From Architecture to Social Impact Design

From Architecture to Social Impact Design Success Story > From: Job To: Freelance From Architecture to Social Impact Design “I felt like I had found my tribe.” * From Architecture to Social Impact Design Katie Crepeau felt disconnected from her career. Instead, she craved a buzzy environment where she could make a real social impact. When she discovered her new industry, she finally felt at home. Here, she shares what she did right, what went wrong, and the biggest lessons from her shift. What work were you doing previously? I was working in a small architecture firm, focused on adaptive reuse and residential projects, mainly for urban developers. On evenings and weekends, I volunteered with a few different humanitarian design organisations that showed me another way design could affect people, mainly people who had never worked with a designer or architect before. What are you doing now? Currently I'm writing about social impact design projects, people, and opportunities for Impact Design Hub, Design Affects and PUBLIC Journal, along with beginning a research project on impact measurement for design. Why did you change? There were three reasons. Firstly, I had been doing social impact design work as a volunteer and I was really interested in how to make it a full-time job. Secondly, I was unsatisfied with the traditional architecture track. It disregarded a large population of people in the world and much of the work being produced didn't seem critical or necessary to me. Finally, the people working in social impact design resonated much more with me. The conversations, questions, and issues raised with fellow volunteers were much more interesting and stimulating than conversations I'd had with other architects. I felt like I had found my tribe. When was the moment you decided to make the change? The decision to make my leap into full-time social impact design work came while travelling with my partner in southern Africa. After months of time spent preparing for our wedding and honeymoon, we finally had time to decompress and spend one-on-one time together. We spoke about my frustration and disconnect with the traditional architecture track and how I wanted to try working in this emerging field. Six months later, when I had saved up enough money, I left my job and joined a friend to build a social impact design firm. After a failed attempt at starting a financially sustainable design business, I wanted to understand how other firms and people were practising and sustaining themselves, and to share this with other designers who were trying to do the same thing. This is when Design Affects was born. Are you happy with the change? Definitely! Since immersing myself in the social impact design world, I have learned about not only what, how, and why people are doing this work, but also the gaps that still need to be addressed. The social impact design field is nascent so the opportunities to contribute and take part are tremendous. It's not only designers that are needed! As for my day-to-day work as a writer, I'm still getting used to writing as my medium of expression (as opposed to drawing and designing). Luckily, I really enjoy the content I read, write, and share every day, which makes writing that much easier. What do you miss and what don't you miss? Now that I'm a freelancer, I miss having colleagues to bounce ideas off, have lunch with, and learn from. I don't miss having projects selected for me, or feeling distanced from clients or end-users. Now, I decide who I want to work with and the types of projects I want to work on. How did you go about making the shift? My shift happened in two stages. For the first stage, I made a list of social impact design firms and job ideas. I met with colleagues and even visited another city to meet with practitioners. Eventually, I decided to work with my friend who was launching a social impact design practice. It provided a big opportunity for me to grow and test out ideas that might have been squashed by seasoned professionals. The second shift happened at the six-month point in building the practice. My partner was offered a position in London that was too good to pass up. We decided to take the offer and moved last year, in June. During the transition from San Francisco to London, I launched my blog and wrote weekly, which helped immensely in meeting people and sharing what I was learning. Through Design Affects, I met John Cary, who founded PublicInterestDesign.org, and he asked me to cover his position while on paternity leave. I ended up staying on when he returned and now I've become the editor of the new site, Impact Design Hub. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? Once I made the decision to leave the architecture firm, I spent the next six months saving money before I gave notice. While building the practice with my friend, I occasionally worked part time with another architecture firm to help pay bills. This was not an ideal situation, but it relieved financial strain. Six months before we moved to London, my bank account was nearly empty. I made the difficult decision to end my role with the practice and worked with another San Francisco-based architecture firm in order to save up money for our move to London. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Crafting a new identity for myself. I'd been working in the architecture industry for six years, so most of my contacts knew me as an architect with a skill-set full of drawing, designing, and 3D modelling. Even today, I still have people endorsing me on LinkedIn for skills I haven't used in over two years! I'm still working on creating a new narrative that represents what I'm interested in and where I'm headed on my career path. It'll be a lifetime of rewriting! What help did you get? My partner was my biggest supporter. He knew how frustrated and unhappy I was, following the traditional architectural path. His support and encouragement in my taking the leap helped me believe that I could do it. I'm also eternally grateful to the architecture firms (450 Architects and Lundberg Design) where I worked during my transitions. They helped me fully embed myself in the social impact design world. What resources would you recommend to others? Now being immersed in the blogging and content marketing world, I would recommend signing up for Twitter and following all the people and organisations who are doing something you're interested in. I've met so many people and learned about events, opportunities, projects, and organisations through the site; it's really opened up a whole world of information that's customised to what interests me the most. Also, find your tribe (aka network of peers.) If you're shifting into a new field, meet people and cultivateauthentic connectionswith those who resonate the most with you. Even as an introverted designer and writer, the authentic relationships with friends, colleagues, peers, and clients are what keep me doing it. What have you learnt in the process? Perhaps this should be: what haven't I learnt? I've explored topics from social enterprise to international development and to impact investing, which I was unable to do while working in architecture. I've learned a lot about myself and what I need to thrive at work. I try to follow my gut more because when I don't, I usually end up in a position I don't want to be in. I'm also trying to get better at not immediately saying yes to new opportunities until I make sure they align with my interests. It has to be a win-win in the freelance world or else you and your client will be miserable. Most importantly, I've learned that everything we do is an experiment. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions and there will never be. Take risks, test out ideas, and keep iterating. What do you wish you'd done differently? It would be easy to say that I wish I'd made the change sooner, but I know I would have been stressed. I'm content with my journey thus far and even more excited for what's ahead. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Start experimenting on the side as much as possible. My journey really began with volunteer work. I recommend finding something that you're interested in and testing it out before making the leap. Once you know you want to explore and invest more time, figure out how you can start to transition into it. This could be reducing to part-time hours in your current work, or completely quitting and finding a different part-time or contract job to support it. No matter how you do it, make sure it meets your needs and way of living, not what someone else says is the way to do it. You can find out more about Katie's design writing, and the social impact design sector, at www.impactdesignhub.org What lessons could you take from Katie's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

