Hi all!
I know my last post was just essentially a countdown but that's all my life is at the moment. Countdown to interview, news, birthday, Christmas, New Year, departure!
All of this hardly seems real. I'm going about my (relatively) normal day to day life but with a little extra panic. There are so many things I have to do. I still have to fill in that question sheet that I made, I still have to practice my ASL, I still have to find someone to make my cake, I still have to write my speech for if I get accepted and another one in case I don't, I still have to apply for courses for next year (if I don't get into the program), I still have to buy a camera, I still have to watch all of the Disney movies (five to go guys).
My life is a mess.
Coupled with all of the assignments I have due in the next few weeks I honestly don't think it's all going to get done.
And now that the interview is exactly two weeks away I'm really feeling under the pump. The only thing I'm thankful for is that I'm working full time hours at the moment (for free though) to distract me from all the things I would be stressing about.
So whether I'm prepared or not you'll be hearing about my interview in fourteen days. Wish me luck!
- Lily
Monday, August 25, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Tick Tick Tick
Hi all!
This post isn't going to be so much about words but about numbers. I spend so much time talking here that I don't often stop to think about the digits. Until today.
I've always known that things were approaching fast. I mean, time is a universal invariance. It doesn't just stop because I forget about it. But I'd never quite thought about exactly how quickly important events were approaching. When you think about big milestones in your life you always brush them off and say 'Oh, that's ages away.' until suddenly it comes right around the corner and hits you in the face. And this time has been no different.
This morning I opened up my countdown app only to have these numbers staring back at me.
This post isn't going to be so much about words but about numbers. I spend so much time talking here that I don't often stop to think about the digits. Until today.
I've always known that things were approaching fast. I mean, time is a universal invariance. It doesn't just stop because I forget about it. But I'd never quite thought about exactly how quickly important events were approaching. When you think about big milestones in your life you always brush them off and say 'Oh, that's ages away.' until suddenly it comes right around the corner and hits you in the face. And this time has been no different.
This morning I opened up my countdown app only to have these numbers staring back at me.
21 days, 1 hrs, 27 mins, 47 secs
And it scared the crap out of me.
In exactly three weeks, get that THREE, I would be on the train heading to my presentation. Even now I think about where I will be in three weeks. Exactly 21 days from now it'll all be over. Out of my hands. Gone.
And it got me thinking, what else is coming? So here they are, your numbers, with a side order of surprise.
Interview: 3 weeks
Acceptance/NLIC: 5 weeks
21st Birthday: 6 weeks, 3 days
Christmas: 18 weeks, 2 days
New Years: 19 weeks, 2 days
Departure: 19 weeks, 5 days
Check In: 20 weeks
Consider, if you will, that I applied 17 weeks and 4 days ago and it feels like only yesterday. In another 17 weeks and four days I'll be saying goodbye to most of my family with only mere days before I depart.
They say time flies when you're having fun but I did not realize I was having that much fun.
- Lily
Saturday, August 16, 2014
What's that over there?!
Hi all!
Just a quick one to tell you that I've added links to my social media sites in the sidebar. To the right of your screen, just below the shiny new banner (I'm Disney pointing in my mind so you know). If you have any questions for me or if you just want to say hi feel free to hit me up on Twitter and if you wish to see my adventures through my iPhone lens then follow me on Instagram.
I hope to see you there.
- Lily
Just a quick one to tell you that I've added links to my social media sites in the sidebar. To the right of your screen, just below the shiny new banner (I'm Disney pointing in my mind so you know). If you have any questions for me or if you just want to say hi feel free to hit me up on Twitter and if you wish to see my adventures through my iPhone lens then follow me on Instagram.
I hope to see you there.
- Lily
Important Stuff: Preparing For Your Interview
Hi all!
This post probably comes a little earlier than I was expecting to post it but when I thought long and hard about it I realized that I started preparing for my interview months before I even applied. Considering how early I was researching I dare say that others were too. I could even go so far as to say that people reading this now are probably a few weeks if not months away from their interviews. So it seems only logical that I give my interview related advice as soon as physically possible.
When preparing for the interview one must consider the four whats.
- What should I bring?
- What should I wear?
- What should I say?
And lastly:
- The surprise 'What...?' You have to read all the way to the end for that one.
As we always do in these posts, let's go through them one by one.
Firstly, you should bring your glorious self. But that's an obvious one.
In terms of objects that are easier to pack in a handbag though there are a few things I'd advise taking along with you. Including but not limited to:
- Setting powder/Setting spray/Whatever you use to keep your make-up attached to your face. The presentation goes for at least an hour and depending on when your interview time is you could be waiting a while before you see the recruiters. You will want to make sure that your make-up (provided you're wearing some) stays put all day and is still there by the time the recruiters get a good look at you.
- Identification. At some job interviews they want to see proof that who they're interviewing is the person who applied for the job. So don't bother trying to sneak a charismatic person in there to do it for you cause they'll check.
- Documents. Now I'm not sure if these are 100% necessary but I will be taking along a folder containing originals and copies of everything Disney has sent us/asked for so far. Including my passport, drivers license, PSSF, resume, cover letter, etc. I will also be taking a few things they didn't ask for such as references from my current employer. Again, not sure if it'll be needed but good to have it along anyway.
- A notepad, pen and highlighter. Disney will probably give you some kind of brochure/document with all the details of the program but it's important to make note of anything you find particularly stands out. Whether it be the cost of housing, the names of the recruiters or the contact details of the alumni, there's sure to be something that you'll want to write down. Make like a boy scout and be prepared.
- A watch. This may seem silly but it's a tactical move on your part. Disney doesn't take kindly to mobile phones, as most companies do, so it's much more professional to wear a nice watch to the interview. It'll also (hopefully) ensure that you're punctual without giving off the wrong impression.
These are probably the most important things to take with you. Obviously you'll have things on you that people carry around everywhere these days like your phone and your purse/wallet. Some smaller items I'd recommend taking that aren't necessary are mints (not gum) to make sure your breath is minty fresh, a water bottle (don't want a dry mouth on your big day) and some lip balm (same with dry lips).
MOVING RIGHT ALONG
This is a very simple question with a short and a long answer. The short answer is 'business casual'. The long answer is, well, a little more complicated.
