ProfessionalInterviewProject

MikeKounnas
ElectricalEngineering

Student:JaewooKim
POEBLOCK3
InterviewDate:10/26/2015
SubmissionDate:10/29/2015
InterviewbyPhone


GeneralInterviewInformation

Name
:MikeKounnas
SpecificDegree:
Bachelor'sdegreeinElectricalEngineering
PlaceofEmployment:
VPatSmarteBuilding
Professionalbusinessemail:
mike.kounnas@gmail.com
Phonenumber:
(512)4227782
Initialcontact
:IntervieweewasreferredbyScottSodoma


ProfessionalInterviewTranscript

***Pleasenotethisisaroughtranscriptastheinterviewwasconducted,unrecorded,onphone***

A. PleasedescribethefieldofElectricalengineering,ingeneral.
a. Electricalengineeringisawidefieldthatdealswithmanyfieldssuchas
electronicsandwiring.
B. Whatisyourcurrentjobtitle?
a. VPatSmartebuilding
C. PleasedescribeyourparticularjobanddutiesasVPatSmarteBuilding:
a. WereasmallcompanysoIhavemanytaskssuchasproductdesign,design
review,andcustomersupportorinteraction.
D. Whatisyouraverageworkschedule?
a. About70hoursspreadevenlythroughouttheweek
E. Startingwithhighschool,describeyoureducationalbackgroundchronologically.
a. EmphasizedmathandscienceinhighschoolbutgraduatedfromA&Mwitha
Bachelorsdegreeinelectricalengineering
F. Ifyouhadtodoitover,relatedtoyourcareeroreducation,wouldyoudoanything
differently?
a. Iwouldnthavedoneanythingdifferently,
i.

Reasoningcomeswithquestiong

G. Whatadvicewouldyougivetomeassomeoneinterestedinpursuingacareerpath
similartoyours?
a. Iwouldsaythatfindingapassionwouldbethemostimportantthingbecause
withit,youhaveadrivingprincipleforlifeandeverythingelsewilljustcometo
you.
b. Engineeringisabroad,vastsubjectandeachfieldcouldhavemanydisciplines,
sofindingyourinterestisveryimportant.

c. Balanceisveryimportantinacareer:Youshouldhavefun,driveyourselftodo
hardworkthatshouldn'tbework[duetopassionyoushouldhaveinyourfield.
d. Havingagoodheadstartinhighschoolisveryimportant,butsoissurrounding
yourselfwithpeoplewhowanttoseeyounetworkingwouldbeanaspectof
this.
e. Yourperspectiveandpassiononyourcareerchoiceshouldbelikethis:whenthe
weekends,youshouldbedisappointedtheworkweekhasended,disappointed
thattherecouldhavebeenmuchmoretoaccomplish.Ifyourerelievedthework
weekhasended,youreprobablydoingsomethingwrong.


PersonalReflection

A. Whatsurprisedyouthemostabouttheinterview?
a. ThethingthatmostsurprisedmeabouttheinterviewwasMr.Kounnasvery
passionateyetlogicalperspectiveonengineeringandcareersingeneral.Forhim,
a70hourworkweekandademandingjobatsmallcompanyisadelightforhim,
infact,heisntevencontentwiththeworkloadinthefirstplace.Heseesevery
weekasanotherrungonaladder,movingupwardstoprogress,achievement,and
happiness.
B. Whatwasthemostimportantpieceofinformationthatyoulearnedfromthe
interview?
a. ThemostimportantpieceofinformationthatIlearnedfromtheinterviewisthe
factthatyourcareershouldactuallybeyourpassion,notsomethingyouarejust
contentwithdoing.Youshouldhaveadrivingprinciplebehindyourwork,and
likeMr.Kounnassaid,withadrivingprincipleinyourwork,everythingelsewill
justcometoyou.ThisviewisquiteenlighteningformeasIverealizedthatI
haventactuallyfoundalifepassionandthus,asajunior,Ishouldfocuson
findingitforitwilllikelydeterminemypathintocollegeandbeyond.
C. Howhasthisinterviewinfluenceyourfeelingsaboutyourfuturecareer?
a. Theinterviewshowedmethatthemostsignificantfactorinyourcareerchoiceis
yourpassioninit,andithasanambivalentimpactonmyfeelingsaboutmyfuture
career:Ononehand,IhavenotfoundmyfuturecareerforIveneverfound,orI
thinkIveneverfound,apaththatkindlesthedrivingfirethatshouldleadmy
workandlife.Ontheotherhand,IknowthatwhenIfindapassion,Illlove
doingitandbemorethancontentwiththecareerthatcomeswithit.

D. Howhasthisinterviewchangedorconfirmedyourplansregardingyourfuture
career?
a. Iveneverreallyhadasetfuturecareer,butInowknowthatthereisafitting
careerformesomewhere,somethingthatIlllovetodo,hopefullyfortherestof
mylife.
E. Whatisthenextstepforyoutopursueyourplans?Whodoyouneedtotalkto?
Whatinformationdoyouneed?
a. Thenextstepformeisreachingoutintothehorizon,searchingforacareeror
fieldthatreallyconnectswithme.Iveonlybeenexpandingmyhorizonstothis
point,soIvedabbleinalotofthings,butIguessIhaventactuallydelvedinto
anyofthem.
b. Formycareersearching,Illhavetostarttalkingtocareer/guidancecounselors
andjob/careerconsultantsatjobfairs.IreallythinkIshouldbegintheprocess
findingmylifepassion,justasMr.Kounnashas.Furthermore,Icouldpossibly
conductinterviewsliketheseoutsideoftheschoolcontextwithprofessionalsin
careerfieldsforfurtherinformation.
c. TheinformationIllneedisprobablytherealityofthecareersIlookinto:notjust
theaestheticorupfrontimagebutthenittygritty,realityofajoboroccupation.
Additionally,Illneedinformationoncareerfairs,expos,etc.