Facetime Interview: Laura Kosmerl

1405 Words3 Pages

INTERVIEW WITH MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT LAURA KOSMERL
| April 23, 2018 | Written by: Torie Lynn | FaceTime Interview |

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview MSU alumna and management consultant, Laura Kosmerl. Laura is a Chicago resident who worked around 20 years in the healthcare field, then became a “selection consultant” at a different company for a number of years, and now works as a freelancer. The purpose of this interview (a class assignment) was to network, practice professional communication, and gain advice. I asked Laura a variety of questions ranging from her time at MSU to how uncertainty affects career decisions. Though each of her responses taught me a great deal, I was most intrigued by her thoughts on communication, …show more content…

I began by asking Laura: “On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the highest) how important do you think effective communication is in the workplace?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, she responded back “10!” with a sense of enthusiasm I did not expect. When I asked why she rated it so highly she said that in order to explain her answer she’d first need to explain what her definition of communication was. Her definition of communication was best displayed through the following quote she cited:

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” -Steve Covey

Like Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Laura’s definition of communication is one based on knowing when it is time to listen silently, and when it is time to speak. This goes along with listening not only to words being spoken, but to the underlying message of these words.

Laura continued by saying that when working with others, it is important to understand their definitions of communication. This allows you to communicate with them in a way they are comfortable with. Then, it is important to figure out what the purpose and goals of your interaction with them are, so you may both work together to achieve those goals.

A Turning Point in Laura’s …show more content…

(according to Laura)
1. “Go to your professors’ office hours.”- Laura described the importance of trusting that professors are a resource there to help you. She also stressed the importance of building relationships with these professors. This can be done by not only asking them questions about their subject matter, but talking with them about your future, their experiences and letting the conversation take its course.
2. “Take advantage of career resource centers.”
3. “Reach out to professionals in your field.” – Talking with as many professionals as possible allows you to speak to others with real-life experiences. This allows you to see themes and patterns, which helps you put things into perspective and know what things really matter.
4. “Join professional organizations.”
5. “If possible, get a mentor.” -Although Laura reached out many times seeking a mentor/mentee relationship, she was never successful. But this disillusionment has not translated into discouragement. Laura is still a strong advocate for having a mentor and believes many things can be learned through this relationship.

Laura’s other large piece of advice revolves around

Open Document