In your research you may have come across something called 'Disney Look'. For those unfamiliar with 'Disney Look' it is Disney's out-of-costume dress code for it's employees or 'cast members'. Disney Look dictates a number of strict rules regarding what you can and can't wear. Even the things you can wear have to be certain colours, materials, lengths, etc. I may be being a little too dramatic here. It's mostly common sense stuff with a few exceptions (apparently they have a 'four finger' rule when it comes to sleeves and if your four fingers are smaller than the assessor's four fingers it's off home to change for you). A link to the Disney College Program's list of Disney Look guidelines (definitely abridged as the Disney Look Book is a lot more detailed) for men and women can be found here and here respectively.
BUT
In describing Disney Look to you I fail to mention one thing. You don't have to be in Disney Look for your interview. Yup, that's right. What I always say to my fellow applicants is: 'Aim for Disney Look but don't worry if you fall short.' While Disney will send you home from Traditions if you don't meet Disney look they definitely will not send you packing at the interview.
The easiest way I can describe what you 'should' wear is what you would wear if you were to work in an office. You're sitting on the train during peak hour and what do you see? A sea of people in business casual attire who are probably weirded out by you staring at their clothes. Pencil skirts, business slacks, shiny polished shoes. Perfect examples of what you should wear to your interview. If you need a description of business casual attire that's a little less creepy you'll find one here.
Also, just quickly, for makeup it's recommended that you go with a 'natural' look. A foundation that's the right shade to match your face/neck, minimal contouring, avoiding extreme eye looks and a lipstick that's not too different from your natural lip colour (I know red makes you look fierce but maybe put it aside just this once) would be perfect. A good 'natural' makeup tutorial can be found here.
NEXT!
This one's the trickiest question yet because it's all about personal choice, experience and motivation.
The answer to this question mostly stems from what question you're being asked. A friend and I did some careful research to find and compile a list of questions you may be asked in your interview. If you'd like to give it a read you can find it here. While this list may be useful to you it is meant only as a guide. I've personally used it just to organize my thoughts and formulate general ideas of answers that I can explain in more depth during the actual interview.
What you should say is up to you but you have to be conscious of what impression you are giving the recruiter. For example if you are asked 'Why do you want to do the program?' and you reply 'Because I want to party hardy.' then you're definitely giving them the wrong impression. If you reply 'Because I want to meet and socialize with people from all over the world.' that's essentially the same answer just worded in a way that gives a positive impression. When formulating your answers you need to be conscious, even if you have the purest and least party hardy of intentions, of what impression you are giving the recruiters.
Another example of this is if you are keen to do Attractions and you are asked the question 'A guest is too short to ride a ride, what do you do?' and you reply 'I tell them they cannot ride the ride because they are too short.' that gives the impression that you are not willing to even attempt to give that guest a positive experience. If you reply 'I would explain to that guest that the ride is not safe, find out what in particular about the ride appealed to them and recommend them another ride with a similar appeal point that has a lower/no height restriction.' that gives off the impression that you are willing to interact with the guest and try to make sure you can provide them with a positive experience despite the situation they may be in.
Another time you must consider the kind of impression you are giving the recruiters is when they give you an opportunity to ask questions. Always have at least one or two questions prepared to ensure that you appear eager to participate. However, there are certain types of questions you shouldn't ask so let's go over them quickly now.
Questions you shouldn't ask:
- Questions you will find out the answer to at a later date. These questions are just a waste of the recruiter's time and yours. Questions like 'How are our roommates assigned?', 'What visa form do I have to fill in?', 'What DVDs can I borrow from the learning centre?' Silly. These questions will be answered if you progress to the next stage of the process or with a quick google search. There is no point in asking a question that has no relevance to your current stage of the process.
- Questions that have already been answered. Do I really need to explain this one? The presentation is over an hour long and there will be a lot of information flying around. Remember what has been said and you won't look like an ass. Questions like 'Where will I live?', 'Where will I work?', 'What is your name?' will all be answered in the presentation and do not require further inquiry.
- Questions that give off a bad impression. That's right, questions give off bad impressions too. Questions like 'How much time can I take off?', 'How much will I be paid?', 'How often to the party buses drop off and pick up at Vista?' all give off the impression that you are not there for the right reasons. Make sure you think long and hard about what you want your questions to say about you.
And now we get to the happy part. The good questions. Good questions are questions that show how interested you are in the program and may not actually be questions you want the answer to. If you have a question burning in the back of your mind that you desperately want answered make sure to consider again what impression it will make before you ask it. So without further ado...
Questions you should ask:
- Questions that illustrate your interest in your current circumstances. Some of the best questions you could ask related directly or indirectly to your chances of continuing on to do the program. Questions like 'What are you looking for in the perfect *insert specific high interest role* cast member candidate?', 'Is there a limit to the number of applicants you accept?', 'When can I expect to hear back?' (generally ask this one last) are all questions that illustrate your interest in your chances and in what Disney is looking for in potential employees.
- Questions that expand on information already given. While it's a big no-no to ask something that has already been answered, further exploring a topic already brought up is a big yes-yes. For example, they may mention during the presentation that there are certain stipulations in the visa that mean you must show them how you are experiencing American culture (it is a cultural exchange after all). A question you may ask is 'You mentioned *insert explanation here*. What would you recommend I do to truly experience American culture?' It gives the impression that you genuinely care about the exchange of culture and that you were paying attention during the presentation. Simples.
It's also a good thing to ask them personal questions that expand on topics covered. For example if the recruiter mentions their history with Disney you could ask them (depending on what their particular history is) 'What is your favorite thing about working for Disney/What was your favorite part of the College Program?'. This establishes a connection with the recruiter and you might even learn something cool about the program along the way.
- Questions that give the right impression. These are questions, as with the one above about culture, that give the impression you are there for the experience and to be a good little boy or girl. Instead of asking how to take time off, try asking questions like 'Where do you recommend I visit/What do you recommend I do to truly experience American culture before/after my program?', 'Are there any activities/places in Florida that are 'must do/see' before the end of my program?'. These give the impression that you are interested in the culture and the things that the program has to offer outside of Disney.
Now that the questions are all over with we can move on the the last but definitely not least....
Ha-HA! You've all been duped.
I want to make it abundantly clear that everything I've said in the above post is all useful information that you all should take to heart but it's all a guideline. Plain and simple.
