Editor’s note: Front Row’s Intern Chronicles series showcases ESPN’s summer interns. This final installment for 2013 is written by Communications Intern Jordan Thomas.
ESPN’s Summer Internship Program has come to a close. The interns are preparing for another year of school. Most are seniors headed for May 2014 graduation. Some are underclassmen.
Many interns have one common interest – to receive a full-time offer from ESPN. We spoke with three former interns who became ESPN employees.
Rosalyn Durant, VP, College Sports Programming, 1998 Affiliate Sales & Marketing Intern
What does it take to be successful?
Hard work goes without saying. You have to work hard, that’s the cost of admission. I’ve also seen that great ideas are rewarded, so you have to have lots of them. They don’t all work. They’re not all implemented, but I find that they are appreciated. I also think that it’s important for me to think beyond my day-to-day. You have to be creative and willing to take some risks and not just come in and go through the motions.
How would you define your impact here?
Part of what I try to do is help make any committee or position that I’m in better. I try to leave a role better than when I came into it. If I’m going to be on a committee, I would like to have that committee think bigger and ask bold questions. So, I would like to believe that my impact is twofold. First, I bring bigger ideas and encourage big conversations and risk-taking. And secondly, I try to make the people around me better.
Stephen McDonald, Coordinator, Customer Service & Social Media, 2008 Games & Partnerships Intern
How would you describe your internship experience?
My internship experience here was definitely the best I’ve ever had. I did a number of internships when I was in college. I interned with Sporting News, which was great. I learned a lot and met a lot of really great people.
With my internship at ESPN, I always felt like I was part of the team. I was thrown in right away doing real stuff. Part of my job was to develop the first IPhone game for ESPN, so I was responsible for going out and selecting game developers to create the app.
Why do you think ESPN decided to extend you the full-time offer?
I think what separated me from others is the experience that I gained from college. I did the internship with Sporting News. I was heavily involved with our TV station at Ithaca College. I was a field reporter and I anchored our weekly sports show. I also did my internship here and built a strong network at ESPN and with Ithaca alumni.
Mike Soltys, VP, Domestic Networks, 1980 Communications Intern
As the original ESPN intern, what’s your advice to others who would like to work at ESPN?
Be patient and be focused. Make sure you get the right experience before coming here because it’s very competitive to get your foot in the door. And once you get your foot in the door, make the most of the opportunity.
For more on ESPN’s Internship Programs, click here.
