I applied online. The process took 4 months. I interviewed at ESPN (Bristol, CT) in Apr 2016
Interview
I applied for a PA job in January by filling everything out online. I didn't hear from them until March when I got a call from a recruiter. She told me all about the job and asked me basic questions about my resume and roles in sports media. She then scheduled a a phone interview for me that was a few days after with a PA manager. This interview was more in depth, asking me about my experiences, but also random sports questions. I didn't hear back from them for weeks. Finally I got a miss call and voice mail from the recruiter saying they wanted to fly me out to Bristol for an in-person interview in two weeks. I called back right away, but it went to VM. I tried this again several times the next few days and weeks, emails too. Finally I give up and was about to take a reporter position at a station in Oregon. Mind you, this is now about a month after that VM...I got a call saying they're flying me out in three days. So I dropped everything and went. At the HQ, I interviewed with about six different people from ESPN, from different departments. I also had to do social media, video editing and writing exercises too while there. A long day, but everyone was super nice. The hardest part for me was admitting to them I want to be a reporter and work my way up at ESPN and them telling me that'll pretty much happen if I take this PA job... that I need to start on-air at a local TV station. In the end, I think I didn't get the job because of this.
The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at ESPN in Jan 2015
Interview
My interview experience for the CAP Program included 2 over the phone interviews, a written assignment, and an in-person "car wash".
The 1st interview was your standard interview with HR, discussing my resume and going into detail about my experience. The 2nd over-the-phone interview included a sports knowledge quiz -- they will ask you anything and everything about sports, NFL, NBA, NHL, College FB & BB, WWE, UFC, boxing, motor sports, cricket, rugby, soccer, etc.
They then had me critique SportsCenter (SC) in a written assignment -- essentially stating what you like, don't like, would change, and any ideas to make it better.
Next is what they call the "car wash" -- they fly you to HQ in Bristol and you meet with several different people in different departments. There is 1) a highlight section (you watch part of a game and create a SC highlight for that game, write a shot sheet (script that the anchors read to describe the highlight) and log the game. You'll work with an editor to make your vision for the highlight come to life 2) a production section where you are asked to pretend you are the Producer of SC and pick 3 stories you would lead the show with. 3) a social production interview with a member of the social media team 4) an interview with a former member/manager of the CAP to talk about your experiences (much like the phone interview) and 5) a meeting with HR.
Interview questions [2]
Question 1
Pitch a segment for SportsCenter. What talent/analyst would you invite on the program? What graphics/full screens/ visual aids would you create?
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at ESPN (Taunton, MA) in Feb 2015
Interview
Started with a phone interview, very by the book, questions were easy, straightforward, I was very in experienced in being a PA so I was not offered the job but I had a great time interviewing with the Hiring Manager.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Have you ever watched any of our 30 for 30 programs?