There have been people show up to the interviews in jeans and a hoodie who still got accepted. Their are people who brought along a reference from every single job they've ever had (and made sure their lips were lovely and supple) who have been NLIC'd. And let's face it, there are probably people who have asked about pay who have been accepted too.
The most important thing to remember is to relax, be yourself and be friendly. The reason people always talk about how relaxed the interviews are is because the recruiters want to see you in as close to your natural state as possible. They want to see how you interact with strangers. If you open up in conversation. They want to see YOU. So give it to them. As long as you're open, friendly and passionate they won't care how red your lipstick is. Out of all the advice I gave in this post the most important piece by far is the very first piece under the very first question in the very first line.
"Firstly, you should bring your glorious self. But that's an obvious one."
- Lily
P.s. These are all my pieces of advice to you before I've completed my own interview. I fully expect some of this advice to change once I've been through the process myself. As such I will probably end up doing a 'Revised Interview Preparation Advice' post later down the track. Once it is posted I will add the link here.
This post probably comes a little earlier than I was expecting to post it but when I thought long and hard about it I realized that I started preparing for my interview months before I even applied. Considering how early I was researching I dare say that others were too. I could even go so far as to say that people reading this now are probably a few weeks if not months away from their interviews. So it seems only logical that I give my interview related advice as soon as physically possible.
When preparing for the interview one must consider the four whats.
- What should I bring?
- What should I wear?
- What should I say?
And lastly:
- The surprise 'What...?' You have to read all the way to the end for that one.
As we always do in these posts, let's go through them one by one.
What should I bring?
Firstly, you should bring your glorious self. But that's an obvious one.
In terms of objects that are easier to pack in a handbag though there are a few things I'd advise taking along with you. Including but not limited to:
- Setting powder/Setting spray/Whatever you use to keep your make-up attached to your face. The presentation goes for at least an hour and depending on when your interview time is you could be waiting a while before you see the recruiters. You will want to make sure that your make-up (provided you're wearing some) stays put all day and is still there by the time the recruiters get a good look at you.
- Identification. At some job interviews they want to see proof that who they're interviewing is the person who applied for the job. So don't bother trying to sneak a charismatic person in there to do it for you cause they'll check.
- Documents. Now I'm not sure if these are 100% necessary but I will be taking along a folder containing originals and copies of everything Disney has sent us/asked for so far. Including my passport, drivers license, PSSF, resume, cover letter, etc. I will also be taking a few things they didn't ask for such as references from my current employer. Again, not sure if it'll be needed but good to have it along anyway.
- A notepad, pen and highlighter. Disney will probably give you some kind of brochure/document with all the details of the program but it's important to make note of anything you find particularly stands out. Whether it be the cost of housing, the names of the recruiters or the contact details of the alumni, there's sure to be something that you'll want to write down. Make like a boy scout and be prepared.
- A watch. This may seem silly but it's a tactical move on your part. Disney doesn't take kindly to mobile phones, as most companies do, so it's much more professional to wear a nice watch to the interview. It'll also (hopefully) ensure that you're punctual without giving off the wrong impression.
These are probably the most important things to take with you. Obviously you'll have things on you that people carry around everywhere these days like your phone and your purse/wallet. Some smaller items I'd recommend taking that aren't necessary are mints (not gum) to make sure your breath is minty fresh, a water bottle (don't want a dry mouth on your big day) and some lip balm (same with dry lips).
MOVING RIGHT ALONG
What should I wear?
This is a very simple question with a short and a long answer. The short answer is 'business casual'. The long answer is, well, a little more complicated.
In your research you may have come across something called 'Disney Look'. For those unfamiliar with 'Disney Look' it is Disney's out-of-costume dress code for it's employees or 'cast members'. Disney Look dictates a number of strict rules regarding what you can and can't wear. Even the things you can wear have to be certain colours, materials, lengths, etc. I may be being a little too dramatic here. It's mostly common sense stuff with a few exceptions (apparently they have a 'four finger' rule when it comes to sleeves and if your four fingers are smaller than the assessor's four fingers it's off home to change for you). A link to the Disney College Program's list of Disney Look guidelines (definitely abridged as the Disney Look Book is a lot more detailed) for men and women can be found here and here respectively.
BUT
In describing Disney Look to you I fail to mention one thing. You don't have to be in Disney Look for your interview. Yup, that's right. What I always say to my fellow applicants is: 'Aim for Disney Look but don't worry if you fall short.' While Disney will send you home from Traditions if you don't meet Disney look they definitely will not send you packing at the interview.
The easiest way I can describe what you 'should' wear is what you would wear if you were to work in an office. You're sitting on the train during peak hour and what do you see? A sea of people in business casual attire who are probably weirded out by you staring at their clothes. Pencil skirts, business slacks, shiny polished shoes. Perfect examples of what you should wear to your interview. If you need a description of business casual attire that's a little less creepy you'll find one here.
Also, just quickly, for makeup it's recommended that you go with a 'natural' look. A foundation that's the right shade to match your face/neck, minimal contouring, avoiding extreme eye looks and a lipstick that's not too different from your natural lip colour (I know red makes you look fierce but maybe put it aside just this once) would be perfect. A good 'natural' makeup tutorial can be found here.
NEXT!
What should I say?
This one's the trickiest question yet because it's all about personal choice, experience and motivation.
The answer to this question mostly stems from what question you're being asked. A friend and I did some careful research to find and compile a list of questions you may be asked in your interview. If you'd like to give it a read you can find it here. While this list may be useful to you it is meant only as a guide. I've personally used it just to organize my thoughts and formulate general ideas of answers that I can explain in more depth during the actual interview.
What you should say is up to you but you have to be conscious of what impression you are giving the recruiter. For example if you are asked 'Why do you want to do the program?' and you reply 'Because I want to party hardy.' then you're definitely giving them the wrong impression. If you reply 'Because I want to meet and socialize with people from all over the world.' that's essentially the same answer just worded in a way that gives a positive impression. When formulating your answers you need to be conscious, even if you have the purest and least party hardy of intentions, of what impression you are giving the recruiters.
