Name: Deion Dorsett 

Title: Senior Equal Opportunity Investigator

Major: Business

Now for the interview:

During this interview we discussed what it meant to ensure equal employment opportunities for all employees. We went on to discuss Mr. Dorsett’s journey to get where he is at and the adversity he came over to become successful.

• Let’s start by you telling me your job title and a brief summary of what a typical day looks like for you?

I work for the U.S. Department of Labor, it’s one of the branches under the Executive Government. Under each department, we have agencies, the specific agency I work for is the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. I am a Senior Equal Opportunity Investigator, which basically means that I investigate employment discrimination. A lot of these popular businesses we see have contracts with the federal government. These contracts require them to have affirmative action obligations that they must meet and they must follow equal employment opportunity laws. My job is to make that they are meeting these obligations and investigate to determine if employment discrimination is taking place. It’s more than just getting the job, it’s about giving everyone the same opportunity to get these jobs, equal pay, opportunities for promotions, etc. I must find the proof to successfully prove my case to show that discrimination is taken place.

• What led you to want to choose this career?

I don’t necessarily think that I chose this career, I honestly feel like it chose me. I’ve always been about helping people and speaking up against things that are wrong. My father always wanted me to go to law school, but I felt that I didn’t want to school anymore. But, I decided to get my master’s degree. Before the stock crash in 2008, I multiple had job offers from various companies and everything was great. But after the crash, the offers were taken away because companies started struggling. Then one day sometime sent me some information about my current and encouraged me to apply. Once I read the description I immediately knew that this job was for me. 

• What classes/steps did you take to get this job?

My business degrees were very helpful and helped me get a better understanding of the “business language”. My master’s degree allowed me to come in at a higher salary which was nice. I studied economics because it explained so much about the world in numbers. Then, I realized that I was only one semester away from a finance degree while also getting my economics degree. Then I went back to graduate school to get my master’s degree in business.

• Is there anything you want to change about your career path or how you got to where you are?

The only thing I probably would’ve done differently is that I would go somewhere that had a master’s program in place that offered a dual- Juris doctorate and MBA program wherein 3-4 years I could get both degrees.  I think a business degree is very beneficial because it provides you with leadership and management skills. As opposed to medical or law school that just teaches you how to be a good doctor or lawyer.

• What advice would you give to someone in high school that is looking towards pursuing this career? 

I think it’s important that you develop very strong writing skills. I think writing is very important because there may be a time where you have to sell someone something, but you can’t do it verbally. But, having the ability to write is incredibly important in all major fields.