Love games? Want to write about them? Joystiq's hiring!
by Vladimir Cole 
{ Oct 26th 2005 at 12:45PM }
We're looking to hire another dedicated blogger to join
the Joystiq team. If you're good, we'll pay you, shower
you with game products to be reviewed like
yesterday, invite you along to trade shows,
involve you in podcasting, and of course extract oodles of great writing about video games out of you. It's all in a
day's work, and every moment of it is fun for the right person.
Interested? Keep reading.
Were looking for:
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Demonstrated passion for games
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Solid writing ability
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Ability to write under deadline
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Prolificacy
We also require that you:
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Possess a fast computer (a laptop is supergreat) and a fast, reliable Internet connection
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Have the software and knowledge to create and manipulate photos and screenshots
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Know (basic) bloggers HTML
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Are eligible to work, wherever youre writing from
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Are reachable (cell, multiple IM services, Skype, etc)
Heres how to apply. Send joystiq.applications+OCT05@gmail.com an email including:
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A subject line including your full name
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Your city and state
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Your email address
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Your daytime and evening phone numbers (Skype or Gizmo Project are fine)
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Your AOL IM and Yahoo IM addresses
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The consoles you currently own
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A cover letter telling us why youre the right blogger for the job
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A sample review of no more than 700 words on Redline Rumble or (the trial version of) Diner Dash
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Two more writing samples of yours on the topic of games and in the style of a typical Joystiq post
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Three links to posts on this blog that you feel best exemplify the sort of content we want here
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Three suggestions for how to improve Joystiq
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Your nomination for the best game of 2005, and why you chose that game.
Well only consider complete applications. After weve narrowed the field to half a dozen or so candidates, well call each one to talk in more detail about the gig. Due to the expected volume of applications, we cannot respond to each and every application, but we do thank every applicant for considering joining the team.
Update: we are completely blown away by the quality of the applications that we are getting in. Outstanding! This is going to be a very tough decision to make, but remember that we will periodically grow the team or hire replacements as we lose people to World of Warcraft.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bryan Young @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Ill try to join. I love this site
Leomar @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Man if only I wasn't moving I could so get this job.
Kyle @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
If only I had a laptop, or high speed internet, otherwise that would be great
Angelo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
When is the deadline for submissions?
Coleman Beasley @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Does it matter where you live?
Jon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
If only I wasn't working already. Do you have a part time position?
Rymix @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
I'd love to, but I have so much time and so little to do with it.
Wait! Reverse that.
Ludwig @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Are international applications being accepted?
The1 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Sounds interesting.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Answers to questions so far:
Q: Does it matter where you live?
A: No. You just need to be eligible to work ... which generally means you need to have all of your necessary papers and must not be a minor.
Q: Do you have part-time positions?
A: Blogging can be done at any time. None of the Joystiq bloggers are 9-to-5 full timers.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Q: What's the deadline for submission?
A: No deadline, but as in all employment applications, the early bird gets the worm.
Austin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Question: Do we review the trial of Diner Dash or do we have to get the full version for review?
32_Footsteps @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Okay, a few questions I have:
1) Would I have to step down from my other site due to conflict of interest? (If not, I will run under the assumption that I wouldn't link to it.)
2) Would this be a full-time wage? I sadly can't afford a part-time position at this time.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Q: Do we review the trial of Diner Dash or do we have to get the full version for review?
A: Trial version, though if you love the game and want to keep playing it, no reason not to spring for the full version.
Shabran @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Is this post only open to US-Nationals or from Europe aswell....as i am located in London...THANK YOU
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Q: Can I apply from Europe?
A: Yes. One of our team members is already in UK, and I'm sure he'd love some company across the pond.
Austin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Another quick question about the review:
What sort of style are you guys going for with these? I get the scoring system and what it's based on, but I'm not sure if you want more of a hard-edged Cnet type review:
SOUND: 7.5
Blah blah sound blah music.
MULTIPLAYER: 4.5
Blee blah bloh blah 32 people bloh blee bleh connection errors.
Or would you be going for a more relaxed style, similar to your everyday posts but with a score at the end? I'm guessing the latter, but I thought I'd ask to be sure.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Austin: the latter! We don't want a score for each component.
Austin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
VC: Good! I enjoy reading/writing those more!
lightdarkness @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
VC: You say you must not be a minor, but a minor does vary from state to state. I'm 17 and a resident of NY, do you say minor in the term of "We don't want little kids writing for us" or do you actually mean "You must be 18 or older to apply"
Thanks.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Lightdarkness: I just mean that you should be legally eligible to work according to whatever rules govern employment.
Dan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Of course you would do this now, instead of three-months from now when I'll actually have the time...
John @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
I would apply.
But Im pretty young. Other than that, I have excellent writing ability and an extreme passion for games. I was valedictorian of my graduating class.
I want to build up some experiance first.
If Joystiq wants me to just write some posts from day to day, Ill do it for sure, but a full time job is too much.
MosquitoControl @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
I've been meaning to send an application, now that you're openly soliciting them I suppose waiting was a good idea.
I haven't written specifically about games, but hopefully my background will come in handy.
jc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
I would like to apply, but unfortunately it would take away from my time looking at this site (and making snide comments).
Sounds like it would be a blast tho.
