#Interview

Tag: #Interview

Joe Loehnis ’06: From Cellist to CEO

I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Joe Loehnis ‘06, who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. During his time at Lawrence, he majored in Cello Performance and was the captain of our golf team, also being the only golfer in LU’s history to be named to the All-American Team. Not only was he a successful golfer, but he was an outstanding musician. At the age of 16, he auditioned for the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra and got in, being the youngest person to this day to be awarded a tenure position there. He has also held positions in three other orchestras as a featured soloist.

After graduation, Joe became a professional golfer for a few years, placing in the top three in several tournaments. When I asked him about how he got into arts administration, he had an interesting story about being in line for groceries in Florida, where he was competing at the time. He heard someone in front of him talking about how there were no cello teachers in the area. This was when Joe approached them and eventually started his own private cello studio, starting with 10 students and maxing out at 75. With this ambition, and with no formal business background, he became the Executive Director at The First Tee, a non profit focusing on education and health for youth through golf. After great success there, Joe was looking for a change. After working with a recruiter, they said to him, “I found your next job. You’re going to be a CEO.”

This of course was how he wound up at the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, a musical non-profit currently worth several million. Every year, the organization puts on six weeks of free and outside music making in Madison, WI, entitled Concerts on the Square. Annually, over 50,000 people show up. No one knows the value of live music more than musicians, with the CEO stating that the experience is “like a breath of fresh air”. 

When asked about what makes a good arts administrator, Joe had many things to say. Energy was a huge one. Positive personalities mixed with raw hunger and ambition is like the magic music-business potion. Not only do you need to have tenacity, but also genuine passion. Curiosity is also crucial. Coming at arts administration from the lens of a musician is a huge leg up in the industry. Joe has also described the arts as a whole as being ‘resilient and relevant’. Honestly, us aspiring arts administrators need to be like the arts. 

Another piece of advice Loehnis gave was to “jump in the deep end with the piranhas”. The business industry is very cutthroat. You have to take risks! Having a strong background in not only music, but business is huge. You would be surprised at the amount of people working in arts administration that, like Joe, just fell into it. Having a solid understanding of the industry is so important. 

In addition, Loehnis said to use your network! “We all bleed blue”, he said in reference to Lawrentians. Meeting other people who went through the same music theory sequence is an automatic bond. Use the Lawrence community to your benefit. Find alumni who are doing what you want to do, and pick their brain. Trust me, I didn’t expect to uncover this much information from Joe Loehnis, but I am so happy I did.

Lastly, Joe talked about how important experience is. Not necessarily working at Carnegie Hall or a huge business corporation, but having “sticky” experience. Showing that you work hard is evident when your resume has years of experience at the same company, and you’ve moved up a few times. It shows you want to grow. And learn. And improve! Strong references can easily be more valuable than money.

Obviously, CEO Joe Loehnis said many things that really stood out to me in our conversation. My favorite, and my closer, is probably what he said in reference to reaching out to your network: “Get the meeting. Get the coffee. Listen 70% and talk 30%.”

Lauren Chance is a current sophomore at Lawrence University double majoring in Business and Entrepreneurship and Music, also minoring in Spanish. As a Career Peer Educator (NES, VPA), an Admissions Student Ambassador, and an EPIC Orientation Leader and Peer Mentor, she has a passion for helping others. Lauren aspires to work in arts administration focusing on marketing or event management. Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn.

How to Spend Your Winter Break Productively

Winter break is a great time to relax and recharge after a busy fall term. But it can also be a valuable opportunity to prepare for your future career goals. If you are planning to have an internship next summer, here are some tips on how to spend your winter break productively.

Tip 1: Apply for internships early

Many summer internships have deadlines in January or February, so don’t wait until the last minute to apply. Start researching potential internships that match your interests, skills, and goals. You can use online platforms like Handshake, Glassdoor, Indeed, or LinkedIn to find internships in various fields and locations. You can also ask the Career Center for recommendations or referrals.

Tip 2: Update your resume and cover letter

Your resume and cover letter are the first impressions you make on potential employers, so make sure they are clear, relevant, and professional. Highlight your academic achievements, work experiences, skills, and extracurricular activities that demonstrate your fit for the internship. Use action verbs, quantify your results, and tailor your documents to each internship you apply for. You can also use online tools like VMock to help you create and proofread your resume and cover letter.

Tip 3: Learn new skills or improve existing ones

Winter break is a perfect time to learn new skills or improve existing ones that can boost your resume and prepare you for your internship. You can take online courses on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or edX that offer a variety of topics and levels. You can also read books, watch videos, listen to podcasts, or join online communities that relate to your field of interest. Learning new skills or improving existing ones can help you stand out from other applicants and show your initiative and curiosity.

