Might have a job interview with Disney over the phone

[ltp74]

I sent my resume out to a bunch of places and to my surprise Walt Disney World casting called me today, I have to fill out some papers they emailed me and then set-up a phone interview. Has anyone ever done one with them before and if so what type of non standard interview questions do they ask. I have been at my current job for almost 8 years and I'm somewhat freaked out about the interview process since I havent done one in ages.

 

The never said what the job is but it's in their Stage/Audio-Visual Technicians and Management Department which is pretty much the field I'm in now.

[FlyingScooter]

Good luck! Working there could be fun.

[IceDragon]

ooooh! scandalous!! good luck, keep on your feet, keep your cool and you'll be fine

[PKI Jizzman]

^lol scandelous.

 

Tell them you love working with other people and you love the amusement park environment

[thrillrideseeker]

I sent my resume out to a bunch of places and to my surprise Walt Disney World casting called me today, I have to fill out some papers they emailed me and then set-up a phone interview. Has anyone ever done one with them before and if so what type of non standard interview questions do they ask. I have been at my current job for almost 8 years and I'm somewhat freaked out about the interview process since I havent done one in ages.

 

The never said what the job is but it's in their Stage/Audio-Visual Technicians and Management Department which is pretty much the field I'm in now.

 

I had my phone interview like 1 month ago with disney and they really did not ask very many questions. Most of the questions were about the paper work you filled out. The other question I remember was "What does it mean to you to work at Walt Disney World?" Hope this helps!

~Matthew

P.S. I got the job

[USRoadTripper]

Don't say ANYTHING negative about any job you've had. They've all been great learning experiences that you've valued greatly, and it will be tough to say goodbye, but you are looking forward to bigger and better things with Disney in the future! And like someone else said...you prefer to work in a team! You value the input of others in your own decision making, and really feel that the more points of view that are brought to the table, the better the final product! Even if both of those statements aren't true, act like they are and you will be a step ahead of everyone else.

 

-Julie

[robbalvey]

Don't say ANYTHING negative about any job you've had. They've all been great learning experiences that you've valued greatly, and it will be tough to say goodbye, but you are looking forward to bigger and better things with Disney in the future! And like someone else said...you prefer to work in a team! You value the input of others in your own decision making, and really feel that the more points of view that are brought to the table, the better the final product! Even if both of those statements aren't true, act like they are and you will be a step ahead of everyone else.

 

-Julie

Sure if you want to sound like run of the mill pansy with zero leadership skills.

 

No offense, but I've done a LOT of hiring in my 15 years of "being the boss" and I would never hire someone who fed me a line of bullshit like that.

 

While you're right that you don't want to come in bitching about past jobs, I disagree that you're not allowed to say anything negative. For example, I want to know if someone I'm interviewing is a "small company guy" or a "corporate shark." If they say they didn't like a company because of too much politics, that's a GOOD thing to know. If someone told me that every job was a positive, learning experience, I'd know damn well they were LYING. And I'm not going to hire someone that's obviously kissing my ass.

 

And while you may want people who can work well in a team, you also want someone who can display a sense of leadership and confidence.

 

A good employee is one that rises to the top, not one just sitting on the sidelines with the teammates.

 

And while maybe you value the input of others, let them know that YOU make good decisions too. If you're going for a management job, or a job where there is any leadership skills involved, they are LOOKING for that skill. "Leadership by committee" does NOT work. Any good manager knows this. You need someone who can step up and take charge. Be that person in the interview, and you'll find yourself getting an offer.

 

But you said you're in management so I'm assuming you know all of this.

 

My advice in an interview is:

 

- BE CONFIDENT! Even if you might now know something 100% if you can convince someone you DO, that's winning most of the battle. Most of the stuff I've learned for a job I've learned while ON the job, not prior. If you really do NOT know something, don't be afraid to say it, as long as you can come off confident that is doesn't matter. "Have you ever screwed in a light bulb?" "Never - but been around enough people who have that it seems like second nature to me. If I need to, I can research it..next question?"

