Internships are very important for college students seeking competitive jobs after graduation. They give students an opportunity to gain skills and insight as to what their future careers might be like on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, companies will be pleased to see that potential employees have some experience in their field of study. Internships can provide students with soft skills such as interpersonal communication, public speaking, and leadership.
These are just a few examples of traits that can set students apart from the crowd in a positive way. Depending on the company, internships can be paid or unpaid. Seeking our internships can help increase future career prospects. Here at Sinclair, students can work with Internship Coordinators to get set in the right direction to obtain an internship. They know the requirements associated with various internships, how to apply for them, important deadlines, etc. Sinclair’s requirements for students seeking internships are straightforward – they must have at least a 2.0 GPA and meet the prerequisites of their department.
One opportunity that is available to any Sinclair student is the Disney College Program. Of the approximately 10,000 plus online applications that Disney receives each semester, approximately 3,000 students are chosen to participate in the program each term. If you’re thinking about applying but this statistic discourages you, there’s hope! Since its beginnings at Sinclair in 1992, over 550 of our students have participated in this program. Next year’s spring semester will mark the 25th anniversary! Recruiting for Fall Semester has begun and will continue through mid-March. It is advised that students apply as soon as possible because the number of available positions is limited. The most common positions secured by students are those in merchandise, refreshments, and attractions.
Students interested in this program are required to have what is known as the “Disney look.” This means no visible tattoos or exotic piercings, unless they can be easily removed or covered. Unfortunately, these things do not fall under Disney’s Appearance Standards. Living Locations of the program vary—students may be in Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California. Living arrangements are provided and the cost is deducted from the paychecks so students do not have to be concerned with paying bills each month. According to the DCP website, students are provided with a furnished apartment with access to kitchen appliances and utensils. Utilities and maintenance concerns are taken care of by Disney and other amenities are available, but they differ by location of the apartment.
Due to the size of the program, the majority of internships are at the Orlando location. With four housing options, students may potentially select roommates prior with social media, or be assigned randomly. Access to laundry facilities, pools, gyms, a computer lab and a library are all included.
Students participating in the program have the opportunity to earn college credit for their college while on site. There are a handful of Disney courses that translate to credit for classes here at Sinclair. Examples include courses in Communications, Humanities, Management, and even Engineering. Aside from this internship curriculum, there are opportunities to network and learn from different leaders in Disney while interning. It’s all about how much you want to get out of it. There is a lot of value in talking to mentors who have been in your shoes and can therefore teach you things they have learned from their own experiences.
Upon arrival, participants are given their work assignments and earn money by working throughout the various parks and resorts. Pay varies and direct deposit is available. Aside from weekly pay, students are given benefits at the Disney location they are at. These include, but are not limited to: Disney park admission, discounts at Disney stores and restaurants, access to various seminars, etc.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in, email the Business & Public Services Internship Coordinator, Jessy Jones, at jessy.jones@sinclair.edu before applying. Additionally, students can check out the DCP website cp.disneycareers.com. If you’re interested in an internship but aren’t sure if you want to participate in the Disney College Program, explore your options as a Sinclair student.
The application process consists of completing an online application at www.disneycollegeprogram.com, a web-based interview or personality assessment and a phone interview with a Disney Recruiter. If all goes well, an offer will be made, to which you then accept or decline.
Within the Disney College Program are opportunities for Sinclair students to earn academic credit while interning. Additionally, Sinclair offers a course in which students complete one assignment a week while working in Orlando. Disney University offers plenty of courses, from which Sinclair may award credit for upon returning from your internship!
If you’re looking to apply and want a step up, Disney looks for customer service and leadership experience, at work or in extracurricular activities. Also, maturity is a factor. Individuals who have spent time away from home–in dorms, apartments, or worked summer camps–may be a positive. Experience working with children is a plus. Be sure to list work experience and volunteer experience on the application. Applicants can apply for either Disney World or Disneyland, not both. Only list positions you would ideally accept, know yourself and your work abilities. There’s no use working custodial if you’re uncomfortable with it and so on.
The Disney College Program offers internships every fall (August – December) and spring (January – June) that align well with Sinclair semesters. The application for fall opens in January/February of each year, and the application for spring opens in August/September. Specific dates vary from year to year. Contact information for Sinclair’s Internship Coordinators by Academic Division: Business & Public Services: Jessy Jones, jessy.jones@sinclair.edu Science, Math & Engineering: Chad Bridgman, chad.bridgman@sinclair.edu Liberal Arts, Communications and Social Sciences: Jessica.watters@sinclair.edu
Alex Kennedy
Reporter