Cool Communication Job: Laketa Poindexter at Ropella & Associates
 A recent graduate of Florida A&M University, Laketa Poindexter has been working in the communication profession since November 2007. She started her current job at Ropella & Associates only three months after graduating. With a bachelor's degree in business administration, Laketa works as an executive search consultant for the No. 1 executive search firm specializing in the chemical and allied industries.
Laketa enjoys everything about her job. When asked what she would change about her position, she responded, “Nothing. I like it.”
Due to her father’s military career, Laketa has lived in multiple cities around the world. She was born in Sacramento, California, and has lived in Treasure Island and San Diego, California; Guam; Florida; and Washington, D.C. Laketa loved moving around and experiencing new cultures.
Read the following interview to learn about how Laketa found her current position, the amazing people she talks to everyday, and the activities and life choices that guided her career path.
Q: What made you decide to go into the communication field?
A: I didn’t really decide to go into the communication field; it simply comes naturally to me. I think that you should always do something that feels natural to you. Moving around so much growing up probably influenced me, because I constantly needed to adapt to different cultures, which tested my communication skills.
Q: What is your role in your local IABC chapter?
A: At this time, we do not have a local chapter in my area. I keep in touch with the First Coast Chapter [Jacksonville, Florida], which was the professional chapter associated with the Florida A&M University student chapter. I founded the student chapter and served as president while attending the university.
Q: What is your biggest fear?
A: Cockroaches. They’re just filthy creatures. I get nervous about them invading my apartment because there are a lot of trees around, and my friends like to tease me about my fear.
Q: What is your biggest hope?
A: To be successful in my career and in all aspects of my life. I want to be a good role model and a pillar of strength for my family, when I have one.
Q: How many jobs/internships have you held? What were they?
A: I’ve had ten jobs, including positions in fast-food restaurants and at a Kinko’s copy center. The highlights of my various jobs were my internships. I worked as a receptionist for Roy Jones Jr.’s record label in Pensacola, Florida, after my first year at university. Then before my last year at university, I was the associate director in planning the 2006 Heart Walk for the American Heart Association. The event in Tallahassee included over 6,000 participants and raised over US$300,000 for the association to further heart disease and defect research. I worked there full-time during that summer and into the fall, taking off a semester of school. I had a lot of responsibility in this position and wanted to do so much with it. I could have been a spring graduate with all of my friends if I didn’t do this internship, but I knew it would be worth it in the long run.
Q: How did you hear about your current position?
A: At a job fair in Milton, on the naval base where my mother works. Meeting potential employers in person is the coolest thing. At a job fair you get to talk to employers; it’s like an interview before the interview. You can also interview the employers, to see if you like their company. Communicating in person gives you a chance to shine and make an impression. When you communicate through writing or over the phone, you only get tone and words. When you communicate face-to-face, you have tone, visual and word components, which adds so much more.
I liked the professional nature of the Ropella & Associates booth. The information and people were well organized, which told me a lot about their company’s culture. I was impressed.
Q: What does Ropella & Associates do?
A: We recruit people for positions such as in middle level management and the most senior level executives in research and development, marketing, etc. It’s a talent war out there—everyone’s looking for the best. We help with the search.
Q: What is your job title? What exactly do you do?
A: My job title is executive search consultant. I help companies fill open employment positions. Generally, the positions pay compensation packages more than US$100,000. I specifically work within the cosmetic/personal care and soaps/detergents industries. I get qualified people interested in the positions by marketing the jobs well and explaining the benefits to potential candidates. Once candidates are pooled, I work with both the client (the employer) and the candidate (the potential employee) throughout the process, ensuring that the candidate has the necessary information to present himself well, and facilitate the salary negotiation process.
Q: Can you describe a typical day on the job?
A: Everyone’s so friendly here. We all say hi to each other in the morning and then start to organize our days. I get on the phone, using our worldwide, highly specialized database of experienced potential candidates, and start making cold calls. My first day doing this was terrible. The people I call have such elevated positions that I was a little intimidated. But I discovered that these people are very strategic in their career moves, and they want to know what I have to say because they always want to make more money and achieve their goals. For example, right now I’m working with someone who makes US$112,000 and I’m recruiting him for a position that pays US$150,000. He sounded very excited about the position.
I occasionally attend meetings, but most of my day is spent on the phone either obtaining résumés or analyzing candidates.
Q: What is your favorite part about your job? What is the most difficult aspect of your position?
A: My favorite part is being able to make people happy by helping them achieve their goals. I love talking to all of the nice candidates and employers. Candidates will sit with me on the phone forever, which surprised me at first. I also get to talk to some amazing people. Just today, I spoke with the creator of the formula for the detergent OxyClean and a person who developed a product line for Scotch tape.
My least favorite aspect is juggling all of my performance factors and keeping them all high, almost simultaneously. I have to organize candidates, communicate with employees and just do a lot of tasks in one day.
Q: What would a critic say about the work you do?
A: That it’s very organized. When I hand people my work, it’s always extremely organized and well thought-out.
Q: What skills do you think are important to do your job well?
A: Being able to communicate well in all aspects, not just speaking. Organization skills are important as well, allowing you to prioritize and multitask effectively. Instead, I need an ability to probe candidates and skillfully provide a rebuttal when someone is hesitant. Because I work specifically with cosmetic/personal care and soap/detergent companies, I need to be knowledgeable about these industries, so I read trade magazines, attend trade shows and conferences, etc. It’s a continual learning environment.
Q: If you could ask your CEO anything, what would it be?
A: The thing about my company is that since we only have around 30 employees, the CEO is right down the hall. He actually just left my office. I guess I’d just say hi, and ask him what he was doing for lunch. I’d also ask him what he was thinking of doing next. He has the biggest entrepreneurial bug I’ve ever seen. He pioneered this company, as well as four other sister companies. He’s always thinking and would probably describe another 10 ideas he has if I asked that question.
Q: Do you, or have you ever, had a mentor?
A: Yes. While I was studying at university, I met someone who was extremely involved in the nonprofit world. He was a self-motivated entrepreneur who was always trying to help others. He magnified these aspects in me when I was around him.
Q: Who has most inspired you in your life?
A: My mother. She has always been very motivating, driving me to do well and accepting nothing less from me.
Q: What is your ultimate career goal?
A: I don’t really have one right now. Monetarily, I want to make US$100,000 before my 40th birthday, maybe even before I turn 35. I might want to open my own business, but that’s a tentative idea.
Q: Is there anything you wish you had known coming out of college that you know now?
A: Yes. I wish I would have known that life after university wasn’t going to be like a fairy tale. I didn’t have a job waiting for me after graduation. I had completed one big step by graduating from the Florida A&M University, but there are so many other big steps in life. I have to be patient. Of course, there are those anomalies who graduate from university and are working in the top of their field already. I thought I would get my degree and make US$80,000 immediately. I found out that doesn’t happen for everyone.
Q: Do you have any recommendations or advice for students thinking about entering the communication field?
A: Be genuine in your communication at all times; it will be the most effective. And learn the art of organization because it will take you far.
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