Another example of this is if you are keen to do Attractions and you are asked the question 'A guest is too short to ride a ride, what do you do?' and you reply 'I tell them they cannot ride the ride because they are too short.' that gives the impression that you are not willing to even attempt to give that guest a positive experience. If you reply 'I would explain to that guest that the ride is not safe, find out what in particular about the ride appealed to them and recommend them another ride with a similar appeal point that has a lower/no height restriction.' that gives off the impression that you are willing to interact with the guest and try to make sure you can provide them with a positive experience despite the situation they may be in.
Another time you must consider the kind of impression you are giving the recruiters is when they give you an opportunity to ask questions. Always have at least one or two questions prepared to ensure that you appear eager to participate. However, there are certain types of questions you shouldn't ask so let's go over them quickly now.
Questions you shouldn't ask:
- Questions you will find out the answer to at a later date. These questions are just a waste of the recruiter's time and yours. Questions like 'How are our roommates assigned?', 'What visa form do I have to fill in?', 'What DVDs can I borrow from the learning centre?' Silly. These questions will be answered if you progress to the next stage of the process or with a quick google search. There is no point in asking a question that has no relevance to your current stage of the process.
- Questions that have already been answered. Do I really need to explain this one? The presentation is over an hour long and there will be a lot of information flying around. Remember what has been said and you won't look like an ass. Questions like 'Where will I live?', 'Where will I work?', 'What is your name?' will all be answered in the presentation and do not require further inquiry.
- Questions that give off a bad impression. That's right, questions give off bad impressions too. Questions like 'How much time can I take off?', 'How much will I be paid?', 'How often to the party buses drop off and pick up at Vista?' all give off the impression that you are not there for the right reasons. Make sure you think long and hard about what you want your questions to say about you.
And now we get to the happy part. The good questions. Good questions are questions that show how interested you are in the program and may not actually be questions you want the answer to. If you have a question burning in the back of your mind that you desperately want answered make sure to consider again what impression it will make before you ask it. So without further ado...
Questions you should ask:
- Questions that illustrate your interest in your current circumstances. Some of the best questions you could ask related directly or indirectly to your chances of continuing on to do the program. Questions like 'What are you looking for in the perfect *insert specific high interest role* cast member candidate?', 'Is there a limit to the number of applicants you accept?', 'When can I expect to hear back?' (generally ask this one last) are all questions that illustrate your interest in your chances and in what Disney is looking for in potential employees.
- Questions that expand on information already given. While it's a big no-no to ask something that has already been answered, further exploring a topic already brought up is a big yes-yes. For example, they may mention during the presentation that there are certain stipulations in the visa that mean you must show them how you are experiencing American culture (it is a cultural exchange after all). A question you may ask is 'You mentioned *insert explanation here*. What would you recommend I do to truly experience American culture?' It gives the impression that you genuinely care about the exchange of culture and that you were paying attention during the presentation. Simples.
It's also a good thing to ask them personal questions that expand on topics covered. For example if the recruiter mentions their history with Disney you could ask them (depending on what their particular history is) 'What is your favorite thing about working for Disney/What was your favorite part of the College Program?'. This establishes a connection with the recruiter and you might even learn something cool about the program along the way.
- Questions that give the right impression. These are questions, as with the one above about culture, that give the impression you are there for the experience and to be a good little boy or girl. Instead of asking how to take time off, try asking questions like 'Where do you recommend I visit/What do you recommend I do to truly experience American culture before/after my program?', 'Are there any activities/places in Florida that are 'must do/see' before the end of my program?'. These give the impression that you are interested in the culture and the things that the program has to offer outside of Disney.
Now that the questions are all over with we can move on the the last but definitely not least....
What the hell am I talking about?
Ha-HA! You've all been duped.
I want to make it abundantly clear that everything I've said in the above post is all useful information that you all should take to heart but it's all a guideline. Plain and simple.
There have been people show up to the interviews in jeans and a hoodie who still got accepted. Their are people who brought along a reference from every single job they've ever had (and made sure their lips were lovely and supple) who have been NLIC'd. And let's face it, there are probably people who have asked about pay who have been accepted too.
The most important thing to remember is to relax, be yourself and be friendly. The reason people always talk about how relaxed the interviews are is because the recruiters want to see you in as close to your natural state as possible. They want to see how you interact with strangers. If you open up in conversation. They want to see YOU. So give it to them. As long as you're open, friendly and passionate they won't care how red your lipstick is. Out of all the advice I gave in this post the most important piece by far is the very first piece under the very first question in the very first line.
"Firstly, you should bring your glorious self. But that's an obvious one."
- Lily
P.s. These are all my pieces of advice to you before I've completed my own interview. I fully expect some of this advice to change once I've been through the process myself. As such I will probably end up doing a 'Revised Interview Preparation Advice' post later down the track. Once it is posted I will add the link here.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Story Time: Interview Invite and Role Checklist
Hi all!
Welcome to Story Time. This episode is brought to you by 'fourteen weeks of waiting' and 'monumental relief'. Let's begin.
Now, I don't like to think of myself as someone with any kind of ESP or whatever because it's often true that we guess something that is so common, so plausible, that it turns out to be true by the sheer height of its probability. I mean if you say to yourself 'I'm going to get an email tomorrow' every day before you go to bed then at least once it's bound to be true. So when I say I knew the email was coming on the night of August 4th know that it shocks me as much as it shocks you.
I had always been of the belief that invites would come on a Friday night/Saturday morning and to be honest now, I don't really know why. I got my DOC email on a Friday but so many other things had happened on other days and yet I was convinced that Fridays were the day. When the New Zealanders received their interview invites my 'Friday Only' policy extended to include Tuesdays too. They received theirs on a Tuesday and applications originally opened on a Tuesday. It seemed plausible enough.
So for the last month I'd been checking my emails regularly but only on Friday and Tuesday nights did I feel confident in having an email to wake up to the next morning. Only on Saturday and Wednesday mornings did I feel the true disappointment that comes with such high expectations. And so it was for some weeks.
Only last night was different. While I didn't have high hopes that the email would com during the day when I finally laid down to bed it was all I could think about. I imagined that I would awake to a million messages from my friends telling me, in all caps of course, to check my email and there it would be. I thought of how perfect the timing would be as I normally sleep in until quite late on Tuesdays but I had reason to break this habit on this particular morning. Imagine my email arriving on the only Tuesday in months that I had been up before 12. It was all perfect. And so I said to myself as I drifted off, not in excitement but in serenity, 'It's coming tomorrow.'