How to Write Your Own Resume - Simple Tips to Help You Get Started

How to Write Your Own Resume - Simple Tips to Help You Get StartedWhen someone sits down to write a resume, the first thing they need to do is write a sytle. You want to write your own well. Writing your own resume can be difficult especially if you don't know how to write one. Here are some tips to help you get started.The first thing you have to know is that your resume should be written for a professional person. So if you're in a business you want to focus on this. If you're in a profession then your resume will have to be different than the other applicants. So start by deciding what kind of person you are and you can write your own resume.Once you have decided what field you're going to write for you need to decide what you want to write about. Make sure you are specific on that. You want to know your strengths and weaknesses so you can pinpoint what is lacking in your resume. You also want to make sure you write about the skills you have. When you write about skills, it shows your potential employer that you are good at what you do.When you write your resume you need to make sure you focus on the necessary information you need to have included. There are certain things you should include. So make sure you focus on these. You don't want to leave anything out.Next you need to think about the future. You want to keep in mind what the job is going to be like. You need to know what the company is looking for and what they are expecting. You also need to know what you are looking for. This is because in your resume you want to get noticed and you need to show that you have what it takes to succeed.Remember that you should start off slowly. Don't try to hurry yourself or the employer. This can actually backfire on you. Don't try to give your future employer all the answers to what they want to hear. Be simple and clear and let them see how your resume has given you that advantage.You should always go into your job interview knowing what to expect. Don't give up too easily. Always remember to be yourself. Don't ever try to lie to an employer. Remember that the company is just looking for the best possible person for the job.Being prepared is key to success when you go to the job interview. The more prepared you are the better. This is the only way you will stand a chance at getting the job you want.

