed learning about different customs and traditions.
I have worked in Customer Service driven environments for seven years in a variety of different situations, including serving members of the public and businesses alike. I am passionate about people, and I am passionate about great customer service. Above all, I am passionate about Service with a smile.
From retail I have learned the importance of great customer service and how to work well under pressure. From office based positions, I have learned good time keeping, speed and accuracy. From working with children I have learned patience, the importance of Health and Safety and how to be a positive role model, whilst making their holiday enjoyable. Collectively, I have learned that teamwork is paramount, and that only when every one works together can optimum results be achieved. I believe I have what it takes to make a good team great.

As you can see, I have worked in a lot of different job roles and been a bit unsettled, but I used this to my advantage by writing about what I had learned from each role, which collectively will expand my skills.

A little bit of what I said: I was most like Cinderella "Because she hangs on to the hope that someday her kindness and inner beauty will be rewarded. She's not ungrateful for what she has, she just dreams of a better life."

Anyways, I hope something I said proves helpful to someone...Like Kat said, we're all here to answer any questions, although since I bore everyone to death with my three-day-long posts, I don't blame you for not wanting to ask me anything...
lol.

Lots of Love,
Aunty Red

 

I've read your blog...it was the reason I applied to do it One of the best blogs I've read! x x x

 

Thanks I really should get onto finishing updating it! I want to print it all out and make a book so I have a paper copy I'd love to say that reading other people's blogs helped me decide to apply for my first program all those years ago (2005, EEK!) but they weren't really around (so mine was one of the first...woo!) but this place wasn't a very nice place then and I almost decided not to go because of what people said! Luckily it's a much nicer place, everyone seems to get along fine and like to help each other out. This forum has really grown!

I don't remember which character I said in my interviews (in my third F2F I didn't even really get an interview...our recruiter had seem me twice before and simply asked if I wanted to be considered as the permanent assigner. He told me I'd be seating a few people...boy was I in for surprise!) but it was probably Belle. She's not afraid to speak her mind and fight for what's right. And she loves to read which is totally me I went as Belle in her blue dress to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party last year. I just love her. If I get a next interview I think I'd say the Evil Queen...I believe underneath she's just simply misunderstood and having read her back story (Disney published it!) it seems that she let the power go to her head and in truth she really loved Snow White. It just shows that everyone has faults (even the kindest people, as she is portrayed at the beginning of the story) and even the strongest people can be lead astray.

Ramble over haha.

 

Great advice, Suffolk Girl That made me smile a lot! I will do that! I've also found an apprenticeship for a Travel Advisor so apply for all 3! I know what one I'd prefer! Do you have Facebook or a blog? A local's journey is one I need to read!

 

Don't forget Gary, never NEVER use Times New Roman for CV/Covering letter. Fonts should be professional and sensbile (don't use Comic Sans for example, even if it is for a job with Disney). Aim for Arial, Verdana or Calibri.