Have you ever considered working at Walt Disney World over college? Fernanda Caseiro Talarico did, and in 2013, while studying International Relations, went to the United States to experience this magic place. There, she had the opportunity to work in the amusement parks, to improve her English, get discounts in the parks and that’s when she realized that she wanted to work with entertainment for the rest of her life.
Name: Fernanda Caseiro Talarico
Major: Journalism
Year: 2020
What did you work with before going to Disney?
I was a trainee in Human Relations at MasterCard, then worked as a trainee in events at Cartoon Network. Right now, I still work with events, but at Livraria Cultura.
How long did you work at Disney?
For three months.
What did influence you to work there?
Since I started college, in 2012, I knew that there was a program at Disney, the ICP (International College Program), but because it was the second semester, I could only sign in the year after, in 2013. I saw the program as an opportunity to improve my English fluency, to live in the United States and to work at the biggest entertainment company in the world.
How does the application process work?
To work at Disney, first I had to visit the travel agency (STB), where I had a lecture and an interview. After that, I had another lecture and another interview with Disney’s Human Resources, where everyone was foreign. In the interview they asked me what I would like to learn, my qualities and flows, if we would like to live with international people and things like that. The first interview was in pairs and the second, individually. For the lectures, we learned all kinds of jobs they have at Disney, the parks and about the program itself.
Did you have the opportunity to choose your job? How was it?
In the interview, they asked me what I’d like to do there, and I said that it would be nice to work with “Attractions and Operations”. Apparently they thought that my profile fit the requirements for the post, because I got it. At Disney I worked in three stations at Fantasyland, in Magic Kingdom, at Prince Charming’s Carousel, at Pillarmagic (4D movie) and at Princess Fairytale Hall, where visitors can meet the princesses.
Where did you live while you were there?
I lived in a condominium with people that worked at Disney, and I shared my room with another Brazilian girl.
Did you have any specific requirements or unusual rules?
There was this time when an old lady started arguing with me because I had to move her grandson’s stroller that was in front of an emergency exit. I did it because Disney has lots of safety measures, and even though she was screaming at me, I had to keep my face still and put a smile on my face while doing it. We also had a bomb threat once, and our duty was to get everybody out of the park without telling them the reason for that. In the end, it was just an abandoned backpack.
Did you have a previous training?
Yes! We had a week and a half of training, then a final test in the end. I had get accepted to start working there.
Were there any problems because you have a tattoo?
No! When I went there, I had only one tattoo and my uniform covered it. They actually accept people with lots of tattoos, but they need to be covered somehow, like with makeup or clothing.
How was the experience to work in the largest multinational company in the world?
It was amazing. They respect the employees a lot and this should be an example for all the companies in the world. If they think that you did something wrong, they will ask you, and they will always listen to your version of the story to understand what happened. Benefits like discounts and free tickets to the parks where a plus.
How did this experience change your career?
Before working at Disney, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with my life. When I was working there, I could feel that I was part of the company, I’d wake up every day, tired and sleepy, but I’d think: “alright, I work at Disney!”. After this experience, I realized that I wanted to have this feeling for the rest of my life, no matter where I work. That’s why I thought I would like to work with cultures/entertainment, and I thought that Journalism could help me to get there.
What was the best thing you learned at Disney?
Punctuality and to always do the right things.
Which advices would you give to someone who wants to work there?
Go! It’s going to be the best experience of your life.