by Russell Boniface
Associate Editor

How do you . . . come together within AIA components to help your out-of-work members?

Summary: In part two of our three-part series on ways AIA components are helping out-of-work members, we describe the services and programs launched by the Boston Society of Architects, AIA Seattle, and AIA Charlotte. Each component is supporting its members in many different ways. Some programs offered by the Boston Society of Architects include a career resources network, open committee events, résumé boards, job notifications, BIM workshops, LEED™ training, and workshops on starting your own firm. AIA Seattle’s programs include online postings of jobs and résumés, a media campaign, skills development, employee sharing, seminars, podcasts, classes ranging from project management to BIM, mentoring, scholarships, and a dues waiver. And AIA Charlotte offers a program called ALF, which provides monthly, upbeat meetings for its out-of-work members, replete with cocktails, snacks, and glow-in-the dark bracelets.

Three components—many programs
The Boston Society of Architects has seen many layoffs going back to November, but layoffs have tapered off, says director Nancy Jenner. Training is a big part of its programs to support displaced employees. “We started a monthly group called the career resources network that is a once a month lunch for anyone who is unemployed or underemployed and wants to network and learn,” explains Jenner. “We had 50 people at each lunch. Our next program is on social networking as a way to build connections and look for jobs. The network is a chance for people to meet and feel camaraderie.”

There is cautious optimism about the job market situation in Boston

Jenner says that the Boston Society of Architects provides committee events open to all that are specific to project type with topics that include education, health-care, and residential design. There has been a definite increase in the number of people participating, she says. The chapter has several programs, including four one-day Revit immersion workshops (which were free, but the component might soon require a small fee to minimize no-shows), LEED training, workshops on starting your own firm, and a free workshop on community engagement. In addition, the chapter offers a résumé board and job notification service, is currently working closely with recruiters, and is seeking state funds for energy-efficient modeling to offer at a low cost. “The big challenge now is to sustain our programs,” notes Jenner. The Boston Society of Architects provides a career resource Web page on its site. For the time being, Jenner adds, there is cautious optimism among firm principals about the job market situation in the Boston area. “They say they are okay for now, but there could be even more cuts.”

AIA Seattle offers many programs to support its members. “Keeping our profession connected is more important than ever,” says executive director Lisa Richmond. The AIA Seattle online job bank and résumé postings provide information about design and engineering jobs in Seattle. Folio, AIA Seattle’s online listing of member firms, lists potential employers, while its weekly e-newsletter, “This Week in Design,” encourages networking by listing professional contacts in the industries. AIA Seattle has a media campaign to expand public awareness of the value of architectural services and offers skills development and job search support.

In addition, AIA Seattle will offer continuing education scholarships

The chapter also offers employee sharing, where firms loan or borrow employees, rather than hiring or downsizing. There are seminars on developing a market for services overseas and podcasts and articles on its Web site that range from marketing ideas for small firms to asset protection. “AIA Seattle will continue to support the work of the AIA Washington Council to promote good laws and prevent bad ones, creating the best possible environment for business,” Richmond says. This is an ideal time for staff to upgrade their skills and increase their competitiveness, she notes. AIA Seattle plans classes on energy efficiency, project management, codes, ARE preparation, sustainable design, and BIM. Short classes will only cost five dollars for members. The chapter is developing a list of members for mentoring and online profiles of architects working in non-traditional jobs.

In addition, AIA Seattle will offer continuing education scholarships. “AIA Seattle will make available a number of needs-based scholarships for each 2009 continuing education event, including full-day conferences,” describes Richmond. The component offers a dues waiver, where AIA Seattle will waive 75 percent of dues for a renewing member. AIA Seattle also offers a monthly job-seekers breakfast and volunteer opportunities. AIA Seattle provides a career resource Web page on its site as well.

At AIA Charlotte, it’s all about ALF—Architects Looking Forward (to give the program a fun, friendly image, not unlike the similarly named popular ‘80s alien from the planet Melmac. ALF is a monthly meeting hosted by the chapter for its unemployed members, and there have been three meetings so far. “The first meeting was informal, with about 60 people,” says Kate Shelton, the AIA Charlotte member services coordinator. “It wasn’t just for laid-off members—we were reaching out to all of our members and the people they knew who had been going through layoffs. The chapter president and executive director spoke at the meeting.”

Although still featuring cocktails and snacks, the second meeting became more formalized. Says Shelton: “An architecture recruiter gave interviewing tips that were more of an in-depth analysis, as opposed to basic tips. That provided a continuing education opportunity.” A third meeting featured a panel discussion of three local members who started their own firms. “They have weathered this recession before, mentioning the early 80s and 70s,” Shelton notes. “About 40 or 50 people attended, and we had a Q-and-A session. We actually had to shut the program down because it was going past time. Again, we provided continuing education.”

Find volunteer opportunities to practice your skills, keep busy and show initiative

The ALF meetings use a color-coded, light bracelet system. When snapped, the light bracelets glow in the dark. Explains Shelton: “If you are looking for a job you wear yellowish-green, if you have a job you wear purple, and those there to be in support of their fellow architects or have fun wear pinkish-red. We want to lighten the mood. We don’t want it to be a pity party. We want people to walk away and feel that they came away with good information to put forward.” She points out there has been positive feedback. “I’ve heard success stories where they have been able to pass along a phone number for a job lead.”

The Charlotte region has over 10 percent unemployment, Shelton says. “The design and construction industry in Charlotte has been hit very hard,” she says. “Firms are calling me to tell me they are laying off people by the forties and fifties. I know several architects who have gotten laid off who are starting their own consulting firm. We want to prevent people from leaving the profession, because that is something the architects now have to consider.”

In addition, AIA Charlotte encourages its members to stay active, such as forming Habitat for Humanity groups. Concludes Shelton: “Find volunteer opportunities to practice your skills, keep busy and show initiative—do something with the time.”