And sure enough...when I opened my eyes the next morning I was greeted by this.
Thank the lord for caps.
I flicked open my phone's mail app and sure enough there was an email from Disney Recruiting but I didn't want to open it yet. I ripped (probably not the safest thing to do) the cables out of my laptop and ran down the hall, slipping and sliding everywhere and even crashing into a wall or two. I slammed the computer down on the bench, flicked it open, put in my Disneyland map picture password and clicked straight on the gmail tab I already had open on my computer.
By this point my mother had come rushing into the room and was standing next to me as I clicked on the gmail tab. She stood there with me as the screen loaded and there it was, a sight for sore eyes, my interview invite. We rejoiced together and she went to go get ready for work while I filled it in.
The interview scheduling part was easy as pie. I already knew when the presentation at my uni was being held all I needed now was to pick a time to be interviewed. I deliberated whether to go with 1.30-2.30 or 2.30 - 3.30 for a while and then decided on the latter. I want to be able to go to lunch with whomever I meet there and not have to worry about hurrying back. So that was that.
Then I went to do my role checklist. But it wasn't there. I was expecting it to be attached to the interview invite email but nope. So I kept refreshing my gmail madly expecting for it to show up. I then checked my phone (cause I had seen two emails on my phone) and there it was. Staring at me.
Why it didn't come up on my gmail I'll never know (I moved it into my Disney folder from my phone app and then it showed up in the folder but it was never in my inbox) but my friend suggested I check the dashboard cause there would be a link there. To my pleasure, there it was. Just as I was about to open it up my mother came in and started shouting about how I needed to get ready so that put things on hold for a bit.
She was entirely correct though so I ran off to change before we went to the doctor. The whole time we were there I was on my phone talking to my Disney group about their emails and their roles. When I was eventually called in for my blood test all I could think about was Disney. The attendant told me to wiggle my toes and breathe deeply to distract myself from the pain but my thoughts were so focused on Disney that I completely forgot to wiggle my toes. And I barely felt the needles at all.
Mum and I rushed home so I could finish the process. I filled in all my preferences (High: Merch, Operations, CA; Moderate: QSFB, Lifeguard; Low: Everything else), wrote in my name and the date. Then I stood there, staring at it. My mum came over to me as I had my finger on the button, hesitating to push it.
"Am I ready?" I said to her.
"Yes." Came her simple reply.
And I knew that she was right. I clicked the button to submit it and off it went.
Fourteen and a half weeks of waiting finally over.
Now if you don't mind I'm going to head into school early so I can find the presentation room and sit at the door for the next 34 days, 18 hours, 44 minutes and 25 seconds. 20 seconds. 15 seconds... You get the joke.
- Lily
P.s. At this time there are at least three of the group who are yet to receive an invite. As we were told that all applicants would receive one we are sure this is just some sort of computer glitch. None the less, my heart goes out to those who are still waiting as this is no doubt a distressing situation to be in. I sincerely hope it is all sorted out as soon as possible and we can all celebrate together.
Welcome to Story Time. This episode is brought to you by 'fourteen weeks of waiting' and 'monumental relief'. Let's begin.
Now, I don't like to think of myself as someone with any kind of ESP or whatever because it's often true that we guess something that is so common, so plausible, that it turns out to be true by the sheer height of its probability. I mean if you say to yourself 'I'm going to get an email tomorrow' every day before you go to bed then at least once it's bound to be true. So when I say I knew the email was coming on the night of August 4th know that it shocks me as much as it shocks you.
I had always been of the belief that invites would come on a Friday night/Saturday morning and to be honest now, I don't really know why. I got my DOC email on a Friday but so many other things had happened on other days and yet I was convinced that Fridays were the day. When the New Zealanders received their interview invites my 'Friday Only' policy extended to include Tuesdays too. They received theirs on a Tuesday and applications originally opened on a Tuesday. It seemed plausible enough.
So for the last month I'd been checking my emails regularly but only on Friday and Tuesday nights did I feel confident in having an email to wake up to the next morning. Only on Saturday and Wednesday mornings did I feel the true disappointment that comes with such high expectations. And so it was for some weeks.
Only last night was different. While I didn't have high hopes that the email would com during the day when I finally laid down to bed it was all I could think about. I imagined that I would awake to a million messages from my friends telling me, in all caps of course, to check my email and there it would be. I thought of how perfect the timing would be as I normally sleep in until quite late on Tuesdays but I had reason to break this habit on this particular morning. Imagine my email arriving on the only Tuesday in months that I had been up before 12. It was all perfect. And so I said to myself as I drifted off, not in excitement but in serenity, 'It's coming tomorrow.'
And sure enough...when I opened my eyes the next morning I was greeted by this.
I flicked open my phone's mail app and sure enough there was an email from Disney Recruiting but I didn't want to open it yet. I ripped (probably not the safest thing to do) the cables out of my laptop and ran down the hall, slipping and sliding everywhere and even crashing into a wall or two. I slammed the computer down on the bench, flicked it open, put in my Disneyland map picture password and clicked straight on the gmail tab I already had open on my computer.
By this point my mother had come rushing into the room and was standing next to me as I clicked on the gmail tab. She stood there with me as the screen loaded and there it was, a sight for sore eyes, my interview invite. We rejoiced together and she went to go get ready for work while I filled it in.
The interview scheduling part was easy as pie. I already knew when the presentation at my uni was being held all I needed now was to pick a time to be interviewed. I deliberated whether to go with 1.30-2.30 or 2.30 - 3.30 for a while and then decided on the latter. I want to be able to go to lunch with whomever I meet there and not have to worry about hurrying back. So that was that.
Then I went to do my role checklist. But it wasn't there. I was expecting it to be attached to the interview invite email but nope. So I kept refreshing my gmail madly expecting for it to show up. I then checked my phone (cause I had seen two emails on my phone) and there it was. Staring at me.
Why it didn't come up on my gmail I'll never know (I moved it into my Disney folder from my phone app and then it showed up in the folder but it was never in my inbox) but my friend suggested I check the dashboard cause there would be a link there. To my pleasure, there it was. Just as I was about to open it up my mother came in and started shouting about how I needed to get ready so that put things on hold for a bit.
