Trying to get my resume Disney Ready

[ToliBera]

I've been trying to 'Sell My Soul To The Mouse' for the past 7 years. and I want to polish up my resume to make it really appeal to a position within the company. What should I add to make myself look better / more hire-able? I live in Canada.

I have 5 years in a tourism location (I work casual / part time at a convention center as a concierge)

I have 6 months working in a hotel (room attendant, setting up the ballroom for meetings, janitorial)

I have 11 years working in reception for a small tax preparation company (seasonal part time)

I have 11 years working in security (Full time, with supervisors experience since December of 2012)

I've volunteered at a television station for 1 year (cameras, credits)

I did a highschool course on restaurant prep/management.

I volunteered for 3 months in university at an ESL Cafe (the program flopped)

I have a degree in English, and one in History from University.

I did get asked to interview as a monorail host back in 2015, but couldn't afford to attend the interview ($2000 CAD for a maybe.)

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

It sounds like you have a lot of experience. What kind of role are you looking for? Are you willing to go to an in-person interview?

 

[ToliBera]

I've been looking at Admin assistant / Executive assistant / Receptionist work mainly, though I again did get asked to interview for the monorail host. so long as it's full time, and I can afford to live down south, I'd go for an H1B visa to start off with, to work to apply on the Green card.

Yes, I would be willing to do an In-Person review now that I have more money, though if a Skype interview could be arranged I'd prefer it ($0 > $2000).

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Do you have administrative experience? I would boost up on your resume what would work for that.

I'd guess that there's a big salary difference between monorail host and an office position; I'm sure you know this, but it's hard to live in Orlando off hourly wages as the rents here have gotten out of control. You'll likely need roommates.

I think with an office job you'll be more likely to get a Skype interview if they're willing; but I think because Disney jobs are so competitive they'll go with people who are already in the area/at least able to attend an interview.

 

[ToliBera]

I've worked 11 years as the front-desk of a tax preparation company, which has a lot of overlap with the admin field, it's nowhere near the same scale as a Disney level position, but the skills are the same. I mentioned the Monorail host as an example of how I almost got in. now that I'm in a better position financially I'd be more able to attend an in person interview, as I make mention in my cover letter.

I've been looking on Apartments.com (That's Apartments.com Wink) in Orlando, Kissimmee, Tampa, and St.Petersburg, and they're certainly expensive. but it's a nice bit of blue-skying. not all the postings list their per hour / yearly wage, and I'd be willing to take on a roommate, though I'd prefer a one bedroom.

 

[Allison]

I don't know how you would qualify for the H1b visa to even be able to work here. The positions you are describing aren't speciality occupations that require specialized knowledge.

 

[ToliBera]

I suppose not, I'm basing that bit off the international program (which I've also applied for in the past as a Canada Pavilion member.)

 

[BadPinkTink]

sometimes I think people want to work at Disney just cos its Disney and dont realise its just like any other business. For example, just applying for any job in any department in my opinion is a waste of time. To work in Disney you need to be a bit more logical. For example, I used to work in the catering industry, I have chef qualifications and multiple years experience in multiple countries as a chef and server. So therefore if I wanted to work in Disney I would apply for chef and server jobs. There would be no way a Disney recruiter would even give me an interview for a ride or attraction position.

You need to think right, the job I am currently in, is there the same or equivalent job in Disney, and then ONLY apply for that sector, type of job. That way you are more likely to get an interview.

Yes everyone wants the ride and attraction jobs, to work in the park, but Disney is just the same as any regular company. They will have a profile and job spec. Most companies nowadays put all job applications and resumes through a computer program. This computer program will look for a list of words Disney will have supplied for the job spec. If the computer does not find thses words on your reume and application, then you wont even get to the interview stage.

 

[SirDuff]

I don't know how you would qualify for the H1b visa to even be able to work here. The positions you are describing aren't speciality occupations that require specialized knowledge.

That jumped out at me as well. I highly, highly doubt that (a) the OP would qualify for an H1B or that (b) WDW would be willing to go through the trouble and expense of getting one for those sort of roles (not to mention using up one of their slots).

 

[SirDuff]

I suppose not, I'm basing that bit off the international program (which I've also applied for in the past as a Canada Pavilion member.)

They don't have H1B visas. My guess is that they have Q1 visas (cultural exchange visas).

 

[BadPinkTink]

I have 5 years in a tourism location (I work casual / part time at a convention center as a concierge)

Apply for similar types jobs in Disney - convention center concierge jobs

I have 6 months working in a hotel (room attendant, setting up the ballroom for meetings, janitorial)

Apply for mousekeeping jobs in Disney hotels, apply for custodial department jobs in the parks

I have 11 years working in reception for a small tax preparation company (seasonal part time)

Apply for hotel reception jobs

I have 11 years working in security (Full time, with supervisors experience since December of 2012)

Check the qualifications needed for security type jobs just because you have experience you may need formal certifications for Disney

I did a highschool course on restaurant prep/management.
I volunteered for 3 months in university at an ESL Cafe (the program flopped)

Apply for entry level kitchen jobs in restaurants and hotels such as kitchen porter

 

[ToliBera]

@BadPinkTink You're right about applying for jobs one is qualified for, which is why I am trying to focus on those. I'm not particularly looking at park jobs, which is why I'm checking and tailoring my resume to job specifications. I'd rather be 'behind the scenes'

and for those mentioning the visa qualifications, it is one of the questions they ask when applying for jobs same question page as 'are you legally able to work in the US' question.

 

[Allison]

and for those mentioning the visa qualifications, it is one of the questions they ask when applying for jobs same question page as 'are you legally able to work in the US' question.

What is the question asked?

The jobs mentioned by the other poster aren't likely to qualify for the visa and are not the positions Disney is going to use the visas on.

 

[ToliBera]

http://i.imgur.com/4MKM7ZK.png

 

[SirDuff]

@BadPinkTink You're right about applying for jobs one is qualified for, which is why I am trying to focus on those. I'm not particularly looking at park jobs, which is why I'm checking and tailoring my resume to job specifications. I'd rather be 'behind the scenes'

and for those mentioning the visa qualifications, it is one of the questions they ask when applying for jobs same question page as 'are you legally able to work in the US' question.

And a "yes" could very well put your application directly into the "rejected" pile.

 

[ToliBera]

a yes goes in the garbage?

 

[Allison]

And a "yes" could very well put your application directly into the "rejected" pile.

Exactly right. That could quickly filter people out.

 

[Allison]

a yes goes in the garbage?

If you need a visa and it isn't a position that qualifies for one, you will be out of the running. That could be a hard stop question.

 

[ToliBera]

huh... dang. :/ I do specify that I'm willing to relocate as part of my cover letter. but now I'm starting to doubt that'll be enough to bridge the gulf. (or more accurately the 49th parallel) which is why I'm looking for tips on how to become more appealing as an applicant to get them to overlook that. I should re-examine the postings for the Disney stores in Ontario. I have managerial and sales experience.

 

[SirDuff]

a yes goes in the garbage?

I don't sit on the WDW hiring committee. I do, however, sit on hiring committees at my US company (and am a Canadian working in the US). Our jobs do qualify for H1B but we still consider that question a flag of "this one will be more difficult". I'm lucky that I was able to come here on TN status (definitely doesn't work for you), which made the company very happy (though I didn't really apply for the job - I had been seconded and they wanted to keep me).

It wouldn't surprise me if it was a flag for rejection or, at the very least, a flag for "only if this applicant is miles above all the others". And that's assuming that the job qualifies for an H1B.

http://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/h-1b_faqs#2