Phone Interview Tomorrow! Starting to overthink things!

DOLEWHlP · Aug 23, 2016

I have my phone interview for the Spring DCP tomorrow afternoon at 1:00pm CST but honestly, I don't even know if I'll be able to last til then! "I'm starting to get nervous" would be a bit of an understatement.
I've been lurking all over the facebook page and I can't help but feel like I'm already at a disadvantage to others who are in the process of applying. I've seen people with pages and pages (I'm talking like 20) of notes and full on notebooks dedicated just to the phone interview and I haven't done a single bit of that. I just wrote down a few things on a single notepad sheet only a few hours ago and now I'm starting to think I'm under-prepared! Should I spend some more time looking over things and write down a few more notes? Is it really all that necessary?
I've also seen other people mention how they were asked quite a few questions about past job experiences and while I have had a little experience (mostly babysitting and volunteer concession stand work) I don't feel as qualified either. Will that alone put me behind other applicants with a wide range of experience? How will I answer the questions pertaining to job experience?
I am at a total loss and feel absolutely terrified about tomorrow, any advice or tips would be wonderful! :scared:

disney is my life · Aug 24, 2016

While I've never had a phone interview with Disney I wanted to wish you tons of luck! As for the pages and pages of information I wouldn't be worried about that at all, I know most people read the most commonly asked questions and just have a general idea of how they would answer. You don't want to sound scripted! I applied last year for the international college program but didn't make it to the interview stage. I also had limited work experience (only 1 "real" job) and some volunteer experience as well. Personally I would look at it like if they only wanted people with lots of job experience you wouldn't have been offered an interview. I would assume that they have your resume in front of them so if you haven't listed work experience I don't think they would spend a lot of time on that topic, just try your best to consider your volunteering a job. I've heard of people being accepted into the program with no experience whatsoever so just remember you're one step ahead of them! Just make sure you write down the callers name at the beginning so you don't forget it and smile - you can tell when someones smiling even over the phone. Good luck! I'm sure you'll do AWESOME!!!

rhapsodyinblue · Aug 24, 2016

Hey Dolewhip! I had my interview the other day and I think the best thing you can do is not overthink things. I did make several pages of notes beforehand but mostly as a way of getting my thoughts in order before the interview. I glanced at them maybe once during the call and I think that actually made me stumble for a second so it's definitely best to just speak from your heart. Also, it seems like all the interviewers are very friendly, so just approach it like you're having a (fairly professional) talk with a friend. I was nervous for the first few minutes and then I realized that they'd like us to do well so try not to stress.

As for what they're going to ask, just be prepared to talk about the roles you're interested in and know what the requirements would be if you were to accept one of them (i.e. Can you carry heavy camera equipment? Do you have experience handling cash? Can you entertain kids for an afternoon? etc...). Additionally, just think for a little while about why you really want to do the DCP, how it's going to help you, and how you can help Disney. What are you hoping to get out of the experience? Why should they pick you?

You mention that you don't have a ton of experience but you've made it this far! That probably means the computer program that sorts through applications must've thought you had enough experience to give you the WBI so don't stress about that. Just think about how your past jobs have helped you prepare for these internship roles. You say you've done some babysitting - well, Disney is all about kids! Apply your work as a babysitter and volunteer concession stand worker to whatever your top roles are. One of my top choices was Attractions and I recently worked at a camp so I talked about safety a lot and how we had to be really safety-conscious with the campers. You don't need to know how to operate an attraction because that's what they teach you. You just need to know how you would apply your past experience to interning at Disney and prove to them that you're the right person for the job.

I hope some of this helped! Good luck tomorrow

dizagain · Aug 24, 2016

I'm a mom of two CP' s and they were SO nervous too. I would suggest following the advice above! The interview is geared towards how your past experiences can help you with the top roles you selected. Be prepared with stories you can share. My kids just wrote down bullet points to trigger their responses in case they forgot. Don't write down entire answers because you might start reading it and they want a genuine answer. For instance, if they ask how you could handle being responsible for multiple tasks at once, tell about an experience with school activities or leadership. Or even use hectic concession stand or babysitting experiences. Think about what you hope to learn from your DCP experience and how different roles can help you on your future career path-share those things along with what you can offer Disney.

Your application was flagged because you have qualifications they are looking for and you passed the WBI!! You are on your way- speak clearly from the heart, smile and use your best Disney manners! You've got this!

DOLEWHlP · Aug 24, 2016

Hey everyone!
Apologies for the late response I was to worried this morning to reply before my interview lol.
But I actually think it went ok! My voice was definitely a little shaky and I stumbled on a few words in my answers but for a first try I think it wasn't half bad, and luckily my interviewer - Lynn - was very nice and understanding. All of your tips and advice helped a lot as well so thank you very much!!!
At least if I don't get in this time around I will know exactly what to expect next time!

jordanri · Aug 25, 2016

I'm sure you did just fine. I went in to my phone interview basically just being confident. No notes, no nothing. I just spoke honestly about my past and what I hoped for my future. I did two programs, first in attractions and second in children's activities. You've come this far, you'll be okay!