She was entirely correct though so I ran off to change before we went to the doctor. The whole time we were there I was on my phone talking to my Disney group about their emails and their roles. When I was eventually called in for my blood test all I could think about was Disney. The attendant told me to wiggle my toes and breathe deeply to distract myself from the pain but my thoughts were so focused on Disney that I completely forgot to wiggle my toes. And I barely felt the needles at all.
Mum and I rushed home so I could finish the process. I filled in all my preferences (High: Merch, Operations, CA; Moderate: QSFB, Lifeguard; Low: Everything else), wrote in my name and the date. Then I stood there, staring at it. My mum came over to me as I had my finger on the button, hesitating to push it.
"Am I ready?" I said to her.
"Yes." Came her simple reply.
And I knew that she was right. I clicked the button to submit it and off it went.
Fourteen and a half weeks of waiting finally over.
Now if you don't mind I'm going to head into school early so I can find the presentation room and sit at the door for the next 34 days, 18 hours, 44 minutes and 25 seconds. 20 seconds. 15 seconds... You get the joke.
- Lily
P.s. At this time there are at least three of the group who are yet to receive an invite. As we were told that all applicants would receive one we are sure this is just some sort of computer glitch. None the less, my heart goes out to those who are still waiting as this is no doubt a distressing situation to be in. I sincerely hope it is all sorted out as soon as possible and we can all celebrate together.
The Important Stuff: Interview Invite and Role Checklist
Hi all!
The interview invites for Australian applicants have finally arrived and I'm here to tell ya all about it.
So on the special day you should receive two emails. One titled "Invite to Schedule Presentation & Interview" and another titled "Complete Your Role Checklist!" Such excitement.
I definitely recommend booking an interview time first so we'll address that straight up.
Interview Invite:
Once you've calmed down enough to be able to see straight, go ahead and click on the email. Inside is some introductory blah blah but let's dispense with the pleasantries and get to the stuff you care about.
The only thing that's super important to take note of is that the email explicitly states you have five days to book your time or they will assume you are no longer interested. I can't think of any reason why a person would leave it longer than a few hours at most but hey, I'm not here to assume or judge people's circumstances. Moving on!
When you click on the link it will take you to a page with a little calendar on it. If you already know (through your school's career site or newsletter service) what date the presentations are at your university then go ahead and click that date. If you are not aware of when you would like to interview (either because you have not been informed by your uni or because presentations are not being held at your school at all) then click through the dates until you find a date and location that suits you.
Once you've selected a date the options for interview times will pop up. The options are all in hour long lots or sessions. I assume that they'll allow anywhere from three to six people to book into each lot as interviews tend to run from 10-30 minutes depending on how sidetracked the conversation gets. Never mind the science of it though. Select a time that suits you and move to the next page.
This next page is simply a confirmation page. It also allows you to cancel or reschedule your time. If you have received a confirmation email from the recruiting team and you have no wish to change your time then you're done with this section. Congratulations!
(If the close button doesn't work then you can just exit the page like you would any normal tab. Make sure you've received your confirmation email before exiting though)
Role Checklist:
The next stage here is the role checklist. Basically this is the part where you tell them where you would prefer to work while you're completing the program. Go ahead and open up that second 'Complete Your Role Checklist!' email.
This one actually contains two links. The first is to the role checklist and the second is to DOC. It asks that once you have completed the role checklist you make sure all of your documents are uploaded. As I've already done this I will not explain it further but if you want to read up on DOC, my previous post on it is here.
The link will take you to the role checklist which is a lot more detailed than it has been in previous years. This one lists the roles individually with details of the job and an accompanying video for each. Here's an example of one of them.
Underneath all the information is a little drop down list where you indicate your level of interest for the role. Select from high, moderate, low or no interest before passing on to the next section. Make sure you review the information carefully (like I totally did) and make sure you put down a preference for every role.
Keep in mind though that this is just you submitting your preferences. You may still receive an offer from Disney that is not one of your preferred roles. I highly doubt they would assign you a role that you put 'no interest' for but there is a chance that you could get any of the roles that you put as low or moderate.
How you select your preferences is totally up to you. I personally put 'no interest' for none of the roles while others have put 'no interest' for all but a few. It all depends on your personal choice and whether you feel you could complete a role if it were offered to you. When considering the less popular roles like Custodial and QSFB I said to myself 'Would you still accept this were it offered to you?" and my answer for every role was a resounding "YES" so I put at least 'low interest' for every role.
Once all the drop-downing is over there is one final step for you to complete. There's a huge chunk of information down the bottom that makes sure you understand that the roles will not be a walk in the park and some have special uniform policies because they involve food handling. Be sure to read this over carefully then add your name and the date to the bottom. Voila!
Now that you've done this you can give yourself a hearty pat on the back. You should have not only received a confirmation email but also your dashboard will have changed. After the invite was sent it will have changed to 'Action Required' and now that you've completed the required action it should look something like this.
The interview invites for Australian applicants have finally arrived and I'm here to tell ya all about it.
So on the special day you should receive two emails. One titled "Invite to Schedule Presentation & Interview" and another titled "Complete Your Role Checklist!" Such excitement.
I definitely recommend booking an interview time first so we'll address that straight up.
Interview Invite:
Once you've calmed down enough to be able to see straight, go ahead and click on the email. Inside is some introductory blah blah but let's dispense with the pleasantries and get to the stuff you care about.
The only thing that's super important to take note of is that the email explicitly states you have five days to book your time or they will assume you are no longer interested. I can't think of any reason why a person would leave it longer than a few hours at most but hey, I'm not here to assume or judge people's circumstances. Moving on!
When you click on the link it will take you to a page with a little calendar on it. If you already know (through your school's career site or newsletter service) what date the presentations are at your university then go ahead and click that date. If you are not aware of when you would like to interview (either because you have not been informed by your uni or because presentations are not being held at your school at all) then click through the dates until you find a date and location that suits you.
Once you've selected a date the options for interview times will pop up. The options are all in hour long lots or sessions. I assume that they'll allow anywhere from three to six people to book into each lot as interviews tend to run from 10-30 minutes depending on how sidetracked the conversation gets. Never mind the science of it though. Select a time that suits you and move to the next page.
This next page is simply a confirmation page. It also allows you to cancel or reschedule your time. If you have received a confirmation email from the recruiting team and you have no wish to change your time then you're done with this section. Congratulations!