Through the Tropical Paradise of America

Through the Tropical Paradise of America The group of islands of Hawaii is a perfect holiday destination if one wants to escape the city life of America and chill by the beach or hike up to a waterfall. One of the most famous honeymoon destinations, this tropical paradise of America is a treat to every traveler, surfers and even families. Oahu The Gathering Place, Oahu, is the third largest island of Hawaii. From beaches to city space, from history, tradition and arts to hiking trails, Oahu has a lot of offer, catering every kind of traveler. Windward Coast, Leeward Coast, North Shore, Central and Honolulu â€" these major regions of Oahu have got beaches, historical places of visit, shopping hubs, surf spots, museums, and many viewpoints. One island with so much geographical variety is a great destination to add to a Hawaii trip planner. Kauai The kayak to the waterfall â€" the Wailua River is a one-of-a-kind experience enjoyed at Kauai. Most of Kauai is covered with tropical rainforest, hence gets the name ‘Garden Isle’. The Na Pali Coast is also a famous Hollywood shooting spot, attracting tourists by its own right. The cliffs and terrain are dramatic by themselves. Waimea Canyon State Park offers one of the best hiking trails to all the adventure seeking souls. Kipu, Wailua, Polihale and Niumalu are a few of the beaches and waterfalls to hit and make a part of the Hawaii itinerary planner of Kauai. Maui Maui is a synonym to an adrenaline rush. From hiking to biking, snorkelling to windsurfing â€" name it and you can experience it. One other reason to include Maui island in your trip planner, it has been ranked the ‘Best Island’ for twenty straight years. Food, culture, adventure â€" all in my one place. Whale watching in the coastal waters, exploring the Haleakala National Park, driving up to Hana and of course the beautiful beaches all over Maui, makes this island an amazing package of the best vacation. Hawaii’s Volcano National Park Keeping aside the beaches and adventure, there is one other unique phenomenon that is a part of the tropical paradise that offers a rare sight to every visitor â€" the volcanoes. Kilauea is the Earth’s most active volcano that Hawaii holds up with pride. Mauna Loa is the world’s largest volcano, making the experience of witnessing it an incredible feeling to carry back. This National Park cannot be missed for anything. It is not every day one gets to look over a volcano as a sightseeing spot. Molokai Want to witness the rawness of the Hawaii islands? Fishermen, freshly picked farm-grown products, no traffic lights because there is no traffic to bother about â€" head to Molokai right away. Molokai is the best place to feel what Aloha is all about. The small town of Kaunakakai, secluded beaches of Molokai, a drive to the Halawa Valley â€" there’s so much to explore. Adding this town to the travel planner will only land you in a vacation away from the crowd but tucked in the roots of Hawaii. Definitely worth it. Image Source; Image Source, Image Source; Image Source, Image Source, Image Source,  Image Source

GenX, GenY, and the Jurassic Workplace - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