DOLEWHlP · Aug 25, 2016

jordanri said:
I'm sure you did just fine. I went in to my phone interview basically just being confident. No notes, no nothing. I just spoke honestly about my past and what I hoped for my future. I did two programs, first in attractions and second in children's activities. You've come this far, you'll be okay!

Oh! you've done two of the roles I'm most interested in then!
If you don't mind me asking, how did you like the two?

HakunaMatata71 · Aug 25, 2016

Hey Dolewhip I am glad things went well for you. I totally understand the whole nervousness thing, I still have a week to go before I am able to do do my phone interview and after looking up information and watching YouTube videos I am feeling like I am thinking way to much and going to screw things up. I wish you the very best and hopefully you will be accepted into the program!

jordanri · Aug 26, 2016

DOLEWHlP said:
Oh! you've done two of the roles I'm most interested in then!
If you don't mind me asking, how did you like the two?

i worked attractions at mission: space, which was great. working in epcot is pretty nice, the hours are usually standard as park generally closes down at 9. worked a lot of closing shifts, as is usual with college program. costumes were like wearing pajamas :rotfl2:

. you'll work long days, for instance i had one day where i worked 9am until 12:30am, and had 4 separate shifts in it which only warranted me a half hour lunch, instead of our usual 45 minute where i worked. that break ended up getting split for an evac training. let me tell you, crying in tower (which is a ride's like "operations" room) is not cute. but it was a lot of fun, i was happy to come in every day.

i then worked children's activities at yacht and beach/boardwalk. this, honestly, is the best role you can probably have as a cp. a lot of people will argue with you about that face but don't listen. i did 3 different jobs in the role. there was poolside activities as stormalong bay and luna park pool. out on the pool deck playing games, playing music. at stormalong we could go in the pool (sand bottom) but not the slide since it's a big deal and they didn't need a line of 20 kids over there. after doing poolside, we'd do campfire. pretty standard, light stuff on fire and make sure no one swings their on fire marshmallows around. after that came movie. this part was eh, you have to put up a giant inflatable movie screen, projector and speakers. sometimes you have help, sometimes you don't. my horror story of this was telling my cord that it was def going to rain, them seeing nothing on radar and within 20 minutes of camp rock starting a downpour hit our area. i hate camp rock with a passion now lol. but, that was probably the only bad day. the other two positions were sandcastle club at beach club which was a drop off center. i played a lot of mario kart, did crafts and watched movies. this shift ran until 12:30 and if you took a bus it sucked but, again, i just got paid to play mario kart. the final position was community hall at the boardwalk villas. basically facilitated a craft/family room and ran life vest/movie rentals. really solid job.

if you have any other questions, let me know. sorry about the length, i can probably go on forever

Tatiana Trevino · Aug 26, 2016

I have my phone interview on Sunday!! I'm nervous but also really excited!! I have a couple things written down on a note card so I'm hoping that's enough!

wilkeliza · Aug 26, 2016

I'm sure you guys did fine. Anyone writing a novel just for the phone interview is over thinking it. You can have a few notes on a note card or one page but if you need to be flipping through pages or end up sounding like you scripted everything then that makes you look worse.

I had no note cards or pages for my phone interview. I also didn't get my make up done or any of the crazy things I've heard of. I sat on my bed and had my genie key chain that made me smile. Besides that I answered honestly and smiled because I was genuinely happy. If I had to pause to think about a question I did because I think that short pause shows you are taking it seriously and really thinking about the questions.

Yes they will ask about past employment but you can answer those questions based on babysitting and volunteering. Common employment questions are things like "Tell me how you dealt with a hard customer in a past work experience?" or "What did you do to get to know your coworkers better?" or "What was a time you were having a rough experience at work and how did you over come it?" so in baby sitting or volunteering you should have example for those.

jordanri · Aug 26, 2016

Tatiana Trevino said:
I have my phone interview on Sunday!! I'm nervous but also really excited!! I have a couple things written down on a note card so I'm hoping that's enough!

be confident! smile a lot, speak from the heart. you can have all the information on the cards but that doesn't mean it'll be useful during the interview. my interviews were about 15/20 minutes max and i got in both times with both roles i wanted. it helps to use past experience to draw on, so think about how what you've done in the past can relate to your future

Tatiana Trevino · Aug 26, 2016

jordanri said:
be confident! smile a lot, speak from the heart. you can have all the information on the cards but that doesn't mean it'll be useful during the interview. my interviews were about 15/20 minutes max and i got in both times with both roles i wanted. it helps to use past experience to draw on, so think about how what you've done in the past can relate to your future

What roles did you get? and Where did you do you CP?

jordanri · Aug 26, 2016

Tatiana Trevino said:
What roles did you get? and Where did you do you CP?

there is a post 3 up, right above your original with a little bit of information, but it was attractions and children's activities.

