Information Interview with an Information Broker: Career Insights

Introduction

Today, professional researchers who are capable of providing timely and accurate information about markets and even individuals are in high demand. One such information broker who has identified a niche opportunity and leveraged it to grow an online business is Mr. Josh Stevens (not his real name), who provides in-depth background checks for his clientele. This paper presents the results of an informational interview with Mr. Stevens, followed by a summary of the experience in the conclusion.

Results of the 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 a telephone interview after learning of its purpose and intent. Following an introductory period during which the interviewer's background and résumé — provided as an email attachment — were discussed, a series of interview questions were asked and the responses summarized. Although the interview was not recorded, extensive notes were kept, and these were typed up immediately following the interview while the details were still fresh and the handwritten notes could be expanded 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, 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 regular contact with their family members. The background checks conducted by Online Verification, Inc. confirmed academic degrees, collected criminal histories, and otherwise aggregated everything relevant 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 with answering the telephone. He stated that many of his clients were high-maintenance and required telephone updates rather than emails, which they viewed as vulnerable to interception (several phones could be heard ringing in the background during the interview). Besides speaking with clients by phone, Mr. Stevens said he conducted much of the research personally, although he maintained a full-time staff of five researchers along with 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 yet been raised by his employees. The company offered periodic raises based on performance, and Mr. Stevens stated that bonuses were offered to employees after one year on the job. He added that he had been considering hiring a part-time human resources manager to help with administrative paperwork.

When asked what type of work he had done before starting Online Verification, Inc., Mr. Stevens laughed and stated, "Nothing that would ever help me here." In reality, however, it turns out that Mr. Stevens holds a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership, and he conceded that this background had probably helped him grow his business. When pressed further, Mr. Stevens reported that after his discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1990, he attended school and worked several part-time jobs unrelated to his current occupation. When asked what part of his work he found most personally satisfying, Mr. Stevens did not hesitate: "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 of the interviewer's background and the credentials reflected on the résumé, Mr. Stevens pointed out a typographical error but otherwise said the résumé "looked good" and recommended including a "references will be provided upon request" section. When asked for two referral names, Mr. Stevens offered his brother-in-law — the Fortune 500 company's human resources manager — and 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 and grew his business from a sole practitioner to a growing enterprise. This information broker has taken advantage of innovations in technology to establish a web presence and communicate with his clientele, while his business continues to rely on telephone communications as well. In the final analysis, Mr. Stevens is carving out a place for his services in ways that will likely continue to grow his business in the future.