What is a good firm? What makes every firm so unique? How do I know what I want in a firm culture? How do I know if a firm has a good culture? Firm culture for me, means that there is a sense of belonging between me, coworkers, firm leadership, and overall values. It is […]
Discerning Firm Culture Read More »
“When you have setbacks and failures, you can’t overreact to them. You need to step back, analyze them, and learn from them. But you also need to stay optimistic!” Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance It is important for professionals and mentors to understand and know the difference between a fixed mindset
Growth Mindset : Empower Young Professionals Read More »
It is time to look for your second full time architectural job out of college, but what’s important this time around? Preparing for an interview for that first job was fairly simple as you would have focused on projects you did in college and some internship experience. Is that still relevant? How do you show
Ready for Your Next Full Time Job? Read More »
Construction administration “CA” is one of those aspects of our profession that I would categorize as a necessary evil. CA is seldom easy, and usually challenging if not downright difficult. But, it’s a great learning experience. For young architects it can be an eye-opener as to the vagaries and vicissitudes of how a project gets
Grow as an Architect: Construction Administration and Specifications: Bob Bailey Read More »
With the economy cooling from the corona virus, it is going to be difficult for soon-to-be architecture graduates to find that first job in the profession, and current professionals to find their next job. In a competitive market, those seeking jobs must find ways to stand out from the many other professionals applying for the
Passive House: Align Passion with a Certification: Greg Coni Read More »
The economic effects of Covid-19 have led companies to focus on trying to survive a situation that has no defined end. The architecture community is no exception. Based on the AIA’s “March 2020 Special Report: Moving ahead, challenging times confront the design professions,” two thirds of firms reported slowing or stoppage of projects due to
Learning from the Covid-19 Pandemic: Adaptive Retooling Read More »
My name is Kelly Cummings. I am an introverted extrovert, whose socks rarely match and has a strong dislike of pickles. I am a boomerang Pittsburgher, who grew up in the North Hills but has daringly crossed bridges and rivers to live just south of the city. When I was growing up, I never considered
Discovering My Career Through Passion: Kelly Cummings Read More »
COVID-19 is taking over discussions around the world. Sporting events cancelled. Television and movies stopped production. Restaurants and Bars are closed for service. Everyone is encouraged to practice social distancing. Most of the country is working from home and trying to stay healthy. Construction, for now, is still pushing forward. There is some positive light
The architecture profession does a great job at discussing the importance of having mentors and organizations like the AIA actively help individuals meet others with a passion for mentorship . However, there needs to be more discussions about moving towards the need to have a personal board of directors rather than a single mentor. A
Create A Personal Board of Directors Read More »
One of my favorite podcasts to listen to is Harvard Business School (HBR): Women at Work. Starting season 3, Amy Gallo joined as a new co host to the podcast. Amy works at HBR and is an expert in conflict, communication, and workplace dynamics. This post is going to talk more about her book, HBR
Dealing with Conflict Read More »
As an architect, you are constantly building relationships as well as structures. The connections you make along the way help to guide your career and your network. When you graduate from college you may feel that your sphere of influence is rather small (Read more about one’s sphere of influence in the book, The Practice
Guide to Networking Read More »
When I moved to Pittsburgh in June of 2016, I knew exactly one person: my soon-to-be wife who had recently started teaching at The University of Pittsburgh. In a bit of a coincidence, she had grown up in Steel City and happened to be offered a job at Pitt Law when she was on the
