More Than 300 Veterans Participate in Disney Career Expo as Part of Heroes Work Here

More Than 300 Veterans Participate in Disney Career Expo as Part of Heroes Work Here

 

(May 24, 2012) Hundreds of military heroes returning to civilian life learned valuable interviewing tips and resume writing techniques from Cast Members at Walt Disney World Resort.

Today’s career expo attracted more than 300 new veterans to Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and was part of the Heroes Work Here initiative. Veterans also had the opportunity to attend a special networking session and hear from Disney executives who served in the U.S. Armed Services about transitioning military skill sets into the private sector.

Heroes Work Here reflects The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to provide at least 1,000 jobs and career opportunities for returning U.S. veterans over the next three years. It also includes support of organizations that assist veterans and their families during their transition to civilian life, and the launch of a national public awareness campaign to encourage employers across the U.S. to hire veterans.

In the days just before the expo at Walt Disney World Resort, similar expos in Burbank, Calif., and New York City also attracted hundreds of new veterans and helped them develop job-seeking skills.

With more than one million service members projected to leave the military between 2011 and 2016, the need to support military families with initiatives like Heroes Work Here is growing. New Veterans have proven to be an excellent match when they transition from military service to a career with Disney.

“The military and our company are a close cultural fit. We both believe in honor, integrity, commitment, respect and courage,” said Meg Crofton, president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations U.S. and France. “We believe in teamwork, and we understand that we can accomplish great things together. And we know that, together, we represent an ideal that people around the world love and respect.”

Crofton welcomed veterans to the career expo, reminding attendees The Walt Disney Company was founded by two World War I veterans-Walt Disney and Roy Disney- and love for country and support for the U.S. Armed Forces is a long-standing Disney tradition.

This year approximately 250 veterans have been hired to join various divisions of The Walt Disney Company, including Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, ESPN and Disney Consumer Products.

-- Posted May 24, 2012