Interview Tips
Friday, February 29, 2008
...and you’re about to be interviewed. The anticipation surrounds you, but the nervousness encapsulates you. For a moment, you seem frozen in time.
In my last post, I talked about my own interview experience. This time, I’m going to let you in on some tips could make your interview a little easier, and perhaps help you to be a bit more prepared for what’s up ahead of you. Having interviewed twice for the program, I have some inclination of what works, what doesn’t, and what you should expect to be asked.
Being Prepared
A lot of people I know have talked about physically “being prepared” for interviews. In a sense, your preparation need only be basic. For starters, you’ll want to have a copy of your application handy, as you’ll be reviewing it at some point during your interview. It also doesn’t hurt to have a list of talking points already prepared that outline your strengths, particularly in guest service: after all, Disney is a company known around the world for its service excellence. To go along with this, you should also have a copy of your resume handy (or at least some recollection of your previous work experience), just in case you are asked about your previous employment elsewhere.
Finally, clear your room of distractions. If for whatever reason you aren’t able to clear your mind or your enviornment, you should be given an opportunity to reschedule your interview- just ask your interviewer.
Interview Time
The interview time is upon you. What should you do now, actually during your interview? You should definitely smile: even though your interviewer won’t see it physically, it will help you to put a positive tone on your voice, which won’t go unnoticed. When you’re asked a question, don’t immediately fire back answers, instead, take the time to think about and hone your responses. In doing this, you avoid the nervous ticks, the “uhm” and “uh” immediate responses. Finally, be mindful that the interviewer just wants to know a little more about you, so be mindful of your responses: they shouldn’t be long winded, but at the same-time, they should adequately answer the question. Even with this, do expect to receive follow up questions. Don’t interrupt your interviewer to clarify a point. This should, afterall, be a polite discussion.
Where’s the beef!
You’re probably thinking right now that while the tips above might help, what is it that you’re actually going to be asked? While far from being an all-inclusive list, my friends and myself have come up with this list of things we’ve been asked before.
- You’ll likely start by reviewing your application and your right to work in the US. Pretty simple, you’re just reading back whatever you indicated on your application, making sure it is factually correct.
- After this, the real discussion begins. Expect to field a couple questions at first, pertaining to your interest in working at the Walt Disney World Resort. You’ll be asked why you want to participate in the program, and how flexible you can be (which involves both hours and locations worked). You also might be asked what motivates you when you encounter conflict, and how you’ve resolved such a situation before.
- You will probably be asked about your previous work experience. No one, especially prospective employers, wants to hear you be overly negative. It makes you less attractive of a candidate, so be honest, but avoid any disparaging remarks about previous employers. You may also be asked about guest service experience: this is the place where you really want to shine if you do have any previous experience.
- The questions will probably now focus to specific roles. There are a lot of possible questions, but in any case, err on the side of making the guests as happy as possible. Some examples of what you may be asked includes: how would you handle a guest waiting in line if an attraction has unexpected technical difficulties, how would you handle a situation with a guest who is too short to ride a particular attraction, and how you would handle a situation where you do not have what the guest desires (be it a merchandise option, a room type or otherwise). You will also probably be asked about the best guest service (whether Disney or otherwise) you’ve ever experienced.
- You’ll finally be asked about how receptive you are to living with others. Disney has company-sponsored apartments that can accommodate anywhere between two and eight people. You should be receptive to any and all of the above. You may also be asked how you would deal with conflict within your apartment.
- After the interviewer concludes their questioning, this is the time for you to ask any questions you haven’t had the opportunity yet to ask. After this, you should thank the interviewer for his or her time.
That pretty much covers the bases. There are specialized questions that pertain to each particular role, but they generally mimic the questions you’ll find above. It is very important, like I said before, to be thorough when providing responses. Remain upbeat and satisfied with the answers you provide. Even if you stumble when answering a particular question, as long as you keep the pace going and remain positive, the interview will probably go very well. Above all else though- don’t be nervous! Disney interviews a large number of candidates, and they’re very understanding of varying levels of experience. People who aim to provide an exceptional experience for guests have a high likelihood of being extended a role offer.
You’ll be informed that you should hear a response in about two-to three weeks. Which brings us to our next topic of conversation: the waiting game. Until next week though, good luck with your interviews! Just remain confident and relaxed, and you’ll do just fine!
Coming up next week: The Waiting Game, “The Big Blue World”
Labels: College and CareerStart Programs • The Interview •
