How to Get a Job at Disney: Recruiter Tips for Resumes, Interviews & Applications | S3E11
ON THIS EPISODE OF LIFE AT DISNEY
In this episode of the Life at Disney Podcast, we’re doing a deep dive into the recruiting process and answering your questions about applications, interviews and more! Three recruiters share helpful hints, common mistakes and their top pieces of advice for anyone interested in a career at Disney.
MEET OUR GUESTS
Yoshi, Manager, Professional Recruitment, Disney Experiences
Yoshi started his twelve-year long Disney journey on the Disney College Program as a children’s activities host, where he created meaningful experiences for families every day. He later transitioned into a professional internship with the International Recruitment team and his career grew across multiple areas of the recruiting business — including supporting Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Streaming and more. He continues to support a wide range of businesses on the Disney Experiences Professional Recruitment team.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Disney in a way that supports both our people and the evolving priorities of the business, and to continue growing alongside the teams I partner with every day,” Yoshi said.
Marjorie, Senior Recruiter, Enterprise Talent Connection, Corporate
Marjorie brings a background in accounting and finance recruiting. As she got more experience in the recruiting field, she wanted to delve into Human Resources, which brought her to Disney. She shifted into in-house recruiting to focus more on the candidate experience and began her Disney career as a Project Hire in 2021. She’s been recruiting for the Enterprise Talent Connection Team ever since.
“The goal is really to create a thoughtful, well-matched experience for both the candidate and the hiring team,” Marjorie said.
Sevay, Senior Recruiter, Disney Entertainment
Sevay began her career in recruiting with a major move from Istanbul to London — where she joined a creative, digital and marketing agency. She found a dream opportunity when a Turkish-speaking recruiting role opened with Disney, and she took the leap to apply. She’s been with the company for four years and deeply enjoys working in the creative space.
“I’m still here, still growing and still feeling very lucky to be part of it,” Sevay said.
BEGINNING YOUR DISNEY JOURNEY
Everyone knows that for Walt Disney, it all started with a mouse.
But how can you take the first steps towards a career at Disney? According to our recruiters, it looks a little different for everyone.
The hiring process typically begins behind the scenes, when hiring leaders identify a need and partner with a recruiter to define a role, align on expectations and form a hiring strategy. The opportunity is then posted on the Disney Careers website, where candidates can explore and apply.
“A strong application starts with the basics: updated contact information, clear experience and relevant skills,” Marjorie said.
While those elements are all key to being considered for a Disney role, Sevay says there are soft skills that candidates should also bring into the work environment.
“Success at Disney is about more than just doing your job well — it’s also about how you show up,” Sevay said. “At the heart of it, Disney is a place where values really matter. So whether you’re working in recruitment, marketing, production or finance, being someone who leads with integrity, embraces creativity, works well with others and values inclusion is incredibly important.”
DEMYSTIFYING THE HIRING PROCESS
After updating and clarifying your resume, filling out the application and clicking “submit,” what happens next? That’s where the recruiters’ job comes in.
Candidates who align most with the role will be invited to a recruiter screen, which is typically a virtual conversation to learn more about their background, interests and experience.
When a recruiter believes the candidate could fit the role, they’re advanced to the interview stage with the hiring team.
“Teams want to understand how a candidate may contribute to the overall team dynamic,” Yoshi said. “This goes beyond simply fitting in and focuses on how someone collaborates, approaches challenges and adds value to the culture of the team.”
Sevay advises not to prepare a word-for-word script for an interview, but to focus on stories or examples that show a candidate’s value.
“Think about a few situations from your experience that show different strengths, such as solving a problem, influencing a stakeholder, dealing with a challenge, working across teams or learning from a setback,” Sevay said.
Don’t forget to ask meaningful questions, stay engaged in the conversation and send a follow-up thank you message to your interviewer!
A "NO" COULD BE A "NOT YET"
Positions at Disney can be highly competitive, and sometimes it simply comes down to timing and specific business needs at that moment.
When facing a “no,” our recruiters emphasize not to become discouraged and to take it as a “not yet.”
“It’s a good opportunity to think about whether there are skills they can continue building or areas where they can keep growing,” Marjorie said.
Sevay recommends staying connected with the recruiter and keeping a close eye on the Disney Careers site to apply again in the future.
Staying proactive and asking for feedback from the recruiter or interviewer can also help candidates see success on applications and interviews down the line.
#1 PIECE OF ADVICE
Yoshi: Stay persistent and believe in your path
“If Disney is where you see yourself, don’t let a “not right now” discourage you from continuing to pursue that goal,” Yoshi said. “One outcome doesn’t define your future here.”
Marjorie: Just keep swimming
“Don’t give up,” Marjorie said. “Take in the feedback, keep learning and trust that the right role can come at the right time.”
Sevay: Be intentional
“Take the time to understand the role, understand the business area and be clear about why you are a strong fit for it,” Sevay said. “Let your personality come through. Skills and experience matter, of course, but so does how you communicate, how you think and how you connect with people.”
Like what you heard? Subscribe to the Life at Disney podcast and follow Disney Careers for more stories, tips and insights from the recruiters, creators and teams shaping careers across The Walt Disney Company.