Care to share with us how much you make? ;)
Sean C. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
How do you prefer the application be sent? All in the body of an email? Do you prefer MS Word Document? HTML? I wanna aim to please with my submission. ;)
Austin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
How long are you taking applications? I'd love to get mine in today, but I might have to wait til tomorrow.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
No deadline on apps. The longer you wait, the lower your chances, of course.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Format: any format is OK. Just so long as it's easy to read.
XanderC @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Okay...just a couple of quick questions.
What exactly would the blogger do if he/she was accepted? Just go to the events and blog about them, and on normal days just make a few posts if anything interesting comes up? Or would there be a quota of stories that had to be posted? etc.
Furthermore, I am pretty sure that I am eligible for employment...but I am 15. Would you toss my application based on that fact alone?
Junshin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
XanderC : I'm no lawyer, but I'm fairly certain that your age legally limits you from MANY jobs (though I don't know where you live so I coudn't be certain). I'm not sure to what extant, but I'm fairly positive you'd be harshly limited in how long you could work during the school year if nothing else. You may want to do some research on this first.
OtakuCODE @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
It would be nice to know a wage range. Would it be either possible or necessary to hold a full-time job in addition to the work of writing for Joystiq? Are submissions submitted and then released onto the Joystiq page at a certain interval, or are they posted up soon after submission? What I'm getting at, is would someone be able to work a full time job during the day then write for Joystiq in the evenings? If so, do you space out when submissions are posted to prevent lots of your bloggers from doing such a thing?
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
What does a blogger do? Posts about 100 items to the blog per month at a rate of about 4-6 items per day. All of the current Joystiq bloggers have full time jobs or are full time students, though if someone really wanted to make a full-time gig out of it, there are many opportunities within Joystiq and our sister blogs for lots, lots more work.
Posts are compensated on a per-post basis.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
And yes -- we have a coordinated publishing schedule so that posts are spaced out appropriately. Some of our writers write ONLY in the evenings.
Elyscape @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
I'm tempted to do this, but I am presently not legally allowed to work for pay (without some funky thing from my school). Come August, though, I'm home free.
My question is this: would it be possible for me to become a member of the team (assuming that I am accepted) and just remain unpaid for a year? And, if not, how long will this offer remain available? That is, would I be able to wait until August to apply?
renderfarmer @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
I'm a minor, but I'd have no problem cranking out reviews (though cranking is such a harsh word...) during days with school (i.e. everyday).
Though I'm thinking my application would be tossed. No?
Probably.
Still, I'd love to do it. Pff, I'd do it for free.
XanderC @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
"I'm no lawyer, but I'm fairly certain that your age legally limits you from MANY jobs (though I don't know where you live so I coudn't be certain)."
I live in Florida...and I'm pretty sure I can apply for MOST jobs, but can't use knives, can only work limited hours, etc. But, as you said, I DO need to do more research(I'll do it tonight I guess).
Junshin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
XanderC : Florida hunh?
You could always ask Jack Thompson? ;)
PhogHawk @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
You'll be wanting this in the Dingbats font, correct?
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Wingdings2 48-point font plz thxu~
Yakuza @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
XanderC, I live in the same state, I think we could apply for some jobs, depending on the employer. Don't quote me on that though.
Tamo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
What I would like to know is:
1)What is the pay?
2)How many posts do we have to make or what other tasks would a Joystiq blogger have to do?
3)Is work time flexible to my school time?
Since I am a full time student, I would need some time for homework and class so it would be nice to know how much is demanded out of a blogger
Ludwig @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Phew, I just sent mine in. I hope I didn't come off as a complete psychopath. :)
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Pay is discussed privately.
The rest of your questions are already answered above.
Cilrider @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
*phew*
After spending 4 hours compiling everything I just sent in my application. I'm so nervous and yet ever so excited. But I had a thrill filling it out. Thanks again Joystiq! You guys are the best.
Mark Korsak @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Wow I sent in my application a couple of hours ago and it was crazy. Like 1700 words altogether or somethin from the review, the game of 05, and the why im right for the job. I almost went over the review limit, it was like 690 somethin words lol. The whole application took like 2 hours and 45 min or somethin, with like a small 15 min breather, and that included time to play that driving game I had to review. Wow I need a job so bad and this would be perfect for me lol. I am in dire need of a job, and with all my game knowledge...
one question: can you tell us what the pay is?
Nathan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Heh, I'm stupidly over-qualified for this. I wrote reviews and new stories for Gamesages.com (1998-2001) before IGN shut them down. Man I hate IGN.
striegs @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Pay questions, eh? No, you won't have to pay to blog for us. Your immortal soul is all we ask for.
So you say you're overqualified? If that's the case, you will be forced to play Superman 64 without reprieve until you learn deference for your new lords and masters. Actually, this will be mandatory anyway. You think that's harsh? Just wait until Vlad busts out his "Pong Paddle."
"Please sir, may I play another?"
Mr Shoosh @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
Sooooo bloggers will be "showered with game products to be reviewed" eh?? *clicks linked text* "None of the Joystiq bloggers keep products we review". You really are just after our souls eh? Mine's at the dry cleaner's at the moment but I'll get back to you...
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM
When you shower, do you keep the water? Or does it go down the drain? Yeah, some analogies are not meant to be taken that far... but... products are only for REVIEW, not for personal enrichment.