5 Ways to Grow Your Career at Hong Kong Disneyland
At The Walt Disney Company we encourage everyone to flourish and take their career journey to the next level!
Meet Jiun! She started her Disney story with Hong Kong Disneyland as an intern with the finance team. Fast forward to a year later, Jiun has now started as a full time Associate Financial Analyst. There are many ways to approach working towards that next professional step, but Jiun shared some helpful tips that she embraced.
1. Network, network, network!
The mantra, “it’s not about who you know, but who knows you” often rings true when it comes to creating professional connections and relationships. Jiun made sure to keep that in mind during her internship. “After I joined Hong Kong Disneyland, I had a goal of being more active and to step out of my comfort zone,” she shared. She actively reached out to various team leaders to share her interests and goals. She even was able to connect with her current Senior Manager. Through this type of mentorship, Jiun was encouraged to apply for her current role! “They were open to discussing what I could contribute to this team. They also helped set expectations and find where my interests and skills fit within their current needs.”
2. Utilize internal resources
Various areas of The Walt Disney Company will offer a variety of events, panels, and other opportunities exclusive to employees and cast members. Jiun learned about these during her internship and took full advantage! Her favorite being a session at Disney University that a finance leader hosted. During this talk, the leader shared his Disney journey from starting in a frontline role in the park to where he is now. He also helped the interns understand the environment of Hong Kong Disneyland from entertainment to benefits of being an employee. By attending events like these, you are able to meet many individuals outside of your department and experience other areas of the company you may not see during your day-to-day.
3. Be open to new experiences
Before moving to Hong Kong for work, Jiun lived in South Korea and the Philippines! Moving around grew her interest in international possibilities. “I’ve always wanted to work in a diverse environment,” she said. She knew that Disney takes pride in the diversity of all employees and she wanted to experience that first hand. She shared she has loved learning and growing within Hong Kong Disneyland and her team is extremely accommodating with her different background. They have even been teaching her Cantonese and English to help her feel more comfortable in her new life in Hong Kong!
4. Show off your confidence
In your early career it may be hard to find your footing at first, but Disney is a great place to get started and grow. “Often times you feel very young and new, but even as an intern, I was able to contribute unique things to the team and bring a new perspective,” Jiun shared, “Never be afraid to take on new opportunities!” Even as an intern, Jiun was able to lead projects and collaborate with a variety of team members on multiple levels. She said having these opportunities helped her gain a lot of confidence to contribute to projects, meet new people and stay open to all the possibilities!
5. Don’t forget about the magic of it all!
At the end of the day, Disney is a place of magic. Even though Jiun’s office is backstage, she still finds the time to explore and take in the magic at Hong Kong Disneyland. “I love to take a lunch break in the park with coworkers or go for an hour or two after work. It helps me see how my daily work contributes to daily operations and offers a sense of achievement,” she said. She has also enjoyed many other special perks that the company offers. There really is no other place like Disney!
If you’d like to start your career with Hong Kong Disneyland follow this link to check out current opportunities!
