Work & Learn: Interview a Working Professional

Instructions

The purpose of this exercise is to help you understand a bit more about the workforce to set you up for success when you graduate. The goal when you graduate from Ivy Tech is for you to succeed in a high$-$demand, high$-$paying job. In order to do that, it is valuable to get hands$-$on knowledge regarding the business profession that you want to pursue while you are still in the learning environment. This will provide a foundation of knowledge and insight so that you will be better prepared when you start your career.

In this exercise, choose a career field in business that is of interest to you. You will be contacting someone within the field and conducting an interview with them with the questions listed below. You will need to determine who you want to interview, contact the individual, and set up an appointment with them. The first set of questions is focused on business law specifically and how it is integrated into different types of businesses. The second set of questions is more open$-$ended, and the intent is for you to generate a dialogue with the person you interview to make it a valuable use of time.

You have the option of conducting this interview in person or through a web conference using the Zoom software. Instructions on setting up and using Zoom are provided for you below.

Interview Questions

Begin the interview by introducing yourself and asking your interviewee to provide an overview of themselves. This will start off the interview by allowing you to get to know the person, their educational background, the business they work in$,$ and what their role is$.$ Once you have opened the conversation up$,$ ask the following questions.

What type of business structure $($i$.$e$.$ corporation, sole proprietorship, limited liability company, franchise, partnership, etc.$)$ does your current company have? Why was this particular structure chosen? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this business structure?

What property rights including copyrights, patents, or trademarks does your company have? How do these create a competitive advantage in your industry?

As a business that employs individuals, how do you ensure that you are complying with state and federal employment laws? What are some challenges you've encountered in this arena?

Why did you choose the specific field of business you are in$?$ What other fields have you worked in$?$

What should I do to help prepare me to succeed in the workforce when I graduate?

Who has been the most influential person in your career and why?

What should I look for in a professional mentor?