PROJECT MANAGEMENT INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW*

MGT 598 – Project Management

PURPOSE The purpose of this assignment is to give you an opportunity to connect in person
and have a conversation with someone in the project management field.

WHAT IS IT?

An informational interview is a meeting with an individual in the project management field. It
is one of the best ways to find out about the realities of a project management career/job. It
provides an opportunity to gather information and guidance about the people, environment,
and skills involved in the field.

APPROACH

Before contacting your interviewee, do some basic research about the field. Clarify what you
hope to gain through the informational interview. In general, when you contact a potential
interviewee or referral, you should state who you are and who referred you to him/her, and
explain that you are seeking information and advice. In this instance, you can present it as an
assignment for your MBA course. Always ask about a convenient time for them to meet.
Request a 30-minute in-person interview.

INTERVIEW

There are “suggested” questions for you on the informational interview worksheet. If you have
not finished the interview within the time period you had requested, thank the person for
helping you by saying, “I said I would only take 30 minutes of your time. I know how busy you
are.” Extend the time only if the person you are interviewing strongly encourages you to do
so. Request a business card before leaving.

FOLLOW-UP
Send a short thank you note and/or email within a day or two after your interview. Keep
the interview information on file for future reference – the person may be an important
contact for you later.

ASSIGNMENT
This is an individual assignment. The person you interview may be within your own
organization. Please do not just send the form to someone to fill out for you. After you have
performed the informational interview, compile and submit the responses.

OUTPUT

Your work should be combined into ONE document and submitted electronically through D2L via
the online Submission folder. The document should include the following FOUR items which are
labeled:

Item 1 – Submit a summary of your impressions and/or insights gained from the interview. You
need to include a discussion on the how the concepts discussed during the interview link
directly to the course material. Your summary of your impressions and/or insights should be
between 750 -1000 words using an 11-point to 12-point font. You should include a WORD
COUNT of your summary.

Item 2 – Submit the completed informational interview worksheet. You may scan a copy with
your notes.

Item 3 – Submit either a copy of the interviewee’s business card or copy of the interviewee’s
LinkedIn page. If they do not have a card or page then make a note in your submission.

Item 4 – Submit a copy of the thank you note sent and/or emailed.

*Adapted from http://aip.ucsd.edu

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW WORKSHEET

Student Name:
Location of Interview:
Date of interview:

Name of Person Interviewed:
Title:
Employer:
Educational/Training Institutions Attended :

Major/Program:

1. Describe the main responsibilities of your position.

2. What is most satisfying about your job and why?

3. What is least satisfying about your job and why?

4. How did you decide to get into this field?

5. Tell me about the training and education that you’ve had? Has this helped you in this field, if not, what has?

6. What recommendations do you have for someone wanting to enter or progress in this field?

7. What skills and personal qualities are important for success in your field?

8. What do you do during a typical work day?

9. What are the opportunities for promotion or advancement?

10. Is this field expanding and/or developing into new directions? Please explain how.

11. What professional organizations or industry associations should someone consider joining to obtain
additional information about this field?

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW WORKSHEET

Name of Person Interviewed: Nicholas Liacone

Title: Assistant Property Manager

Employer: Golub and Company

Educational/Training Institutions Attended: Loyal University of Chicago

Major/Program: Information Systems, Accounting, Finance

1. Describe the main responsibilities of your position.

I am primarily responsible for the collection of monies from all residents and tenants. Overseeing the entire business operation and ensuring it runs smoothly. Monitor maintenance and Security teams to ensure that the building is running as efficiently as possible. Pay all bills promptly and ensure payment is received to ensure late charges are not assessed. Decide on capital projects and how they will benefit the property and value to ownership. Lastly, understanding the submarket that we are in, why occupancy or traffic may dip from week to week.

2. What is most satisfying about your job, and why?

Every day is a different day. No day is similar to the next. There is always a new problem to be solved. I found a career path where I can utilize my financial skills and still have interactions with residents.

3. What is least satisfying about your job and why?

I always need to be accessible by phone in case of an emergency in the building. Sometimes I get woken up multiple times a night to be notified of issues in the building and how we want to react to said issues.

4. How did you decide to get into this field?

I had connections in the field, and they thought I would be a great fit.

5. Tell me about the training and education that you’ve had? Has this helped you in this field, if not, what has?

About two years ago, I finished my undergrad degree from Loyola University of Chicago. I majored in Business with an emphasis in Finance and Accounting and a minor in Information Systems

6. What recommendations do you have for someone wanting to enter or progress in this field?

Understand what all goes into the job. Most people come and think they are ready and then end up leaving in a few months because it wasn’t what they expected. Take a leasing license course that is required to lease apartments.

7. What skills and personal qualities are important for success in your field?

Analytical skills are very important; you are dealing with budgets and numbers for a large portion of the day. You also have to be able to have conversations with residents and be able to think quickly of resolutions to problems.

8. What do you do during a typical workday?

Handle resident complaints, monitor financials, collect rent, manage other issues in the building. Help current residents with whatever they need.

9. What are the opportunities for promotion or advancement?

Opportunities for promotions and advancement are very likely. As long as you are strong in your current duties, they do not have an issue of promoting.

10. Is this field expanding and/or developing into new directions? Please explain how.

New high-rises in Chicago are going up all around the city. There is a constant need for new amenities in all buildings, new or old. I want to move on from a new construction property to a renovation project.

11. What professional organizations or industry associations should someone consider joining to obtain additional information about this field?

I would look into the Chicago Apartment Associations; they host events and classes about the industry.