From M2 To M-What: Transitioning into a Career

Feb 24, 2021 @ 2–5 pm

Hear wise words from SAPL alumni and practitioners about entering the workforce, and tips about preparation that they wish they’d known themselves.

Topics covered will include:

• How to get a job
• Navigating the architecture/landscape/urban design office and culture
• Portfolio and resume review/mock interview
• How to negotiate your salary
• Alternate paths in architecture/landscape/urban design

This is the first of a two-part series called M2 to MWhat: What to Expect After Graduation. This session is open to all SAPL graduate students.

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PROGRAM

A. Conversations

Moderators: Catherine Hamel and Jessie Andjelic
2pm–3:50pm (1 hour 50 minutes)

Three Pecha Kucha Interludes from Alumni MArch’20, Vibrant Wallflowers:

1. Bushra Hashim, MArch’20, Master of Environmental Design Candidate, Who Let the Cat Out of the Bag? Cats have never once demonstrated that they have any sense of self at all. But as you move on with your lives here on out, self-awareness is what will help you land on your feet—a meaningful conversation for you as graduate students, suitably spoken through cat metaphors. 

2. Rochelle Greenberg, MArch’20, Intern Architect, Connect
   A few tips and tricks from one graduate to another on making industry connections.

3. Alexis Valentine, MArch’20, Intern Architect AAA, Casola Koppe Architects, The Side Dish. We tend to underestimate the amount of flavour side dishes can bring to the table. Design school has provided us with a plethora of skills (the ingredients) that, as we transition between school and the uncertainty of the future, we are often faced with a plate in front of us that starts to feel empty. Now more than ever, there is so much opportunity to try new flavours; the application of a unique set of ingredients to achieve different outcomes that can be incorporated into our daily lives in more ways than we might think.

Three Presentations/Conversations:

1. Finding Opportunity in a Post-Pandemic World

Jay Boyce, Architect AAA, AIBC, WELL AP, MRAIC, Principal at Boyce Architecture Inc.

This moment in time is an opportunity for us, as members of the architectural profession, to demonstrate our value and lead the direction for how cities move forward post-pandemic, and how we can future-proof built environments for the future. New graduates should remember: Know your worth but be humble. Confidence will take you further than ego. “It’s not all about buildings.” What other sectors can we have an impact in — development, government and policy, other?

2. Where Will I Work? Acing the Interview.

Amber Osadan-Ullman, MCIP, RPP, Senior Development Manager, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation 

You are not just the interviewee; you are also interviewing the firms. This session will provide tips such as making a wish list of what you want from a firm, doing your research, how to make that first connection, and what questions to ask firms you want to work with.

3. Digital decorum. Portfolio + CV. Considerations.

Kayla Browne, Principal @ BOLD Workshop Architecture | Senior Associate @ Sturgess Architecture | BEACalgary (Building Equality in Architecture Calgary)

How to best communicate digitally as a professional. Consider topics including text versus email, and Zoom/Teams decorum.

B. Next Steps: Thinking Ahead

4pm–5pm

B1. Presentation: Master of Environmental Design – what is it and why you should consider it

Joshua Taron, Associate Dean of Research

10 minutes

B2. Presentation: AAA Internship + Mentorship

Jay Boyce, Principal at Boyce Architecture Inc.

30 minutes

March 6, 2021 @ 9:30am–12:00pm

Architecture M2s: This is a location-based virtual event called ‘entering the profession mentorship’. The event is designed to help you connect with practitioners in places you’ve expressed an interest in working. This is an opportunity to talk to people in the industry you wouldn’t normally get access to.

This is the second of a two-part series called M2 to MWhat: What to Expect After Graduation. This session is only open to M2s in the architecture program who are preparing to enter the workforce in 2021.

9:30am Practitioner Roundtables In Situ

Topics covered will include:

• How to get a job
• Navigating the architecture/landscape/urban design office and culture
• Portfolio and resume review/mock interview
• How to negotiate your salary
• Alternate paths in architecture/landscape/urban design

You’re invited to sign up for one of the following sessions: 

• Calgary and area
• Edmonton and area 
• Vancouver, Victoria, BC
• Toronto, Ontario
• International

10:30am Portfolio/CV sessions, mock interviews

Sign up for sessions geared towards helping you develop your portfolio and CV, and practice selling yourself in a mock Interview.