Tip 4: Network with professionals and peers

Networking is a powerful way to expand your connections, learn from others, and discover new opportunities. You can network with professionals and peers in your field by attending online events, webinars, or workshops that interest you. You can also reach out to Lawrence alumni, mentors, or contacts from previous internships or jobs and ask them for advice or feedback. Use social media platforms like LinkedIn follow influencers, join groups, or participate in discussions that relate to your field.

Tip 5: Prepare for interviews

If you get invited for an interview, congratulations! That means you have passed the first screening and have a chance to impress the employer with your personality and potential. To prepare for the interview, research the company and the role, practice common interview questions and scenarios, dress appropriately, and be punctual. You can use online platforms like Big Interview to help you practice and improve your interview skills.

Conclusion

Winter break is not only a time to rest and have fun, but also a time to plan ahead and get ready for your summer internship. By following these tips, you can spend your winter break productively and increase your chances of landing your dream internship. Good luck!

FAQs about Informational Interviewing

The phrase “informational interviews” might sound intimidating, but really they’re just conversations you arrange with people who work in the field you’re interested in. Informational interviews are a quick and easy way to explore potential career pathways and solicit advice from professionals in the field. In addition, when you set up informational interviews with people in your field of interest, you’re building a network that you can utilize later — for job opportunities, shadowing opportunities when COVID restrictions lessen, and more.

Some FAQs about Informational Interviewing

Q: When should I start conducting informational interviews?
A: It’s never too late or too early to start! You can coordinate informational interviews throughout your college career, and well into your career beyond college! Your questions will likely shift as your personal goals and interests change over time.

Q: How should I prepare for the interview?
A: The primary goal is to come ready to drive the interview with your questions. Make sure you have your questions ready, and try to focus your questions on gathering insights and advice; you don’t want them to feel like you’re expecting a job offer. It’s also helpful to do some internet research on the person you’re interviewing to help guide your question development. Be ready to talk about yourself if asked, too! Business casual is the typical attire for informational interviews.

Q: How and where should I expect the informational interview to happen?A: Over the phone or using video chat is often the easiest, especially during the pandemic. Reach out to your intended interviewee and plan on your conversation going for about 30 minutes. Make sure to be respectful of their time — they’re doing you a favor, so be careful not to go over the allotted time.

Q: Speaking of reaching out: Help! How do I do that?
A: Find the contact information of the person you’re interested in interviewing, and send them an email. In your message, you should introduce yourself and express your interest in their field. If you have a personal or Lawrence-related connection to them, or were recommended to seek them out by a mutual acquaintance, make sure to mention that. Then, indicate that you are reaching out to ask about their availability for a short informational interview to learn more about their professional journey. The Viking Connect website is a great way to find alumni Lawrentians who are eager to connect with current students!

“Thank you for the interview opportunity!” How to follow up after interviews and write thank you notes

Following up after job interviews and writing them a quick “thank you” note after the end is a good way to ensure that you still remain in the interviewer’s mind and demonstrate your interest in the role. You should also follow up with a “thank you” note after networking conversations/informational interviews, as they are a great way to show your appreciation and strengthen your existing connections. But how does one write a good “thank you” note?
There is no single right way to pull it off but some general conventions still apply when writing thank you notes following a job or informational interview. When sending a note, be sure to:

  • Send the thank you/follow-up email to the interviewer within 24 hours of the interview. Hiring processes can be done quickly, so hand written cards to follow up on job interviews might not be feasible. However, for informational interviews, sending a written thank you note within a week is a good way to stand out and show your extra appreciation (this can be done in addition to the 24-hour email).
  • Refer to when the interview occurred.
  • Refer to important parts of your conversation with them, such as highlighting a specific piece of advice that resonated with you.
  • For job interviews, reaffirm your interest in the position and why the interview made you even more interested in that position.
  • End with an invitation for further follow up.

Here’s an example format of email to guide you:
Subject: Thank you for the interview opportunity

Dear Mr./Ms./Mx. [Interviewer’s Last Name],
Thank you for speaking with me yesterday about my interest in the [job position you are applying for] role at [organization name]. I sincerely appreciate the time you to took to explain the position and all that it would entail.


I enjoyed our discussion on [add specific references to the conversation]. It only further reaffirmed my interest in the position, as it [explanation of why you are interested in this position]. I am confident that my prior experiences have prepared me to jump right into the role, especially [very brief explanation of why you think you are qualified for the job].


Thank you again for your consideration and for providing me the opportunity to meet with you and your team. Please let me know if there is any other information I can provide as you move forward in the hiring process.
Sincerely,
[Name]


You can find examples here and find more here. If needed, the Career Center has thank you cards available for your use. And, as always, if you need help writing a follow-up note or anything else, you can always make an appointment there!


Raisa Fatima ’23, Career Peer Educator