i’m a first year uni student and it was one in the morning when i decided i was going to check my uni email; this was where it all started.
i opened up the la trobe careers email and read through it. it said that there was going to be a presentation about walt disney world’s international program later that day. at first i thought, maybe i shouldn’t go because the presentation was running during my french class however, i later decided it’d be cool just to hear how it all works and how we go about getting a position. so, i sent the tutor an email explaing why i wouldn’t be in class and asked one of my classmates to remind her just in case she forgets.
so i went into the agora cinema and there were only ten or so other people, she asked us a couple of disney related questions and whoever answered correctly got a prize. it was followed by a quick self introduction, talking about how she started as an intern and is now working as a recruiter. as soon as she introduced herself she played a video showing footage of the park, cast members who spoke about where they were from, their roles and also living areas. everything looked so darn happy and sunny it was from then i was 110% sure i wanted a position.
upon completion of the video, she thanked us for coming and informed us that there would be interviews starting in an hour if we were available, otherwise interviews would be conducted later on in the year. i thought i might as well sit the interview as there was only half an hour of french class left and i’d already told my tutor i wouldn’t make it. so, i walked up to the front, nervous as i asked for an information sheet with contact details and signed up for an interview. [i’ve worked before, at an amusement park(Luna Park Melbourne) but i never had to sit an interview] she watched me write my name and number on the interview sheet and commented saying, “You’re a Sarah too? Great name isn’t it! Well I’ll see you at 1:30” with the widest smile, it was just lovely.
so, i went to one of the nearby cafes to have a drink and smoke with my cousin and filled out one of their interview forms. it asks for all the usual stuff – name, dob, address as well as previous employment details, details about schooling such as studies you are undertaking. there was another sheet we had to read, it listed all the roles available, we just had to tick the boxes of the jobs we would be willing to carry out. it was fifteen minutes to interview time so my cousin and i decided we should head over. it took us a few minutes before we actually found the location of the interviews so i was glad as hell that we’d left early. my cousin walked into the careers building with me and there were three other students awaiting their interview time, with two currently sitting theirs. we started talking to the other inderviduals and they were either second or third years, which didn’t help my nerves at all because i thought to myself, ‘great, they won’t choose me, i’m only a first year – they’ll want someone who’s older, decided on their major because they’ll appear more mature’ but i just had to keep thinking to myself, ‘if you want it enough you’ll get it. just be yourself, give honest answers, think positively. YOU CAN GET THIS!!’
the door opened and two fellow applicants walked out. i was up next.
she called my name and one of the girls who was sitting with us. she shook our hands and asked us the length of time we were looking to do the program – either six months or a year, and whether we were looking to go during the january 2010 intake or the july 2010 intake. originally i opted for the mid year intake so i was certain i’d have myself financially organised by then but when i’d answered july, she said today’s interviews were for january – so, i decided i’d sit it. (because if i didn’t end up with a place, i’d at least have a rough idea on what questions to expect and maybe reconsider answers and such.) we [myself and one of the other applicants] were asked a couple of questions about ourselves and some from the sheet we’d earlier filled out for her in turn. i was feeling okay so far thinking wow, i might actually get it and then she asked me, “if i could only offer a position to one of you two today, why should it be you?” i probably sat there for a minute trying to think of an answer, looking at her and then up at the ceiling trying to think of why i should have it. and then i said, “that is a really tough question but to be honest from what i’ve heard so far – we both have experience and she sounds just as capable as i know i am. so if you could only offer one of us a placement, i’d be content if you awarded it to her because i know if i get a call or letter or email giving me the not so good news, i’ll be back again to sit another interview and keep coming back until you finally see how determined i am to have this job.”
and then it was over, we shook hands and i walked out happy; happier than happy. i felt so confident i would be given an internship.
a week or two later i receive an email from disney, sarah hinchberger – the lady who interviewed me. i was so ready to read it but anxious too because maybe she found my answer helpful in deciding who should get a spot now and who will have to come back.
then i read it, you’ve been ACCEPTED! i woke up my sister and ran to the computer where i knew i would find dad playing spider solitaire to tell them the awesome news. i called up mum at work and they were allll soo happy for me. i only told a couple of friends because even though disney had accepted me, i still had to sit a visa interview, a passport interview so i could renew it as well as pay for a couple of other things. i also need to have completed a year of university which worked out super awesomely because by the time i’m off in january i will have completed my first year.
i then organised my passport renewal interview, once i’d received my new passport in the mail i organised my online visa application, booked my visa interview and then was officially approved. i booked my flight and have gotten to know a couple of the other aussies who’ll also be going over in january.
i just felt so lucky to have read that email when i did because, if i’d read it any later i wonder whether i would’ve gone ahead with it and also, when i asked a bunch of my girlfriends at uni whether they got the email, they all checked and no one else had received it!
i am so thankful that my family and friends have been so supportive about it and i cannot wait to start work in walt disney world, florida!
a year away from home sweet home here in melbourne, australia is a looooooonggg time, but i’m sure after my contract ends i’m not gonna want to leave!!
:DDDDDDD
