Kenzi Bahgat

Ziad Bahgat Interview

Interviewing Project
Interview Transcript

Interviewer: Kenzi Bahgat

Narrator: Ziad Bahgat
Date: 24/10/15
Place: Narrator & Interviewers home
5th Settlement, Katameya Hills
Cairo, (02) 23100193
College: American University in Cairo
Prof.: Dr. Kim Fox
Date completed: 25/10/15

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Ziad Bahgat is a 23 year old AUC alumni. Born on the 18th of November 1991, he
graduated from AUC with a BS in Mechanical Engineering during Fall 2014, and now works in
the Supply Chain at Nestle in Cairo. Moreover, he became the Organizing Committee Head in a
club called the Model Arab League.
Since Ziad Bahgat has recently graduated from AUC, I thought he would be able to provide me
with the information I needed. In other words, he would be able to explain to me the difference
between AUC students and students from other universities from our generation, when it comes
to their performance at work.
Moreover, as I have previously mentioned, he was the Organizing Committee Head at MAL.
Therefore, I believed that he would be able to explain to me how students could benefit from the
clubs at AUC later on in life.

Here are some of the topics of interest touched on by the narrator:

-Engineering major
-The MAL experience

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24 October 2015
Persons present: Kenzi Bahgat (KB)
Ziad Bahgat (ZB)

Kenzi Bahgat: Good evening,

This is Kenzi Bahgat. Im a junior majoring in graphic design and imc at AUC.
Today, I will be interviewing an AUC alumni about the difference between AUC students and
students from other universities when it comes to their career.
Standing with me now is Ziad Bahgat, a former AUC student.
So Ziad, how do you spell your name?

Ziad Bahgat: Z.I.A.D.

KB: And when did you graduate?

ZB: I graduated Fall 2014, a year ago.

KB: So youre about 23, 24 years old, is that correct?

ZB: Yes, I'm turning 24 next month.

KB: Oh okay so tell me, what were you majoring in at AUC?

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ZB: I was majoring in mechanical engineering.

KB: Engineering huh? Though major isnt it?

ZB: Yeah it was, it was alright.

KB: And did you pursue a career in engineering?

ZB: No I didn't. I liked it as a major but I didn't like it as a career so I shifted to Supply Chain at
Nestle.

KB: Nestle, that's interesting. Its in the 5th settlement right?

ZB: Yeah.

KB: And is it close to your house?

ZB: Yes, very close. Takes me about two minutes to get to work.

KB: Oh well thats a plus so you dont get stuck in Cairo traffic then.

ZB: No, not at all.

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KB: Oh. So I had talked to several engineering students and it turns out that most of them end up
working in fields other than engineering. So what do you think, why do you think that is?

ZB: I think because the expectations that we have when we enter mechanical engineering is
different than the reality, I mean we all go into cause we think of cars we think of, we're gonna
learn about engines, and then we realize that the reality of it is different and, and whatever we
like, the reasons why we wanted to get into engineering were different than what the actual jobs
are in Cairo. So I guess this is, this is why we shift away from engineering.

KB: So are there a lot of engineering students working at Nestle as well in the supply chain?

ZB: Within the supply chain department I think most of the people are from an Engineering
background.

KB: And what universities are they from?

ZB: Various, I mean... (narrator sighing) No there isn't a specific university I mean, they're from
around... Different universities.

KB: Oh are there student from Cairo University?

ZB: Yes Yes.

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KB: Because I conducted some research and I found, from what I heard, I heard that Cairo
University, it has the best Faculty of Engineering in Cairo. Is that correct?

ZB: In my opinion, they have (hesitates) I don't, its hard to quantify it this way but I guess
they are one of the good ones in Egypt yeah.

KB: Yeah so while keeping in mind that they have a good engineering faculty, so when it comes
to their job, how would you compare an AUCian and a Cairo University student both having
majored in engineering?

ZB: I guess the main difference is that we have more of a creativity part while they have more of
a knowledge and a solid knowledge of engineering I mean, if you look at the jobs that we, as
AUCians, get at companies like Nestle, it would be jobs that are more looking into creativity;
even engineering could be Marketing; marketeers at Nestle. Whereas, if you go to the factory,
you wouldn't find any AUCians working there. Most of them would be from Cairo University
cause they have the solid engineering knowledge... that's needed.

KB: So if you were to hire a new employee, would you rather hire an AUCian or a Cairo
University student?

ZB: Well you can't say it that way but I guess, the norm would be; it depends on the position. If
it's a position that needs more creativity, that needs people skills, that's where the AUCians are

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more developed. When it comes to knowledge, I guess the Cairo University student would be. So
it depends on the position.

KB: Oh, so, and do you think... Do you think AUC provides us with things other than education
that help us enhance our capabilities at work? For example such as extracurricular activities,
exchange programs, and all?

ZB: Definitely, I think... I think this is where AUC has an edge over other universities. In my
case for example, I was at one of the clubs at university... which is the Arab League... Became
the OC head, the Organizing Committee head at some point, and this really helped me out in the
job interviews when I was applying. They were very interested in knowing about the
extracurricular activities more than the actual knowledge that I had about the major I was
studying. So yeah, this is definitely a plus.

KB: Thats really interesting. And did you... How did you benefit from it?

ZB: Well it developed skills that I didn't know I had I mean... (narrator sighing) Public speaking
skills, relations with people, how to deal with suppliers... These are all things that I wouldn't
have learned from the major. It was through the extracurricular activities.

KB: Must have been very time consuming, especially since you were majoring in engineering as
well, right? So was it worth it?

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ZB: Yeah, it was time consuming; it was difficult at some times. One of the semesters, my GPA
dropped because of this. But honestly, I think that what I got in return was worth it, and I would
recommend that anyone would do it.

KB: Okay thank you so much!

ZB: Youre welcome. Thank you.