GenX, GenY, and the Jurassic Workplace - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Many people you encounter during your career will initially associate you with your generational stereotype. If you are a baby boomer, for example, a GenX hiring manager may tend to begin your job interview with preconceived notions that may (or may not) be to your benefit. My objective in this post is to heighten your awareness that your GenX, GenY, or baby boomer stereotype can affect your career and to motivate you to take positive action to improve your personal brand. Here’s the good news: Regardless of your generation, you have not been sentenced to a life of conforming to that  stereotype. You are a unique individual. You are free to be a non-conformist and shape your personal brand in ways that are more authentic and beneficial to you. In the 20th century Jurassic Workplace, boomer pack leaders roamed the time-worn paths of Class A office spaces and herded youthful boomers into 8’ x 8’ x 64” cubicles. Within these 64 square foot oases, boomers-in-training found respite from the outside chaos and worked diligently to complete their assigned “work packages”. They gladly traded individualism and innovation  for employment security and a sweet suite of benefits. If you are too young to relate to this, see www.dilbert.com. Now, fast forward to today. Boomer  leaders and managers are giving way to GenXers as  the remaining boomer managers are increasingly required to manage non-boomers. The old (corporate) world order is being turned on its head as GenY workers flood in. This is feeding  the environment  I mention in chapter five of Fast Track Your Job Search (and Career!): The obvious mismatched styles of boomers, GenXers, and GenYers continue to create unnecessary frictions and frustrations in the corporate workplace. Boomer managers who fail to connect with GenX and GenY motivations and priorities risk sowing the seeds of discontent every workday. These issues can be resolved, but few employers are committing serious resources toward fixing them. So, what can you do to leverage the current situation? First, you can choose to become a more effective inter-generational communicator and increase your value to your employers. Second, you can improve your odds of job search success by leveraging the positive aspects of your generational stereotype and defusing any negative aspects. To become an effective inter-generational communicator, you need to study the styles and motivations of all three generations. You can learn more about the generational differences here … or in my book. For example, a GenX survey highlighted in Sally Hogshead’s highly recommended book Radical Careering found that 81% of respondents preferred an entrepreneurial work environment versus 19% who preferred a more traditionally structured environment. Leveraging GenX preferences can  make you a more effective intergenerational co-worker and leader, which will increase your brand value. Likewise, you can succeed more quickly  in your job searches by becoming more aware of the positive and negative characteristics of your generational stereotype. For the boomer interviewee mentioned earlier, they  will typically do better in job interviews when they emphasize their strong work ethic and loyalty … while distancing themselves from the expectation that they are stuck in their ways and have outdated knowledge. By studying your own stereotype and the stereotype of those you encounter on the job and during your job searches, you can create personalized  strategies  for presenting yourself more positively. You have a great opportunity to enhance your personal brand and advance your career faster/smarter/better while  companies continue to struggle with three generations in the workplace. You can become more valuable and reap the rewards. I hope you will. Author: Richard Kirby  is an executive career consultant, speaker on career strategies, and author of Fast Track Your Job Search (and Career!). Richard Kirby’s earlier experience includes managing engineering, human resources, marketing and sales teams for employers that ranged from a Fortune 100 to a VC-funded entrepreneurial startup. For the past 11 years at Executive Impact, Richard has helped hundreds of executives and professionals successfully navigate today’s transformed 21st century job market and achieve better employment for themselves. Richard’s expertise includes career assessments and goal setting, personal marketing/branding, resume enhancement, strategic networking and job interviewing, and “contrarian” job search methodologies. He is a Board Certified Coach (in career coaching) and a Certified Management Consultant (recognized by the ISO).

Federal Resume Template Tips

Federal Resume Template TipsFederal resumes can be a real eye opener when it comes to understanding what employers are looking for. A federal resume is actually very easy to produce and contains absolutely no hype at all. With these resume tips, you can be well on your way to the top of the list.When you get a federal resume template, you will find that it contains great examples of how to format your resume for submission. Every state requires a certain format for this sort of document and some even require certain information be included as well. Using a template will make this process much easier.You may also be interested in finding a federal resume template that is formatted for each section that is listed on your resume. Not only is this helpful, but it will also make it easy to select the correct option for each section. You can easily make a decision about what sections need to be emphasized in order to make a better impression on the hiring manager.A federal resume template will have sections on the first page. These are the header or headings that provide an overview of your qualifications. They should outline your role within the organization and include any other information that you think is important.You will want to make sure that these sections make sense to the potential employer. This is the foundation that your future employer will be assessing before they move on to the next section. Your organization should be focused on this point and make sure that you take care to provide them with accurate information about you and your work history.Look over the section that you are interested in and make sure that it makes sense. Do not include any information that is not essential to the success of your new career. You should also try to make sure that your chosen organization fits in the specific job description that you submitted to them.The next section of your resume contains the cover page. You will want to ensure that you write this part as if it were your personal letter. This will help the hiring manager to know that you are confident in yourself and that they can trust that you will be a good fit for the position that you are applying for.Finally, the last section of a federal resume template is your summary. This is your opportunity to explain what the position is all about and to provide your current employment history in detail. Make sure that you provide all of the relevant information that the hiring manager is looking for and that you can make an impact on their decision.