Confirmation page. Yay I did it!
(If the close button doesn't work then you can just exit the page like you would any normal tab. Make sure you've received your confirmation email before exiting though)
Role Checklist:
The next stage here is the role checklist. Basically this is the part where you tell them where you would prefer to work while you're completing the program. Go ahead and open up that second 'Complete Your Role Checklist!' email.
This one actually contains two links. The first is to the role checklist and the second is to DOC. It asks that once you have completed the role checklist you make sure all of your documents are uploaded. As I've already done this I will not explain it further but if you want to read up on DOC, my previous post on it is here.
The link will take you to the role checklist which is a lot more detailed than it has been in previous years. This one lists the roles individually with details of the job and an accompanying video for each. Here's an example of one of them.
Keep in mind though that this is just you submitting your preferences. You may still receive an offer from Disney that is not one of your preferred roles. I highly doubt they would assign you a role that you put 'no interest' for but there is a chance that you could get any of the roles that you put as low or moderate.
How you select your preferences is totally up to you. I personally put 'no interest' for none of the roles while others have put 'no interest' for all but a few. It all depends on your personal choice and whether you feel you could complete a role if it were offered to you. When considering the less popular roles like Custodial and QSFB I said to myself 'Would you still accept this were it offered to you?" and my answer for every role was a resounding "YES" so I put at least 'low interest' for every role.
Once all the drop-downing is over there is one final step for you to complete. There's a huge chunk of information down the bottom that makes sure you understand that the roles will not be a walk in the park and some have special uniform policies because they involve food handling. Be sure to read this over carefully then add your name and the date to the bottom. Voila!
Now that you've done this you can give yourself a hearty pat on the back. You should have not only received a confirmation email but also your dashboard will have changed. After the invite was sent it will have changed to 'Action Required' and now that you've completed the required action it should look something like this.
Note that not only has the status bar changed to 'Interview Stage' but the details of the interview are listed in the bottom right hand corner.
That's it from me for now. I will be making a Story Time post for my interview invite so if you want to read it and have a laugh I'll pop the link here. And I may make a post in the next few days about business casual attire but I might decide better of it and leave that one to the experts.
If you've come this far, keep your head up. We're nearly out of these woods.
- Lily
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Once Upon A Dream
Hi all!
I just remembered that Sleeping Beauty is coming out of the vault this month! The blu-ray edition won't be out until later in the year (October, I think) but the plain old DVD is being released on the 13th of August.
Good thing I don't collect blurays, am I right?
So I'll be heading off to JB HI FI first thing on the 13th to pick me up a copy. I might also use that time to do a 'Day in the Life' video for my program vlog as it's the only day of the week I actually do anything exciting.
On a side note though. While I was looking up the bluray release of Sleeping Beauty (had to check so I didn't embarrass myself) it said 'October (Two Months)'. And I thought to myself 'That can't be right'. So I counted it out on my hand.
It's August now.
September.
October.
Holy shitstickles. Two months. TWO MONTHS.
In one month I'll have my interview.
In two I'll know whether or not I've been accepted and be turning 21.
In three I'll be graduating.
In four I'll either be leaving for America on holiday or leaving for America for good.
This year has been such an amazing ride so far and I honestly cannot wait to see what the rest of it has in store. Good, bad, ugly, diet coke or otherwise. I'm really really excited now.
- Lily
I just remembered that Sleeping Beauty is coming out of the vault this month! The blu-ray edition won't be out until later in the year (October, I think) but the plain old DVD is being released on the 13th of August.
Good thing I don't collect blurays, am I right?
So I'll be heading off to JB HI FI first thing on the 13th to pick me up a copy. I might also use that time to do a 'Day in the Life' video for my program vlog as it's the only day of the week I actually do anything exciting.
On a side note though. While I was looking up the bluray release of Sleeping Beauty (had to check so I didn't embarrass myself) it said 'October (Two Months)'. And I thought to myself 'That can't be right'. So I counted it out on my hand.
It's August now.
September.
October.
Holy shitstickles. Two months. TWO MONTHS.
In one month I'll have my interview.
In two I'll know whether or not I've been accepted and be turning 21.
In three I'll be graduating.
In four I'll either be leaving for America on holiday or leaving for America for good.
This year has been such an amazing ride so far and I honestly cannot wait to see what the rest of it has in store. Good, bad, ugly, diet coke or otherwise. I'm really really excited now.
- Lily
A Challange: Days Two and Three
Hi all!
Back to pretending to be a beauty blog. Not my fault nothing Disney related has happened yet.
So day two went off without a hitch. I got up early enough and got my face all perfected in 9mins and 5secs. Overall I was pretty happy with how it went but I found that my foundation was still doing the weird cracking thing despite me moisturising and priming.
Day three I decided it was time to go shopping. I headed to Priceline (give me a break I'm still on a saving budget, remember) and picked up these nifty little tools.
The Models Prefer Stipling Brush ($17.99) and the Australis Make-Up Finishing Spritz ($13.99, I think).
I'd been told after consulting the internet that the stippling brush helps to spread foundation more evenly which prevents streaking and gives you a flawless finish. The Finishing Spritz works as a setting spray and makes sure your make-up stays in place. I had it described to me as 'hairspray for your face'.
And boy was it worth it. After my five hours at work and a few hours around the house my foundation still looked almost exactly the same as it did when I put it on. It was amazing.
Next things I'm thinking of trying out are an eye primer (for the slight creasing around my eyes) and a correction pallet (to try and cover my red/purple pigmentation). I'll let you guys know how they go when I can afford them.
- Lily
Friday, August 1, 2014
Disaster Strikes!
Hi all!
Don't worry your dear little hearts, nothing terrible has happened to me personally. I make this post to show my support for my August intake ICP comrades who are over in the USA right now trying to navigate the city, contact friends, family, room mates, etc. and are stuck without Facebook. If you weren't already aware, Facebook wen't down today, at around 2am Melbourne time, and has been out for about 20 minutes.
I honestly cannot think of anything else that would outwardly appear so unimportant but become such a big problem over there. Being alone in a place you've never been is scary enough. But if you haven't been over in the states long enough to organize a phone you would now be trapped with very few means of instant communication. Being alone is made infinitely worse by the knowledge that you can't even contact people you know for comfort or support.
