Expert: Jeanette A - 10/22/2009

Question
Hello Jeanette,

I am a senior in high school and I was just wondering if you could answer a few interview questions. I am doing a project for school and I need to interview a person in the career that I am researching. So if you have the time could you please answer some of these questions

Questions:
1) What duties and responsibilities are involved in your job?

2) What is your specialty and what do you work on?

3) Do you have assignments that drag on? If so, how often do you get these kind of assignments?

4) What advancement opportunities are there?

5) What fringe benefits are involved with your job?

6) How much vacation do you get, and when can you take it?

7) Is there further education offered or necessary?

8) What is your work attire?

9) After college, did you find a job quickly?

Thank you so much for the time to go through this and I hope to here back from you soon.
                                                     Thank You,
                                                     Andrew Hernandez

Answer
Hey Andrew,

I am currently not working but I will do my best to answer these questions when I was working...and apologies for my late response it is nearing exam time for me!

Questions:
1) What duties and responsibilities are involved in your job?
Duty of care for everything and everyone else on the job. I only worked as a student engineer, so my duties and responsibilities were quite the same as a graduate. I was assigned tasks and they had to be met by a given deadline.

2) What is your specialty and what do you work on?
I do not have a specialty, however, I worked on Roads and Highways in Australia with a company known as SKM.

3) Do you have assignments that drag on? If so, how often do you get these kind of assignments?
You mean work assignments or uni because uni assignments do! As for work assignments I would rather call them tasks...and yes some did for weeks even! Depending on the size and complexity of the job tasks can drag into weeks and months.

4) What advancement opportunities are there?
There are many advancement opportunities which range depending on what it is you want to achieve. Building a good reputation in the industry makes advancement easier, otherwise you will have to work hard for approval from senior engineers to show that you are responsible and trustworthy.

5) What fringe benefits are involved with your job?
Not much when youre a student. Almost nothing! I guess all I can say here is Networking!

6) How much vacation do you get, and when can you take it?
Vacation occurs on Easter, and Christmas and public holidays. Other types of vacation depend on the situation you need to take the leave for...sometimes you need to tell you boss months beforehand so that you finish your tasks and the work does not run off the track and everyone is left in a rut. Its teamwork and communication is a must.

7) Is there further education offered or necessary?
Yes there is further education offered eg Masters of Management etc etc etc...whether or not its necessary depends on what you want out of your career.

8) What is your work attire?
Well where I worked it was formal, shirt and suit except on fridays where it was jeans day!

9) After college, did you find a job quickly?
Finding the job I wanted was not easy, I waited several months before I received a response. Depending on the supply and demand of the industry will determine your job prospects.

Hope that answers your questions!


Warm Regards,
Jeanette