6 Simple Ways to Negotiate Salary Effectively CareerMetis.com

6 Simple Ways to Negotiate Salary Effectively â€" CareerMetis.com Negotiating your salary is an important part of starting with an organization. Failing to do might result in us being paid less than we’re worth.Just by negotiating your salary, you can gain at least $5,000 in a year. For most people, that won’t sound like much, but it actually makes a huge difference during our career span, amounting to as much as $600,000.There’s no reason why you should be uncomfortable when it comes to negotiating your salary, but I can completely sympathize, having gone through it myself. You’ve successfully managed to sell yourself, so there should be nothing wrong with negotiating yourself a better income.evalSadly many people find it tormenting, especially if you’re shy. You don’t feel comfortable and you certainly do not want your employers to think you’re arrogant and all you care about are your wages.Hopefully, after going through this article, you can learn the basics of how to get yourself a better income.1. Know Your Self-WorthevalYou shou ld know exactly how much you are worth, according to your field, expertise, geographical area, and experience. Research the market value and the appropriate salary range you should expect. Understand your job requirements carefully and properly. Never settle for less than you are worth, because then you’ll be taken full advantage of. You’ll be expected to work more for less pay, as you have already shown yourself as “easy” and perhaps a little desperate.2. Selling YourselfGo about selling yourself like you market any product; conduct a suitable SWOT analysis. Know your strengths, weaknesses, the opportunities you’ll have and the threats you might face. Be completely honest with yourself and never be overconfident. After that, place a price on your head, estimating your worth. This way, you’ll already know how much you can give to a company and what to expect.3. Generating just the right amount of PassionIf you have less to no experience, then you won’t have the numbers to brag about in the interview. You’ll be clueless as to what to expect and how to get your managers to choose you over other, more experienced candidates. Show just the right mixture of eagerness and practicality. You’ll be offered a lesser amount because of your lack of experience, but try to at least land ten percent more than what you’re offered. Don’t let your company think that you don’t understand your self-worth; it’ll just delay your promotion in the future.4. Never come across as GreedyThis is an important one. You’re normally expected to state your salary expectation initially. Try to evade the topic of salary altogether in the beginning. Show that you’re interested more in the work and the company instead of the wages. When asked to fill a form, leave the option for expected salary range blank. Let your hiring manager think that she has a better standing in designing your worth than yourself, at least at first. You want to be called in the next time.Do n ot propose your expected salary when asked to either. Try to stall for as long as you can by saying things like, “I’m more interested in acquiring the job first and to prove my worth.” Make them name the first figure. Be polite, professional, and don’t forget to smile.eval5. Secure your JobevalDo not even mention the salary as long as you’re not sure that you’ve got the job. That way, you’ll at least be relieved of the tension that you’ve got it and be more comfortable in negotiating.Once a company names its figure, pretend to think about it. Repeat the figure out loud and go silent and wait for your employer to speak up first, but don’t let the silence stretch too long and make things awkward. Often, your contemplation puts pressure on the employer and it’s likely that she will offer a higher pay herself.6. Cover the difference with Added BenefitsIf you failed to negotiate or the employer wasn’t in a compromising position, then accept the offer. But do it only if it matches your worth and the market value. Move on to talk about other benefits, like paid leaves, a company offered car or transport compensation to match the difference you had in your head. It’s likely that your employer will listen to you.Do not hesitate to drop the process if you are being paid far less than you’re worth. Try to negotiate professionally by adding your knowledge on the subject and your experiences. State how you can benefit your company and calculate your requirements and divide them according to the hours you’ll have to undertake.