It seems like such a trivial thing but I can only imagine what would be going through the participant's minds right now. I hope no one is severely affected by the outage and that everything gets back up and running soon. Good luck guys!
- Lily
Don't worry your dear little hearts, nothing terrible has happened to me personally. I make this post to show my support for my August intake ICP comrades who are over in the USA right now trying to navigate the city, contact friends, family, room mates, etc. and are stuck without Facebook. If you weren't already aware, Facebook wen't down today, at around 2am Melbourne time, and has been out for about 20 minutes.
I honestly cannot think of anything else that would outwardly appear so unimportant but become such a big problem over there. Being alone in a place you've never been is scary enough. But if you haven't been over in the states long enough to organize a phone you would now be trapped with very few means of instant communication. Being alone is made infinitely worse by the knowledge that you can't even contact people you know for comfort or support.
It seems like such a trivial thing but I can only imagine what would be going through the participant's minds right now. I hope no one is severely affected by the outage and that everything gets back up and running soon. Good luck guys!
- Lily
A Challenge: Day One
Hi all!
I know you guys don't particularly come here looking for post you'd normally see on a beauty blog but I promise I'll only continue this series when there are significant updates. Shake on it? Sorted.
So day one of the challenge went better than expected. I got up and managed to get all of the stuff done somewhere between 5-10 mins. For the purpose of this exorcise I'm going to just be going 'natural' every day make up. To me that means the following:
- Primer
- Foundation
- Concealer
- Setting powder
- Very light contour
- Very light blush
- Minimal highlighting (only because it's in the same palette as the last two and I feel mean to exclude it)
- Mascara
Nothing too complicated. Now if I'd just managed to get through the day normally I wouldn't be making this post. So why are we hear you ask? Because I got so many comments on it!
Comments ranging between somewhat neutral observations like 'You don't normally wear make-up.' to outrageous things like 'You look great today/with make-up on.' One of my favorite comments of the day was from a friend of mine who first said I looked nice and then, after recalling that I don't wear make-up at all, said that I do it really well for a beginner. Day made.
That was the up side. Now for the down.
Obviously with wear comes tear. Make-up never looks exactly the same when you put it on as it does at the end of the day when you take it off. Or so I'm told. Despite putting primer on before hand, my foundation went a little weird throughout the day. It seemed not to want to cling to my skin and instead started cracking (I guess you could call it). It wasn't noticeable from a distance and when I expressed my concern to my friend she said she hadn't even noticed it until I pointed it out. But it still bugged me that it was happening.
She suggested that there were two possible causes of this problem. 1) I hadn't put moisturizer on (I had assumed primer would do the job) and the drying of my skin was causing the shift OR 2) I just had the wrong foundation for my skin.
I figure I may as well try the moisturizer thing first and, if that doesn't work, fork out for a new foundation. A few weeks ago I bought an Endota Spa skin care starter kit which includes this little bottle of 'skin drink' A.K.A moisturizer.
But one thing everyone on the interwebs recommended was getting a moisturizer with SPF 15+ in it because make-up doesn't protect your face from UV rays. In places where I've had bad pimples before I do have some remaining red/purple pigmentation and UV rays can make that pigmentation worse or slow down the healing process. So I decided to dig out a moisturizer with a little bit extra something in it to protect my skin from the sun and help get rid of those pesky after pimple marks.
I know you guys don't particularly come here looking for post you'd normally see on a beauty blog but I promise I'll only continue this series when there are significant updates. Shake on it? Sorted.
So day one of the challenge went better than expected. I got up and managed to get all of the stuff done somewhere between 5-10 mins. For the purpose of this exorcise I'm going to just be going 'natural' every day make up. To me that means the following:
- Primer
- Foundation
- Concealer
- Setting powder
- Very light contour
- Very light blush
- Minimal highlighting (only because it's in the same palette as the last two and I feel mean to exclude it)
- Mascara
Nothing too complicated. Now if I'd just managed to get through the day normally I wouldn't be making this post. So why are we hear you ask? Because I got so many comments on it!
Comments ranging between somewhat neutral observations like 'You don't normally wear make-up.' to outrageous things like 'You look great today/with make-up on.' One of my favorite comments of the day was from a friend of mine who first said I looked nice and then, after recalling that I don't wear make-up at all, said that I do it really well for a beginner. Day made.
That was the up side. Now for the down.
Obviously with wear comes tear. Make-up never looks exactly the same when you put it on as it does at the end of the day when you take it off. Or so I'm told. Despite putting primer on before hand, my foundation went a little weird throughout the day. It seemed not to want to cling to my skin and instead started cracking (I guess you could call it). It wasn't noticeable from a distance and when I expressed my concern to my friend she said she hadn't even noticed it until I pointed it out. But it still bugged me that it was happening.
She suggested that there were two possible causes of this problem. 1) I hadn't put moisturizer on (I had assumed primer would do the job) and the drying of my skin was causing the shift OR 2) I just had the wrong foundation for my skin.
I figure I may as well try the moisturizer thing first and, if that doesn't work, fork out for a new foundation. A few weeks ago I bought an Endota Spa skin care starter kit which includes this little bottle of 'skin drink' A.K.A moisturizer.
But one thing everyone on the interwebs recommended was getting a moisturizer with SPF 15+ in it because make-up doesn't protect your face from UV rays. In places where I've had bad pimples before I do have some remaining red/purple pigmentation and UV rays can make that pigmentation worse or slow down the healing process. So I decided to dig out a moisturizer with a little bit extra something in it to protect my skin from the sun and help get rid of those pesky after pimple marks.
So I'll be using the normal moisturizer after my night time cleanse and the SPF 15+ one during the day to keep my skin and make-up from drying out and to make sure I don't get any nasty sun spots.
Another minor problem I had was with my concealer creasing a bit under my eyes. Hopefully getting a good eye primer will sort that out quick smart. I won't have the chance to pick one up tomorrow so I'll just have to live with it for now. Hopefully on Sunday I'll have the chance to pop to the shop and grab one.
That's pretty much it from me for now. Tomorrow is going to be the real challenge because I have to be up at 9 to get to work at 11. Making sure I get up in time to do my skin care and make-up routine with be troublesome but it's all training for if/when I have to do this same thing at Disney.
- Lily
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