What NOT to say?

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and have sent my application off. I just wondered if there were things to NOT say in a cover letter or interview? I just wanted to make sure my reasons for going/applying were the right ones. I was reading a blog the other day (sorry can't remember whos) and the person said that their tutor had done the program before and had told them that all their answers were wrong

So I'm just wondering what would be the wrong answer? What would be a bad thing to put in your cover letter or say in the interview?

 

I think the best thing to do is to show yourself in a positive light, show off the best qualities of your personality, e.g. outgoing, flexible and that you really want to do the program. I think that’s harsh to say 'all your answers are wrong' what were the questions?? You have to remember, its plain and simply a job interview, I know an amazing one, but still. Instead of saying 'I like going out and getting really drunk with my friends' you could write 'I enjoy socialising' as it covers a wider range of possibilities without letting your self be seen in a irresponsible negative way. Although seen as you have already sent your application off, I wouldn’t worry about whats right and wrong, just be happy that you've done your best.

 

I heard that if you mention how much you wanna live in Florida. So i tried to stay clear of saying this like that.
I just talked about how enthusiastic I am about the Walt Disney Company, and how I would fit in working in WDW.
I also mentioned it was like a huge dream of mine and included an anecdote about that. Im not sure how that will go down, but i made sure it appealed to their emotions haha. It could either help or hinder my application, depending on who reads, but i took the risk.

Also, if you've sent it away already, it's best not to torture your self thinking about what you've wrote. I nearly deleted my Disney CV, just so i wouldnt be tempted to keep looking at it saying "OH i should've said this instead of that!"

Look to the future, and try being positive, or indifferent.. just in case (thats what im tryna do)

 

lol, it was my tutor that did that.... he isn't one to mince his words. I went into that pre screening with some pretty solid answers after two weeks of spontaneous questioning, tutting and rolling of the eyes (him, not me!) He deemed what I said to be wrong because I was rambling and not answering the actual question, without going in a roundabout way. Anecdotes are good if they are short and sweet and even better if they can get a chuckle. Break the question down - why do you want to do the international college program?

At the end of the day if you turn up on time, appropriately dressed with a friendly manner and your happy to chat to a bunch of complete strangers then your already going in the right direction. Its not all serious stuff, they might ask some light hearted questions. Its really only going to be like 4 questions though, its not a big horrific ordeal!

 

Thanks guys, that really helps. I was quite happy with my cv and cover letter but I'm not sure if I made it 'too' cheesy I tried to be professional in it, say why I'm appropriate for the role but also talking about the disney magic. You're right I shouldn't worry too much now it's sent off. The advice about not rambling helps I guess there's a happy medium of not saying too little or too much? I'm okay when it comes to applications and cvs but I always freeze in interviews. So maybe some practice beforehand might be a good idea. My voice sounds really monotone sometimes in interviews just because I'm nervous but it's not usually like that lol

I also don't think it's a good thing to say you want to live in Florida, it's definitely not a vacation

Do you guys think that more personal answers are better?

Sorry I'm worrying about an interview I don't even have yet

Just trying to prepare as best I can just in case

 

Im worrying about it too and i dont even have one.
But we only have a week to prepare if we get one, so may as well start bracing yourself early. better to be let down than unprepared.

And omg, Im from Northern Ireland, my accent is just like TONELESS. haha, its gross. Im afraid the interview wont understand. Im working on speaking slower, as we tend to talk about 60 mile an hour.

 

Same here, it seems I spend most my free-time thinking of answers to possible questions even though I don't even have an interview yet and may not. However as kerriejordan said, it is best to be prepared especially as uni will be in swing then so with a week to prepare, there may not be much time. I'm sure you'll be fine though
I guess the best thing to do is to speak from the heart, to show your passion for working for Disney, but to reign it back so that you reflect that you know it will be hard and you are prepared for that. I dunno, this is my first-time applying so I am probably not the best to take advice from.
Oh and I'm the same regarding interviews, I speak probably much too quickly and I have the problem of being quite a jokey person so I have to find the line between personality and professionality.

 

I know what you mean about talking way too fast! I'm bad for that, only do it in interviews though. Will try and practice my answers out loud before hand so I can get used to talking more naturally and so it flows

 

Heyyyy, haha i speak way to fast, and like ally said, i'm also a very jokey person and like to laugh a lot when i'm nervous. I think yummy jobs are really looking to see if you are comfortable around strangers (the interviewers) as well, cause if you think about it, if you get the job at Disney you will interact with thousands of strangers each day.
Also I don't think it matters on your answers, like obviously you can't say stupid answers, but I applied for the CRP and completed the program back in 2009/10 and I remember the interview well, and I don't think i came up with the best answers, but i think they can tell by your personality more than anything if you are right for the job. x

 

I feel really terrible for saying this, and I was really hoping someone would've said this in a nicer way than I'm about to already...but, if you get nervous to the poit you can't speak well enough for people to understand you in an interview, you most certainy ARENT the type of person Disney is looking for. You need to have a dynamic personality, and be willing to start conversations. I'm totally comfortable talking to strangers. In the line of work I was doing through high school, it was a necessity. It's a necessity at Disney, also. I really don't want to rain on your parades, but if you really get that nervous...don't count your chickens before they hatch.