Help For Parents With College Grads Living At Home

Help For Parents With College Grads Living At Home Recently Ive been seeing and hearing a lot about parents with a college grad living at home- unable to find a job after a pricey education. Maybe it was always this waybut maybe they arent really prepared.  It is tough out there, no doubt, but not impossible! Be Armed And Ready To Help Being a parent is difficult. You have to balance being supportive with doling out the tough love. Often, your kids dont listen to you at all, because, remember, they know it all (and you know little about their world!) With a limited network, little to no experience and unfamiliarity with how to traverse the tricky terrain of job searching, these 20-somethings are struggling to launch into the workplace. Maybe there is more parents can do to assist their children in the quest to land their first job: New Grads Just Want A Chance Everyone just wants to prove themselves by getting a foot in the door. Graduates have so much energy and enthusiasm, so why arent companies jumping at the opportunity to hire them? The answer is complex, but more importantly, lets acknowledge that job searching today is different from what it used to be. There are multiple solutions for working around this roadblock. Teach Them How To Do the Two-Step Advise your child to connect whenever he or she finds a job he or she is qualified for and interested in. Both you and your child should search social media for people you may know who work at the hiring company. Even past employees can make a helpful introduction or provide valuable insight. When you find someone inside the company, immediately reach out and let them know your son or daughter is interested in a job, and ask if they would be willing to forward your childs résumé to the hiring decision maker (not human resources) or put in a good word. Many companies have employee referral programs where employees are financially incentivized to refer people. A referral doesnt have to mean this current employee is endorsing or recommending your kids work, it merely means they know the referred candidate. Please be sure to copy your child in all communication and urge your son or daughter to follow up directly. Help Them Track Down Company Insiders It is quite possible neither of you know anyone inside the company, which can put your child at a disadvantage. But dont give up hope. Encourage your child to search for company and employee profiles on Twitter, Google+, Instagram and Pinterest. Monitor updates and look for opportunities to like or share what is posted, or add to the companys discussion. The purpose in stalking the company and its employees is for your child to genuinely show his or her knowledge of what the company is doing and his or her interest in that industry. This is the new way of networking and fostering new professional relationships. Encourage Them To Connect With Alumni Fellow graduates from high school and college are often willing to help out. Ask your son or daughter if he or she has already joined the schools alumni network groups on LinkedIn, or contacted the alumni office for information. Once he or she is connected, encourage your child to search the alumni group for names of people who work for companies or who hold positions related to those he or she is interested in. And dont stop there. Often alumni groups host regional events. Remind your child that meeting people face-to-face is an important part of building relationships, so encourage him or her to attend. Even Past Professors Can Help Encourage your son or daughter to reconnect with professors who are likely to offer guidance and assistance, and know that it is never too late to do so. Many want to help students, past and present, pursue their academic interests. Not to mention, professors often have contacts in the working world. Review Their Work Another way to help is to make sure your child is applying for the right level job. Does he or she meet the stated requirements for the job for which he or she is applying? The best way to determine this is to thoroughly review and assess the job description. Does your son or daughters résumé provide proof of experience or knowledge for each of the jobs requirements? If you arent seeing enough proof, remind your child of the class projects, internships and volunteer work he or she has participated in that might be applicable. If he or she is unable to come up with examples to match at least 60 percent of the requirements, it is probably not a job for which he or she should apply. Pay attention to the years of experience as well. Have your kid focus on jobs requesting one to three years of experience, or ones that specifically state they are entry-level jobs. Test Their Interest and Enthusiasm One of the best ways to overcome the discouraging odds is to show interest in the company or role. Ask your child why he or she is interested in that role and how it aligns with future goals. Have him or her think about what he or she might do to demonstrate this. It could be his or her relentless pursuit of the job opportunity, or how he or she creatively captures the attention of the company through a multimedia presentation or a cover letter that knocks the companys socks off. Dont Let Them Get Discouraged Searching for the first job out of college requires investing a full-time effort. This means the majority of your childs week should be spent meeting people online and in-person and applying for jobs. You may want to encourage your son or daughter pick up a part-time job or volunteer. He or she will need to explain what he or she was doing after graduation, and looking for a job probably isnt enough. Portions of this post originally appeared on US News World Report On Careers

Career Corner On the fence about whether to change jobs - Hallie Crawford

Career Corner On the fence about whether to change jobs Are you on the fence about whether to change jobs? My advice is Dont Wait! Dont wait until youre miserable. Start looking for something else now if youre unhappy. You dont have to jump right into something new right now, you can simply poke around and see whats out there. Taking some kind of action now will actually make you feel better, trust me. I joke with people that as a career coach, I feel like a dentist sometimes clients wait until theyre in pain to come to me! I wish theyd reach out for help sooner. Its easier to find another job when you already have one. Youve heard this before its true. Heres why: You have income coming in and that always feels better than no income. Youre not desperate to find something else, or crying in the bathroom because youre so miserable. (Yes, I did that in my last 9-5 job! I thought shopping therapy would help. It did for about an hour.) Dont wait until youre sick of where you are and feeling desperate to leave! Its better to look now when it doesnt feel as urgent. You wont be coming a place of desperation and anxiety if you start now. Plus, youll have time to find something you really enjoy. It takes time to identify your ideal career path so you need the time to figure it out. You dont want to jump into something else just for the heck of it. Be smart about it. Know you can find something else. Start looking around, it cant hurt and can get you moving in a new direction. Here’s to having a career you love!Career Seekers Career Coach