Today’s topic I am going to focus on Disney’s Professional Internship for the Alumni Only application. The Alumni Only application is specifically for people who have successfully completed the Disney College Program and would like to apply for some higher up positions. The application is very similar to any other application that you would fill out for Disney, except when you get to where you want to select your jobs. Some of the Alumni Only roles include Guest Relations, Guest Experience Services, Traditions Assistant (Non Facilitator), Guests with Disabilities, Destination Sales, College Program Recruiting, Professional Internship Recruiting, and so forth. After you submit you application, you wait for an invitation to be extended to you for a phone screen. What I have seen is that most, if not all, receive a phone screen for Alumni Only.
Once you get to the phone screen, it is going to be a very general interview with a Professional Internship Recruiter. They know nothing of the details of each of the departments of which you are applying to, so they ask if you could keep your questions about the Professional Internships as general as possible. Your phone screen will apply to the other Professional Internships you have applied to as well. Each phone screen is different and each one will last longer or shorter, mine was 15 minutes long. Be prepared to answer questions based on previous experiences and leadership experiences. Focus on your greatest strengths and weaknesses. Also, the most important question, why do you want to work for Disney? Remember to smile (a smile can be heard through the phone), breathe, and have some questions prepared for your interviewer.
After your phone interview is complete. You wait. Wait some more. Wait again.
I applied for the Fall 2015 season, and my application for Alumni Only went in on January 26th with a phone screen on January 30th. With Alumni Only, and a few other Professional Internships that have multiple roles under the title, you wait for what is called a drop down. It’s basically just another role added to the list of applications you applied for in which you are being considered for under the Alumni Only application. For example, if one is applying for Guest Relations under Alumni Only, then after some time if you are being considered for that position you will see “WDPR Alumni Only Guest Relations Internship” appear on the list in your drop down of applications you applied for. Now keep in mind, some roles may require a second interview, others will simply go off your phone screen results, so it is important to showcase yourself during the phone screen. Some positions may never drop down and you could still receive a job offer as well. With that being said, a drop down is not an indication that a job offer is coming, it just means you are being considered for the position, it can still go to No Longer in Consideration (NLIC). However once your drop downs do appear, hopefully it is not much longer until you hear back in regards to a job offer or a NLIC.
Mike's Disney Internship Journey 