Networking....the Disney Way

As a part of the Disney College Program, you don't just get a job with 40+ hours a week of work, but you're also required to take one class per quarter. So summed up, that is two classes per the length of the program.
The class that I'm taking this quarter is called Blended Learning Series. Components of the class are

Walt drawing the original Mickey, with the modern Mickey peeking over.

• Networking and Leadership Excellence      
• Disney Heritage
• Skills & Transition
• Corporate Citizenship
• VoluntEAR Experience 
• Ambassador Interviews 

 The class is only once a week for three hours each. This past week we had a more in depth view on the importance of Networking and what the "Disney Way" of networking is.

The Disney Way 

1. Why make connections

• Career development
• meeting others 
• partnering for efficient work environment
• gathering information for future interests

 2.  Meet and Greets

• be prepared to have a 30 minute conversation
• the conversation is more informational, not a job search
• Identify your objective
• do your research BEFORE the meet and greet
• identify how your interest relates to the individual you are meeting with

What is also very important is to understand what type of formalities to use when networking. If you are at formal marketing event where everyone has the intention to make connections at that moment then be prepared for that. Have a 30 second informational speech prepared as an introduction of yourself to others.
If you are in an informal moment where the connection is being made almost unintentionally then also be aware of that moment and opportunity. Again, it is not a job search, you are just making a connection to keep in touch with in the future.

Also, make sure that your online persona is clean and doesn't have any information you wouldn't want your boss to know about. Remember that your future employers WILL Google you and they do look or specific qualities online. Like:

• Extroversion                                       
• Agreeableness
• Conscientiousness
• Openness to new experiences
• Neuroticism(are you crazy?)

The Walt Disney Company and whatever your future employment at the company is all based on the amount of hard work and good ol' fashion networking you're willing to put in. The opportunities are endless at this company. We, the cast members, place the limitations on ourselves, there is little to nothing standing as a roadblock preventing you from moving onward and upward within the company.

Training....fooooooooooreeeeeveer

So I am one of two people in the Disney college program that is a part of Guest Services at the hotels on property. That is a really big accomplishment that I am constantly reminded of by everyone else in the program that doesn't exactly "love" their job.
The other person that works Guest Services in the program with me is Jude.....hes pretty awesome. He's also my fake husband at work...ya, I have a fake husband at work.

Thats Jude.

I'm not allowed to talk a lot about my job, to preserve the magic of course. So I'll be as detailed as possible with the training and then next week when I have a better handle of working by myself then I'll have a better description of my day to day work life.

The training was so intensive, it was nearly one full month. That's how important our job is. Before I was even allowed to see a guest in my costume I had one week of training backstage. It was 7 days at 8 hours each and basically in that 7 days we had so much information grilled into us. Like the four keys that Disney Stands by.

Safety, Courtesy, Show, Efficiency

The 7 day intensive training was called "Global Lodge Training" and it came with an 80 page notebook to fill in.
-______-

There was also "Traditions," which is the first day of your official work for the Walt Disney Company. they also drill the Four Keys into you there as well s the entire history of the Walt Disney Company. they do this so that we as new Cast Members are able to understand fully why it is that we follow the the Four Keys so deeply. We as Cast Members, believe that in order for Disney to continue to be as successful as it is, we need to fully understand the significance of keeping the "show" going as "efficiently" and "safely" as possible with keeping "courtesy" in mind.

So this week is my first week of work absolutely by myself because I have officially passed all my training and tests. I'll have a better update next week once my hours go from 50+ a week down to hopefully 30-40. Because I am absolutely exhausted!!

Till next week. Here are some more pictures that I could get from Traditions. Again, they arent that detailed so that the "magic" can be protected. Till next time!