Powerhouse Networking and Informational Interview

This event was held last night November 13th in Milwaukee, WI. at the Huston Business Lounge. The event was created for students to be able to network with professionals and become better interviewees.

The event was very beneficial for me as a student. During the two interviews where they interviewed me, I gained great feedback. Something’s were complements like I have great eye contact and an awesome fun presents. Other comments were thing to improve on like don’t talk so fast. I think I was talking fast because of the environment, but I will look keep note of that well interviewing for jobs in the future.

I was very surprised to learn that informational interviews could be more of a conversation then a question and answer sit down. I had a great conversation with Al Krueger, Director of digital and innovation at Morgan Myers in Waukesha. I learned that Morgan Myers works with big companies like Oscar Meyer and Clemens Food Groups. They are usually brought in to help with image control and branding changes, such as going green or more organic with products. Working the PR area of food can sometimes be a great challenge, especially when it comes to causes of outbreak or contamination. Big companies can’t have a red folder that tells them exactly what to do in every situation because every situation is different. Do to that some companies won’t even pay to have a red folder put together when working with an agency. The whole idea of working with an agency in the first place is that they have experience working with all kinds of situations. I could rally relate to Krueger because my dad deals with Meat all day and has to call agency like Morgan Myers to deal with outbreaks and other things like image updates.   

When it came to interviewing for a factious job, I thought it was going to be uncomfortable, but everyone was very friendly and welcoming. That always helps calm the nerves when the other person is smiling and personable.

My first interview was with Karren Jeske the Communications Manager at Standard Process. The interview went great, no question through me and I did well answering them. After the interview, I did have a question for her though. I asked why companies are now doing more behavioral and institutional questions during interviews. She responded by saying that the best way to tell if a person is going to be successful in the future is to know if they were successful in the past. She explained that if a person can give an example of how they handled something in the past then they can again handle that type of situation in the future, and that is why companies ask those kinds of questions.

Moving on to my second interview it was more of a conversation interview because we clicked. I did also help that I have seen her at a couple other events this year in the Milwaukee area. Her name is Jenna Dubrick and she is the Assistant Marketing Manager at Marcus Hotels and Resorts in Milwaukee.  Talking to her she told me that when asked to give examples to make sure to pick a concert example. I gave her an example of an art project for a time management question. I had finished the project on time but she then asked if I had gotten feedback on it yet and I proceeded and say no because I just handed it in this last week.  Good lesson learned though. Good thing it was just practice.

Over all I think the even was great, it improved my interviewing skills, gave me more confidence, and even allow me to meet some new professional in the field.