by: Julie Engh Assoc. AIA
At the Emerging New York Architects Committee’s (ENYA) Speed Mentoring event, mentees engaged seasoned professionals in conversation about resumés, portfolios, interviewing, leadership in the workplace, and licensure. The 12 established professionals included multiple AIA Fellows and licensed architects active with Architecture for Humanity, the National Organization for Minority Architects, the New York Coalition of Black Architects, and a business coach.
While discussing the job search process, Stanley Stark, FAIA, encouraged mentees to “become multi-dimensional” and “develop and nurture a broader range of talents than merely what you are doing today.” Alan Hantman, FAIA, recommended mentees network at industry events, including those at the Center for Architecture. Hantman cautioned young architects against jumping from firm to firm; instead, he encouraged longer employment periods as they learn.
As they reviewed individual participant’s resumés, Norman Rosenfeld, FAIA, and Lia Gartner, FAIA, offered specific advice. “Your resumé is an advertisement for yourself,” Rosenfeld asserted, which “you need to craft so that it is pulled out of the stack of all other resumés.” Burt Roslyn, FAIA, encouraged the younger practitioners to embrace their devotion to the profession, as architects “are the protectors of the built environment” who must “find a niche that they fit into and become a leader in that area. Not all of us will win design awards, but that should not diminish our contribution.”
After discussing their queries with so many successful mentors, the mentees left the Speed Networking armed with a new stable of networking contacts and valuable professional advice. From a mentor’s perspective, Roslyn asserted that events like this “provide a platform to educate and invigorate emerging professionals,” which is important for training the next generation of practitioners and leaders.
Julie Ann Engh, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, works in the Architecture Department at Highland Associates, and currently serves as the 2013 AIANYS Associate Director, and is active in ENYA and the AIANY Architecture Tour Committees.
Event: Speed Mentoring
Location: Center for Architecture, 02.20.13
Mentors: Tonja Adair, AIA; Susan Chin, FAIA; Lia Gartner, FAIA; Alan Hantman, FAIA; Frank Lupo, FAIA; Norman Rosenfeld, FAIA; Burton Roslyn, FAIA; Paul Segal, FAIA; Nora N. Simpson; Stanley Stark, FAIA; Abby Suckle, FAIA; Yutaka Takiura, AIA
Organizers: Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA)