Has anyone been contacted by ESPN?

[Hoopsfan23]

As I'm sure many of you have done, I routinely check the ESPN jobs site to look for any new openings. Of course its a long shot to work for the Worldwide Leader but I figured I would give it a shot. In the past six months, I have been contacted by them twice in regards to job openings. If you aren't aware, they make you take a couple tests to test your sports knowledge. Unfortunately, I passed one and just missed the cut for the second test. And as companies say, they said they would keep my resume on file if anything esle opens up in the future.

So is this a joke, or has anyone else got a call from ESPN. And if so, what do I need to do to work in Bristol beacuse I would work for them in a heartbeat. Hell, I could be Stuart Scott's paperboy and I would jump at the opportunity. OK, that was a bit extreme.

 

[audreyld]

Do you by any chance sell knives?

 

[sportsed]

I suppose it would depend upon what the position is and whether your skills fit the job requirements. If you're applying for a jack-of-all-trades position, you'll be expected to have a high sports IQ across all sports. If it's a position within a specific department, say NFL or MLB, you'd be expected to know that sports inside and out. The vetting process to become a Production Assistant at ESPN is exacting. It's pretty much the same for those interested in jobs in the Research and Data departments, too.

 

[RedCanuck]

Someone who actually wants to work for ESPN here? You see something new every day.

 

[ondeadline]

Well, don't you sometimes get tired of working in journalism?

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

I'm impressed no one dropped the obligatory "This thread will not end well."

 

[slappy4428]

I'm impressed no one dropped the obligatory "This thread will not end well."

we're on a diet and trying to cut back...

 

[Flood]

Question 1: What is the proper spelling for this popular ESPN buzz word?

a) booya
b) booyah
c) booyeah
d) boo-yah
e) ESPN does not use this word

 

[jfs1000]

I would probably work at ESPN. You see the newspaper market in Connecticut recently?

 

[RedCanuck]

I might be tempted to work there for the money.

 

[philly fanatic]

I'm glad someone started this topic because I was wondering whether these jobs were real too.
I have applied to more than 100 newspapers in the past two years -- trying to move up to a bigger shop. And I have not received a single phone interview.
On the other hand, I have been contacted by ESPN twice to take tests.
Though I did not get either position, it was nice to see what ESPN's tests are like.

 

[SportsDude]

You have to take a sports test? Is it all Boston questions or what? How in the hell did Simmons pass?

 

[jambalaya]

Blatant threadjack...

How common is it to be tested for general sports knowledge? I've had three jobs and none gave sports tests. One other job, for a PT gig at the Westchester NY paper, required a sports test. But that's all I've ever heard about.
Anyone with more insight?

 

[chazp]

Question 1: What is the proper spelling for this popular ESPN buzz word?

a) booya
b) booyah
c) booyeah
d) boo-yah
e) ESPN does not use this word

Threadjack: I had a correspondent last year that used "booyah," in a prep football gamer twice. I edited it out. I explained to him sportscenter lingo does not belong in newspaper stories. I told him a few things I liked about his gamer, but reminded him to leave out the sportscaster catch phrases. The next week, he e-mails a gamer with phrases like, "receiver x made a ridiculous 58-yard catch," and "cornerback so-and-so returned the interception 91 yards. Are you kidding me?" Needless to say, that was the last gamer he wrote for us.

 

[donaugust]

Needless to say, that was the last gamer he wrote for us.

Sadly, many people don't even get the hint after being fired.

 

[Flood]

Question 1: What is the proper spelling for this popular ESPN buzz word?

a) booya
b) booyah
c) booyeah
d) boo-yah
e) ESPN does not use this word

Threadjack: I had a correspondent last year that used "booyah," in a prep football gamer twice. I edited it out. I explained to him sportscenter lingo does not belong in newspaper stories. I told him a few things I liked about his gamer, but reminded him to leave out the sportscaster catch phrases. The next week, he e-mails a gamer with phrases like, "receiver x made a ridiculous 58-yard catch," and "cornerback so-and-so returned the interception 91 yards. Are you kidding me?" Needless to say, that was the last gamer he wrote for us.

Hey, that kid can work for ESPN! He got it.

The answer is B.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

No, but I believe they're tapping my phone.

 

[ondeadline]

Blatant threadjack...

How common is it to be tested for general sports knowledge? I've had three jobs and none gave sports tests. One other job, for a PT gig at the Westchester NY paper, required a sports test. But that's all I've ever heard about.
Anyone with more insight?

I've only interviewed with one paper that gave me a general-knowledge sports test in addition to the normal copyediting test.

 

[jgmacg]

No, but I believe they're tapping my phone.

If you think it's bad now, just wait until 2012 and the rollbackbackback of personal freedoms under the first Berman administration.

 

[Ace]

Seriously, did they call you out of the blue? Did you apply and they got back to you? Would you have to work in Bristol?