I mean, don't get me wrong, it's great that you're pracitcing, and it's totally natural to be a little nervous, but from the way most of you worded it, it came off to me as though you're not just a nervous person, you're not comfortable speaking to strangers.

To put it consicely as possible, if you're worried about speaking to fast or your accent being noticebale during your entire interview, or if you're over thinking the questions, chances are, you're not going to get the job.

Don't let this hinder you, though. Take this as advice and ways to work on it now. While in ANY inerview, you should be fouced on coming off as professional, friendly, and well spoken as possible. This is what I'm focusing on.

 

I don't think you guys should worry about the interview tbh. I didn't give it a single thought back in 2009 when I went and I had no idea it was an interview with another person aswell. He had worked in America before and had loads more to say than I did. I was convinced I wasn't gunna get it but I did and got on the ICP

 

There is no harm in needing to practice speaking slowly.
For me it is a nessessity because speaking fast is how we do it in northern ireland. When I'm at Uni in Canterbury, I don't speak AS fast because of my surroundings, and I lose my accent a bit. I just know SOME people find it hard to understand me if I don't take the time to speak slowly, and I know my luck will ensure that my interviewer, if I get one, will be one of those people.
I've seen people get on the to program with the heaviest Scottish accents ever, who also talk really fast. (must be a Celtic thing...)

I think taking the time to practice something as simple As this will come off as me being prepared and professional. And I will be able to show of my personality just fine. We are all focusing on being as well spoken as possible.. This has nothing to do with me being nervous or uncomfortable with speaking with strangers, cause I'm not. Believe me.


The only thing I'm worrying about is getting one I know I'll have a ball, which is why I'm preparing answers now, cause if I wait til I get one I'll be too excited! Haha.

 

Sorry, but that's entirely unneccessary and puts a downer on the situation. Let's let the Yummy team decide whether we get the job or not.

 

I get what you mean about Disney not hiring nervous people, obviously they want the most enthusiastic people or else it wouldn't be the place that it is, but I have had plenty of jobs within customer service and I enjoy the job. It is only the interview I stumble on, sometimes I do really well at it and other times I don't. Maybe it is because I want the job that much lol But I don't see any harm is practicing beforehand, being prepared is a good thing imo but as you say probably not good to over-think it

 

Um, wow, Briar Rose. Way to take two sentences competely out of context.

First of all, let me start by saying there's been miscommunication on all of our parts. From the way you all had worded your posts, I personally understood them to read as though you all get terribly nervous during interviews, to the point where people can literally not understand you. I later read the post made by kerriejordan and I think I now better understand what most of you meant.

I'd also like to apologise, because I sometimes forget most people have a much harder time with public speaking than I do. I really don't mean for this to come off as braggy, but I was born with a natural ability of public speaking and charisma. I've never had a problem contorlling my speech or inflections, it's something that's always come naturally to me.

However, many of you misunderstood what I had wrote, I think. Briar Rose, let me try to explain this to you another way. You have had jobs in the entertainment field, right Have you ever been to an audition where people were obesessiong over not knowing their lines so much that they totally screw up? Or, at a dance audition, they keep worrying about thier pigeon toes so much that they don't dance to their full ability? That's more what I meant. There has to be some level of natural talent, on top of being noticeably comfortable in your enviroment. Once again, the term dynamic personality comes to mind.

 

I think we have encountered the common problem with the internet here, misinterpreting what the other is saying and miscommunication. I think as DisneySparkles has mentioned, it is actually a case that we are all comfortable around strangers and have no problem building a rapport with them, but sometimes we have our quirks that can be at a detriment in an interview situation. Like, at work I have no problem having discussions with strangers, no nerves at all, but a common trait at both work and at home is that I can speak too quickly. Likewise I think, we are all so excited about the ICP, we just cannot stop thinking about things like the interview and want to make sure we come off as well-spoken as possible and reflect ourselves the best we can.
So misunderstandings aside, can we all go back to being excited and happy again please! Come on, lets feel the love

 

I don't think it's how you say it either I think it's what you say. So if they don't understand your accent then i'm sure they'll just ask you to repeat your answer

 

They will understand you. They interview thousands of people, it's not their first time hearing a heavy Northern Irish or Scottish accent. There was a guy in my screening interview with a heavy Irish accent and he had just finished his first CRP year and was trying for another. Scottish accents are fine, but we do tend to have some pretty horrible slang. Its common sense though, I wouldn't talk to people at work like that, so I don't talk in interviews like that!
They know people are going to be nervous, that's why they try to get people excited and comfortable before hand. Some people sit there with their arms folded and don't say a word, that's totally different to a little bit of nerves.

 

Im the exact same. I wasnt born with it, but i've gained it. I'm really into performing, so i'm pretty good at speaking in public and love to interact with people. Im usually quite good with interviews and im quite confident. Although, even the most confident person in the world can lose their nerve and have trouble when something that means the world to them is on the line.

The accent thing isn't at the forefront of my mind, probably as i've made it seem. It's just something I like to keep at the back of my mind in order to avoid any problems.

 

What happens if I get so nervous I burst into unintelligible Scottish dialect? Go to 3:33!
http://youtu.be/wMafb9EmScA