Informational Interview

The purpose of this information interview was to going knowledge about the fields of work that I would like to be going into from an expert of every field. It was a great way to find out the steps that I need to take to go into the correct field and guarantee that it will bring me happiness. I took it as a great opportunity to get my foot in the door and speak about what I would like to do in the future and possibly have the opportunity to work with my contacts company. Like they say, “It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know”.

The Contact

· Title/Position: CEO

· Company: Small Construction Companies

Questions about the Contact

I asked my contact numerous questions in order for me to gain knowledge about his field of work and how he got to where he is today. He was really genuine with his answers because he is passionate about what he does for a living and the company has plenty of values that are vital to their success. I know how hard of a worker that he has been (because I have known him for about ten years) and he has always told me that “hard work always beats talent when talent fails to work hard”. Some questions that we touched on were…

What major did you chose and why did you feel this suited you the best?

How did you get to where you are today?

Why did you choose the company that you did?

“I chose to get my Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering because I saw this as something that I would be best at. It was always something that excited me to learn about and something that I could manage just fine. I did not know that one day I would become the CEO of a company but I was able to work hard throughout the years with people who really enjoyed working with me and I enjoyed working with them. In the beginning, I worked my way up to become the president of the company. After years of helping run that company well, I moved on to APi and it has been nothing short of amazing since. When I picked Jamar as my first job, I looked at what they valued as a company. Value is one of the biggest components that lead me down the path to take that job because they put their employees first and that’s how all companies should work. If you do not value your employees, then the company is just seen as greedy and that is the last thing I would want to be seen as.”

Questions about Communications Practices and Writing

Could you please describe the typical kinds of writing you do and tell me a bit about each?

“I take a lot of notes as writing while we are in meetings. After I have taken the notes from each meeting, I go back to my office and put it all together to see how we can be more efficient and productive in the certain areas of discussion that we met about that day. I receive many emails per day, ones of which that are urgent and I need to respond to right away, and ones of which that can be handled in the future. One must be careful when using email though because it can be tricky. There are plenty of coworkers who you do not need to be professional with and there are a lot of clients who you need to make sure to be professional with. It takes good judgement within yourself to make sure that you communicate in the best manner that is possible in the workplace.”

What do you find most challenging about your day-to-day writing? What challenges do recent graduates face as they move from “academic writing” to “workplace writing”?

“Well, I would say that we covered the most challenging part about my day-to-day writing in that you must make sure who you need to and who you do not need to be professional with when constructing certain emails. I would have to say the most challenging thing that graduates face when making the transition is understanding your audience. In college, you are most likely just writing a paper for your professor. When you are writing in the workplace is that everybody communicates and understands/learns differently so it is important that messages are written in a way that everybody will get the core of the message.”

How would you describe the balance between written and oral communication in your workplace?

“In my opinion, I think that people are getting very used to sitting behind screens and communicating with one and other. This is a lot less personable which makes it more difficult to get your message across and it may take a long time to finally get a response when things may be urgent. When talking on the phone, you can communicate well by using different tones of voice to help give off the vibe that you need to. I think that communicating in person is the strongest sense of communication because you are there as a whole, both physically and mentally. This helps to create the best bond you can possibly make with the person who you need to get your message across too.”

Questions seeking Advice for you

What is the one skill that you would say contributes best to a person going in to any profession?

“The one skill that I have always kept on the top of my list is hard work. You cannot afford to take an off day because there will always be someone out there working the hardest that they possibly can. You never want to have any regrets in life, so this is one way to assure you that when you look back and ask yourself a question, you can say that you made sure to give it your best effort no matter how difficult the situation was.”

How do I know that my major is the right one for me?

“Well, there is a job for everybody. You will find the job for you that will bring you the happiness that you are searching for. I know from experience that the first job you have will not be the job that you will have forever. You have to go through an obstacle course of trying new ways to get to the position that best suits you. My journey has been extremely rewarding and I have made the best of every opportunity that has been given to me to learn about my trade and continue growing into the best person I could be for the job.”

What is the best way that I can get my foot in the door?

“One great thing that will set yourself apart from others will be the experience that you have gained from previous jobs within your certain profession. Internships are the best way to do so and you can get these internships by making sure to keep your grades up and excelling in the classes that matter the most. Once you have applied to one, give the HR department or the manager a call so they will know who you are before they see your name coming across their desk. It is great to already have had that conversation so they will know your name and your intentions.”

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Overall, I was able to come away from this information interview with a smile on my face and a lot more knowledge about what might suit me best in my future. My contact was able to give me great advice about what I should do in the future and how I should go at it to ensure that I will be set up for a successful future in my profession. I am hoping to reconnect with him in the future to talk about possible opportunities that I may have with his company.

Related posts:

There are numerous non-profit organizations that seek to make a difference in the world. Their main goal is always to inspire and encourage acts that help in solving a specific issue. The best way to…

When people talk about the blockchain, they always remember banks and fintech. Which is not surprising — they are making the headlines. However, today everything is rapidly changing as all industries…

From the concept of the American Dream featured in self-development classics such as Think & Grow Rich and The Power of Positive Thinking to the New Age thinking and positive psychology in books such…