Interview with an Information Broker

¶ … Interview with an Information Broker
 
Today, professional researchers who are capable of providing timely and accurate information about markets and even other people are in high demand. One such information broker that has identified a niche opportunity and use it to grow his online business is Mr. Josh Stevens (not his real name), who provides in-depth background checks for his clientele. This paper provides the results of an information interview with Mr. Stevens, followed by a summary of the experience in the conclusion.
 
Results of Interview
 
The president of Online Verification, Inc. (not its real name) is Mr. Josh Stevens. Mr. Stevens was selected for this interview because his work as an information broker was appropriate for this project, and just as importantly, he agreed to participate in the telephonic interview after learning of its purpose and intent. Following an introduction period where the interviewer’s background and resume (provided as an email attachment) were discussed, a series of interview questions were asked and the responses summarized. Although the interview was not taped, extensive notes were kept of the results and these were typed up immediately following the interview while they were fresh and the handwritten results could be amplified in typed form.
 
In response to the first question, “Why did this type of work interest you, and how did you get started?,” Mr. Stevens stated that the concept of Online Verification, Inc. came to him after listening to his brother-in-law, who was a human resources manager at a Fortune 500 company, complain about his inability to readily verify the credentials of applicants for sensitive positions. In addition, Mr. Stevens indicated that many of his private clients were interested in verifying the backgrounds of people who performed household tasks or who otherwise came into contact with their family members on a regular basis. The background checks conducted by Online Verification, Inc. confirmed degrees, collected criminal histories, and otherwise aggregated everything relevant that is known about an individual. The company was started by Mr. Stevens using his own resources with him as the sole employee at first.
 
In response to the second question, “What is your typical day like?,” Mr. Stevens emphasized that although Online Verification, Inc. maintained a prominent Web presence, much of his day was occupied answering the telephone. In this regard, Mr. Stevens stated that many of his clients were high maintenance and required telephonic updates rather than emails which were viewed as vulnerable to interception (several telephones could be ringing in the background). Besides talking with clients on the phone, Mr. Stevens said he conducted much of the research personally, although he maintained a full-time staff of five researchers and three part-time staff who provided support services. In response to a question about career paths available at Online Verification, Inc., Mr. Stevens stated that the business was relatively new and that the issue had not been brought up by his employees to date. The company offered periodic raises depending on performance and Mr. Stevens stated that bonuses were offered employees after one-year on the job. Mr. Stevens added that he had been considering hiring a part-time human resources manager to help him with the paperwork.
 
When asked what type of work he did before started Online Verification, Inc., Mr. Stevens laughed and stated, “Nothing that would ever help me here.” In reality, though, it turns out that Mr. Stevens has a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and he conceded that this probably helped him grow his business. When pressed, Mr. Stevens reported that after his discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1990, he attended school and worked a several part-time jobs that were unrelated to his current occupation. When asked what part of his work he found most personally satisfying, Mr. Stevens did not hesitate and stated, “I feel like a detective looking for the bad guys and when I find one and help protect my client, it makes my day.”
 
Finally, when asked his opinion concerning the interviewer’s background and the credentials reflected on the resume, Mr. Stevens pointed out a typographical error but otherwise said the resume “looked good” and recommended including a “references will be provided upon request” section. When asked for two referral names, Mr. Stevens provided his brother-in-law, the Fortune 500 company human resources manager and that of the owner of one of his major competitors, BeenVerified.
 
Conclusion
 
As president of Online Verification, Inc., Mr. Josh Stevens provides his clientele with valuable information concerning the backgrounds of people that are of interest to them. The results of the telephonic interview showed that Mr. Stevens is an entrepreneur who identified a niche opportunity to grow his business from a sole practitioner to a growing enterprise today. This information broker has taken advantage of innovations in technology to project a Web presence and to communicate with his clientele and others, but his business continues to rely on telephonic communications as well. In the final analysis, Mr. Stevens is carving out a place for his services today in ways that will likely continue to grow his business in the future.
 
JOHN A. INTERVIEWER
 
Anytown, Ohio 37037
 
March 17, 2013
 
Mr. Josh Stevens
 
President, Online Verification, Inc.
 
6789 Northeast Passageway
 
Anytown, Ohio 37038