Attached is a memo I wrote for my workplace communication course which reports on findings from an interview I had with an industry professional about a position that I am interested in having in the future. The purpose of a memo is to inform a specific audience about a solution to a problem. In the assignment, the problem is "what conclusions can be drawn from the interview," and I report on three key takeaways from the interview. The intended audience was my workplace communication professor and the purpose of the memo was to demonstrate that I had met or exceeded assignment expectations and had the ability to write a professional business-style memo. By writing this business-style memo, I effectively demonstrate my ability to write for an intended audience and inform this audience of my conclusions while demonstrating learning outcomes of the assignment.
Memo
TO: Dr. Sara Baker, Communication Professor
FROM: Kennan Martin, student
DATE: May 4, 2018
SUBJECT: Significant Findings from Interview
Opening
As an undergraduate student, I will soon enter the workforce, contribute my skills to an organization, and build a successful career for myself. It is important that I actively explore job opportunities and research industries that I would like to work in.This can give me a competitive advantage over other young professionals and allow me to network with experienced professionals in my field. By researching early on, I can gain knowledge into a particular industry or company and identify opportunities to excel. Interviewing an industry professional will provide a valuable perspective into potential job opportunities. I am most interested in a sales position for a large tech company, so I contacted Mr. Paul Barlow, Southern Alumnus and a services client representative for IBM, for an interview. I developed an interview protocol, recorded the interview with Mr. Barlow, and transcribed the interview to draw some conclusions about the career.
Summary
From the interview, I can formulate three key findings about the career. First, it is essential to continuously learn and become a lifelong learner. Second, it is better to chase the industries and companies that align with passions, values, and goals. Third, it is important to establish good relationships with coworkers, so one may network and advance in one’s career.
Discussion
An important theme in the interview was that in this position, an employee is expected to continuously self-learn. Paul touched upon this multiple times in different points of the interview. In a technology company like IBM, competent communication skills are important, but “it's equally as important to have a little bit of understanding of how the technology works and, what industry your clients are in, so you can have a more educated conversation with them.” Companies value employees who are motivated to take on challenging tasks, and Paul notes, “it was expected when I started that I could learn quickly.” In technology sales, employees must be able to continuously learn in order to have credibility to customers and stay updated on the constantly changing technology. Another key takeaway from the interview was that it is critical that you enter an industry that you are passionate about to stay motivated. When I asked Paul what he thought was the best industry to enter as a professional in sales, he told me that it is entirely up to the individual. Paul explained that he “wouldn't chase a high growth industry just because that's where the money is. I would chase something that you can get passionate about and chase something you can just get yourself behind and love every second of it.” Paul recommended that I stay true to my values and beliefs when deciding what trajectory to take. In order to love your job, you need to be passionate about the company and industry’s purpose. Lastly, I found that in this position, you need to effectively build relationships and leverage your network to advance. Paul advises, “to know your team as well as possible. When enjoying your company, it’s like you’re joining a new ecosystem, a new environment. It's a brand-new organization, so you want to get close with your team.” Paul cites being a “relentless internal networker” as a big factor in someone’s ability to advance in their career. If you want to move up in your position, you need to take it upon yourself to establish the connections with individuals who will create opportunities for you.
Closing
In conducting this interview, I gained valuable insight into the path of creating a successful sales career in technology-based companies. By staying up to date and consistently learning, aligning my values and identifying my passions, and establishing beneficial interpersonal relationships, I can move forward towards building a successful and enjoyable career.