Tatiana Trevino · Aug 26, 2016

jordanri said:
there is a post 3 up, right above your original with a little bit of information, but it was attractions and children's activities.

oh okay! Do you know if they ask you what your top roles are again? Or do they just go off what you put on your application?

wilkeliza · Aug 26, 2016

jordanri said:
there is a post 3 up, right above your original with a little bit of information, but it was attractions and children's activities.

Ouch I can't believe on that day you did 9am to 12 am they didn't combine the shifts through the back office. This is where your coordinators make such a difference. Ours would have never stood for that and snuck us an extra break through several tasks back to back haha.

jordanri · Aug 26, 2016

wilkeliza said:
Ouch I can't believe on that day you did 9am to 12 am they didn't combine the shifts through the back office. This is where your coordinators make such a difference. Ours would have never stood for that and snuck us an extra break through several tasks back to back haha.

my cord didn't realize he split my only lunch break, i ended up tasking for an hour of rest. it was CRAZY, i had a normal shift, then i had a safety training, another shift and then evac. it was just a long long day. evac training was so fun though, got to be stuck in a capsule for like an hour while they wheeled the ladders in to remove us

jordanri · Aug 26, 2016

Tatiana Trevino said:
oh okay! Do you know if they ask you what your top roles are again? Or do they just go off what you put on your application?

it's been a hot second since i interviewed, but i think they do ask you about your preferences

DOLEWHlP · Aug 26, 2016

HakunaMatata71 said:
Hey Dolewhip I am glad things went well for you. I totally understand the whole nervousness thing, I still have a week to go before I am able to do do my phone interview and after looking up information and watching YouTube videos I am feeling like I am thinking way to much and going to screw things up. I wish you the very best and hopefully you will be accepted into the program!

Thanks! I hope things go great with you too!
You're basically exactly how I was a few days ago, haha. I was definitely looking up videos and information nonstop and then feeling like I hadn't done enough and that I was going to royally mess everything up... but I'm a procrastinator so I ended up waiting to do that until the very last day before my interview lol.
What I ended up doing to calm myself down before my interview was just go over the possible questions a couple of times (I had my sister help me so if you have anyone to read them out to you - even better!) and of course I ended up listening to some Disney music! :earboy2:

Anyways, good luck with your interview, I'm sure you'll do great once the interview actually gets going!

DOLEWHlP · Aug 26, 2016

jordanri said:
i worked attractions at mission: space, which was great. working in epcot is pretty nice, the hours are usually standard as park generally closes down at 9. worked a lot of closing shifts, as is usual with college program. costumes were like wearing pajamas . you'll work long days, for instance i had one day where i worked 9am until 12:30am, and had 4 separate shifts in it which only warranted me a half hour lunch, instead of our usual 45 minute where i worked. that break ended up getting split for an evac training. let me tell you, crying in tower (which is a ride's like "operations" room) is not cute. but it was a lot of fun, i was happy to come in every day.

i then worked children's activities at yacht and beach/boardwalk. this, honestly, is the best role you can probably have as a cp. a lot of people will argue with you about that face but don't listen. i did 3 different jobs in the role. there was poolside activities as stormalong bay and luna park pool. out on the pool deck playing games, playing music. at stormalong we could go in the pool (sand bottom) but not the slide since it's a big deal and they didn't need a line of 20 kids over there. after doing poolside, we'd do campfire. pretty standard, light stuff on fire and make sure no one swings their on fire marshmallows around. after that came movie. this part was eh, you have to put up a giant inflatable movie screen, projector and speakers. sometimes you have help, sometimes you don't. my horror story of this was telling my cord that it was def going to rain, them seeing nothing on radar and within 20 minutes of camp rock starting a downpour hit our area. i hate camp rock with a passion now lol. but, that was probably the only bad day. the other two positions were sandcastle club at beach club which was a drop off center. i played a lot of mario kart, did crafts and watched movies. this shift ran until 12:30 and if you took a bus it sucked but, again, i just got paid to play mario kart. the final position was community hall at the boardwalk villas. basically facilitated a craft/family room and ran life vest/movie rentals. really solid job.

if you have any other questions, let me know. sorry about the length, i can probably go on forever

Thank you so much for the detailed reply! Especially about the children's activities role (It's been almost impossible to find very much info on it!)
Both of the roles seem great though... Well aside from that mishap with your break time and scheduling!
If I get accepted I would be ecstatic to get either of these.

Phone Interview Tomorrow! Starting to overthink things!

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