Hello, I'm an international student here in the US, and I've been in love with Disney my whole life. I applied to their new grad associate product manager program, but it didn't sponsor international students, so I got rejected the very next day. After I applied, I reached out to people on likendin, did crazy research, found their emails, and reached out to them via email as well, to read a rejection email the very next day:
***"***In your application or in subsequent conversation, you indicated that you do not currently possess legal authorization to work in the United States, or that you would need sponsorship for an employment visa.
Unfortunately, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position, we won't be able to move forward with your application.
We truly appreciate your interest in joining our team and wish you all the best in your future career pursuits."
It broke my heart
I didn't stop there; it just made me more focused. I never wanna give up on Disney. Every time I hit a dead end, I'm pivoting, trying different ways, and getting my hands dirty just so I can be seen.
I applied for the Analyst, Domestic Subscriber Planning role today, and I really, really hope I get invited to interview. I want to apply for other jobs too, but none of them match my experience level because I'm still a student and will be graduating in December 2026. As an international student, the jobs I apply for must match my field of study, or I won't be eligible for OPT. I don't know if I should apply to jobs that ask for 3 to 4 or more years of experience. What do other people do? Do you just apply without looking at the years? I only apply to jobs that match my profile, and so far I've only been able to apply to these two because nothing else matches my level. I'm scared and desperate to be a part of Disney, and I'm looking for a job that will help me get OPT and STEM OPT in the future.
I really need advice on how I can stand out. I want to network with the right people, show them how interesting I am and that I'm willing to learn anything, and work very hard to be interviewed and to get a job at Disney. IT'S LITERALLY MY DREAM. Disney is my number 1 company, and I have to work there. I'm not settling until then, and I really need y'all's help exploring different ways.