My DCP Story and Application/Interview Process Part 2: Application & Web-Based Interview

When we last left off I spoke about how I came to apply.  Now I'll actually talk about the application and interview process.

So for those who don't know, here is a breakdown of the application and interview process.  To apply for the Disney College Program you must go to the http://cp.disneycareers.com/en/default/ during a time when applications are out (this is around September for the Spring and Spring Advantage programs and around February for the Fall and Fall Advantage programs) and click the "Apply Now" button.  It's only available about a little more than a month so make sure look out for when applications come out.  Sign up to get emails or like the Disney College Program page on Facebook to be in the know.

When you apply you sign up with your email and then you have to fill out an application.  There are basic questions like age, address, college and major, and are you a full-time student, but there are also some important questions that you need to put a lot of thought into beforehand.  You must indicate whether you want Spring/Fall or Spring/Fall Advantage and whether you want to go to Walt Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California.  There is also a section where you rank the roles from high interest, med interest, low interest, and no interest.  If you are reading this and are thinking about applying, this section is very important.  Research each role and think about what you really want.  Don't think you have to be interested in everything to be accepted.  If there is something you are really not comfortable with doing then put no interest.  I made sure to put custodial and costuming as no interest.  I knew I would not want those jobs.  I struggled with Quick Service Food and Beverage.  I really didn't want it but I think I ultimately put it as low interest (even though during my phone interview later I thought I had put it as no interest).  My high interest choices were character attendant, attractions, merchandise.  Medium choices I had included were recreation, park operations, vacation planner, and maybe photopass.  Low choices I think were lifeguarding and transportation.  I don't really remember too well.  I am writing this months after applying.  Anyway my point is that it is an important decision, and one that the recruiters do pay attention to and ask about during the interview.

Make sure to look up what each role entails and make a well-informed decision based on your own skills, interests, and aspirations.  Look on the DCP website and search the internet for descriptions from real cast members.

After filling out the application you get an email (it might not come immediately) with a link to the web-based interview.  The web-based interview is a series of questions that let Disney know more about you.  There are multiple choice questions and rating scale questions that range from strongly disagree to strongly agree.  Remember in the last post when I said I needed to prepare, well I needed to prepare a little bit for this.  To be honest I had actually applied to the DCP a couple of years back and didn't get past the web-based interview.  I think it was because I was very honest.  That's why this time I made sure to be strategic about how to answer the questions.  I mean you should be honest and Disney wants you to be honest, but there are some questions that you know you have to answer a certain way or you won't get picked.  For example, the web-based interview will ask you several times if you are always on time.  It will be asked in different ways: first a multiple choice and then a rating scale.  Obviously answer that you are always on time and make sure you're consistent with your answer every time it's asked.  Also, Disney wants you to have strong opinions so on the rating scale questions answer mostly with strongly agree/strongly disagree.  Also don't use the neutral option too much and it's okay if you have regular agree/disagree.  Also, you should know Disney's image and what they are probably looking for in an employee so answer questions that make you sound like you are great with talking to people and are a team player and are just a really happy person.  I don't think I did that the first time I did the interview (I'm shy and I hate people (unless I'm at Disney, then I'm super happy)).  So my advice is to be yourself, but also think a bit strategically with this part because it is very important.  If you don't get through then that's it and you can't apply until next semester.  But if you do get through then the next step is the phone interview.