I was not planning on giving this its own section, but with the amount of questions I have been getting about it with the 2016 applications I feel I should address this. Yes, that is right everyone we are finally going to be talking about Resumes and Cover Letters.
First thing I will say I am by no means an expert in the Cover Letter/Resume area, but I have done Disney applications enough times to know what generally works and what does not. I also have had wonderful help from my former Managers at Disney to know what they look for and what they prefer not to see. As well as my father who is an executive of a large corporation who looks though enough resumes and cover letters to know what will get someone to stop reading it right away.
How long should the resume be?
The standard is one page in length with the most relevant experience listed on the resume along with skills and education. Some recruiters will not read past a page, so I suggest always stick to the one page. However, if you happened to be a graduate student, which tend to have more experience (especially if applying to MBA or JD only candidates) do the second page if you feel the need to. My overall advice is if you can keep it to a page –do so.
How should I organize my resume?
I feel I should first off say recruiters and hiring managers skim your resume very few actually sit and read it. So knowing that information my suggestion is to put contact information at the very top, educational information (I suggest putting GPA for Disney), followed by work experience. Now as for how to organize work experience the common way is to do most recent first, but my suggestion is to do most relevant first. You have to fill out you job history in order during the application anyway. Keep descriptions short generally bullet pointed with three to four total, since remember this is being skimmed. As for what to put on those bullet points make then quantitative, so the recruiter can see tangible results from your previous work experience.
Quality or Quantity?
This tends to be the every changing problem with resumes since they want you to have enough years of experience yet still meaningful experience. In the end with Disney I have found that quality matters more then the number of previous jobs you have had.
Do not forget work experience is not always the most important thing on the resume sometimes you will get an interview just for having a certain honor society, volunteer experience, or something else that stands out. My first interview from Disney came when I was in no means qualified, but was given a chance simply due to being invited to an undergraduate research council.
Also do not forget to list important skills sometimes it is these skills that set you apart especially for roles like finance. For example putting a resume that you have experience with SAP is going to put you above of someone who just has experience with Excel –remember that skills are important too!
It should also be stated that while having separate resumes for separate applications seems like a generally smart idea –sometimes it is not. Here is why: Disney puts all applications through Casting (aka PI Recruiting), and they only skim resumes. I know you’ll still not understanding the whole picture I’m getting there –this recruiter is then responsible for deciding whether or not you get a general phone screen. Now as stated before the general phone screen applied to all PIs you applied for –eh’ see some of you just understood the problem. If you did not here you go: The recruiter is not going to pull every resume for the phone screen they are going to pull one –yes one resume. This resume they pulled then gets passed on to the hiring manager in the individual departments. My suggestion is first apply to PIs you are qualified for only, and also keep them in similar departments. When you apply for separate departments that are not related (even if qualified) it begins to look like you are applying for the sake of applying –keep your reasons for going to Disney focused it will help you in the long run.
Okay fine I am finally here since I feel I have put this section off long enough –the Cover Letter. Now I want to start off by bolding this very important statement Cover letters are not required. Yes, you read that 100% correctly Disney does not require cover letters for any of their applications unless stated otherwise, and also suggest that you do not write one unless the job description says otherwise. Again yes you read that correct as well Disney during their PI Twitter session stated several times dating back to 2014 do not write them unless the job description says it is needed.
Will not writing a cover letter hurt my chances?
No, unlike a regular job not writing an application will 100% not hurt your chances. It will also not put you above or below any other candidate, since it is not required again unless the job description states otherwise. I will not lie even if you do write one most of the time it is not read by a recruiter, and some hiring managers also do not read them.
Should I make a cover letter for each application?
Again I am going to sound like a broken record –cover letters are not required. As stated above you could spend all this time on a cover letter to have no one at Disney read it at all. However, if you insist on writing one yes you can make them for each application (although the limit is 5), but do not repeat what is on your resume. My suggestion is for this one do it if you applied for separate departments, but if they are all from the same department such as finance then keep it general as to why that department with Disney.
What should I put on a cover letter?
Again do not repeat what is on the resume! This is the time to show why you feel you are the most qualified applicant for the position. A cover letter is about selling and marketing yourself to a company –keep that in mind while writing one.
How long should my cover letter be?
Like the resume my suggestion is to keep it short to ensure if someone by chance does read it they can skim it. So, keep it to about 3-4 paragraphs and less then a page in length.
Who should I address my cover letter to?
This one you are going to get a lot of answers especially from the Facebook group, but my suggestion is use the people who actually read it. Yes, either Disney Recruiter or Disney Hiring Manager since those are the two that actually skim the resume.
As for do I have any last times or words for the wise –yes I do.
Perfect your resume before submitting an application (they do not always read the updated ones)
Spend time on your resume
If you are going to spend more time on a cover letter or resume again choose resume
Do not write a cover letter if it is not required
Little details matter in the resume
Do not forget to list skills/accomplishments
Make resume bullet points quantitative
Remember the limit for the Disney Dashboard is 5 attachments