Hi hi hi Females of Filadelphia readers, as I always say: another Sunday, another Story! Before I start talking about today’s spotlight, I want to remind you to check out last week’s blog about love, relationships and advice.
Today’s spotlight is absolutely remarkable and I would know because I had classes with her during my time at Temple. She is extremely hard-working, detail-oriented, and kind. Emily puts her all into everything she does and I believe she is an example for everyone to follow. And she already has a full-time position (before graduating), has held various internships, and is currently participating in the Disney College Program. Learn more about Emily below!
DISCLAIMER: All opinions stated in this piece are the views of Emily Patrizio and do not reflect the views of The Walt Disney Company or Mercer LLC.
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BIO
- Name: Emily
- School: Temple University
- Year: Senior
- Major: Human Resource Management
About DCP
V: Tell me a bit about the Disney College Program; especially for anyone who may not know anything about it?
E: The Disney College Program is a five to seven month program in which college students gain experience working at Walt Disney World and Disneyland’s parks and resorts.
V: And why did you decide to do it?
E: I decided to do it since I was ahead with my coursework in school and it was my last semester before I started working full time. I heard about it from my aunt, who participated in the college program as a performer in the 1990s.
V: Wait, that is actually really cute! What about the program did you think fit into your short or long term plans? Just thinking about why other students could be interested in this program.
E: In the short term, it has allowed me to spend a semester of school working for a Fortune 100 company which looks great on a resume. In the long term, it will help me as I transition into my career as a HR Consultant at Mercer. I will have gained valuable customer service, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.
V: What do you think has been your favorite part, thus far?
E: My favorite experience has been my job. I am a Character Attendant, which means I get to facilitate the magic between guests and characters by facilitating storytelling, autographs, and photos. I have worked with characters such as Chip and Dale, Pluto, Mickey, Minnie, The Incredibles, Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and more!
Intern to Full-Time
V: I always wondered how I could get to do that job! That sounds awesome, though, I’m glad you have gotten the opportunity to work at such a magical place. Switching gears real quick… tell me about your internship that turned into a full-time position. What did you do in the internship and what will your full-time position consist of?
E: I worked as a Career (HR) Consultant at Mercer as an intern during the summer of 2019. I will continue working on the Career team, and we touch on topics such as compensation packages, HR transformation projects, and HR technology solutions. I am excited to return to the Philadelphia office full-time in July!
V: That’s incredible. I think a lot of students really dream of having their internship role turn into a full-time gig. But what do you think has gotten you this far? For example, how were you able to maximize your academic experience (whether in the classroom, during clubs, etc.) to land the opportunities you have gotten thus far? What sort of advice do you have for students to get as much out of college as you? Sorry, I know this is a long question.
E: I took my academic experience very seriously because I realized it was an investment. When the coursework got overwhelming, I reminded myself of the end goal and kept pushing forward. The best advice I can give to students is to work harder than anyone else in the room. That will help you stand out as a student and as an intern, which leads to outstanding opportunities. Additionally, network as much as you can! As someone who has worked in HR, I can attest that while resumes are important, it is your passion and personality that will make you stand out from other candidates.
V: That’s truly amazing advice, and I believe in it wholeheartedly. Sometimes you have to work 2x or 3x as hard to get the things you want, but it is totally worth it.
Thank you so so much Emily for taking the time to do this; I know someone got some valuable advice. Wishing you the best of luck as you continue maximizing your opportunities.
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Outro
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