 

- BE STRONG! (ARMY STRONG!) Seriously, though, if you come off like a limp penis, no one will remember you from the next candidate. But if you answer the questions clearly and directly, speak up, have a sense of humor, don't fumble over your words, and give the listener the sense that you really know what you're talking about, that's a candidate that you remember.

 

- BE PERSONALBLE! Most bosses want people who they feel are at least "cool people." Now this is the hardest part of every interview because you could be totally qualified for a job, but for whatever reason you and the boss just don't "sync up" in an interview. DO NOT LET THAT DISCOURAGE YOU! Not everyone in the world will get along with everyone else. But at least try to be yourself and hope whoever is interviewing you likes you.

 

- ASK QUESTIONS! This is SO important. Before you go into an interview come up with some GOOD questions, even if they are ones that you don't care what the answers are. Asking good questions will make you seem SMARTER. In fact, sometimes my most memorable candidates are the ones that end up interviewing ME!

 

- BE PREPARED! Along with having questions - have copies of your resume, have a notepad and pen, have copies of your demo reel, etc. Even if you don't NEED them, if gives the impression that you are organized. For a phone interview, have information in front of you so it's easy to answer questions. And DO RESEARCH! With the internet there is no job, no company you can't research and at least get a few random bits of information that at the right moment, if you spew out, could really help. For example, when I interviewed with Activision, I googled one of the guys that was interviewing me. I found out he was a sound designer on the Indiana Jones movies and I brought that up in my interview. That led to a 20 minute conversation that had NOTHING to do with the job I was interviewing for and we got to know each other better as "co-workers" not interviewer and interveiwee. It's little things like that which will get you the job.

 

- KNOW THAT MOST OF THE TIMES YOUR ANSWERS DO NOT MATTER! In just about every single interview I've conducted, more often than not I care less about what the answers are and more about HOW SOMEONE ANSWERS THEM. If someone is having difficulty finding an answer to a simple question, how will I expect them to find the ability to do their job? Again, this comes back to the confidence thing.

 

I've been working in entertainment management for YEARS (which from the description sounds like the job you're going for.) Take some of this advice to heart. I think you may need it if you are nervous at all about this interview.

 

Ok, that's my "interview tips." Hope you find this helpful!

 

--Robb

[TheBannedKid]

Tell them that you do drugs...

 

No, please don't. Just be natural and only focus on the positive as others have said.

[USRoadTripper]

haha I know Robb, I agree, but that was the advice that I got when I had my Disney interview and I got the job! Then on the second go around, I made mention that I think I work equally well in a group or by myself (which is still a lie...I highly prefer working solo) and I didn't get the job. Coincidence? haha Ok, yeah, probably, but Disney really digs people who poop pixie dust. Couldn't hurt to be a little more positive with them than with some other employers.

 

-Julie (who *must* remember the drugs a whores line for her next interview)

[robbalvey]

^ Well, I've worked for Disney three different times, two of which were in senior management at the Walt Disney Studios, so I was just going off my experience too.

 

--Robb

[cfc]

^It was your experience with drugs and whores that got you the Disney jobs, right? Or was it your years as a mercenary fighting in the Congo?

[IceDragon]

whatever you do, dont mention the word paedophile...

[cfc]

^Or Tigger.

[ltp74]

Just to update everyone I had an interview on Thursday and a second one on Friday and they will let me know in two weeks if I got the job, got on a list if one opens up within six months or t.s. you didnt get it. They asked all technical questions about equipment that I have used and would use on the job, none of the teamwork or good or bad things stuff. I guess I did ok on the second one they asked some questions outside of my current field which I didnt know and I blew a very easy question, so I put my chances at 50/50. The one thing they wouldnt talk about was the payscale which they hold off on until they offer you the job, it sucks because if it is way to low I would of told them no right away so I wouldnt be wasting their time.