Transcript Let`s talk about your personalities…

Resumes and Cover
Letters
What’s in a Resume
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Name, address, etc.
Objective: generally a goal for the next year ir two
Professional qualifications
Experience
Education
Organizations
Awards
Personal Data
On demand:
– Salary history
– Reason’s for leaving
– References
What to do with those
resumes…
Always include a cover letter addressed to a
person
Hand deliver: old fashioned, but a good way to
see different offices
Snail Mail
Don’t email unless you‘ve had some contact
first
Post resumes online
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jobbankusa.com
smarthunt.com
The Boston Society of Architects
The IIDA
ASID
Use Microsoft’s Guides
• There are different resumes
– Contemporary
– Elegant
– Professional
• And a cover letter
• Other business documents as well
• Apply your own formatting
What’s in a cover letter?
• Use business format
• State who you are, how you heard about firm, and
what your objective is
• Give three examples of why you’d be a good person
to hire for their job
– They should reference your resume.
– Can also reference work samples if you send any
– Include portfolio web link if you’ve got one
• Give them three why reasons you’re right Remind
them about your goal, and promise to contact in the
near future.
Formatting
• Graphics can really make a resume
interesting, but don’t over do it
– Vertical line or two
– Horizontal line or two
– Aligning columns, etc
• Make into .pdf for electronic transmittal
• Avoid too many fonts and sizes
Ethics in Interior
Design
What is (or are) ethics?
– eth·ic
Pronunciation: 'e-thik
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ethik, from Middle
French ethique, from Latin ethice, from Greek
EthikE, from Ethikos
1 plural but singular or plural in construction : the
discipline dealing with what is good and bad and
with moral duty and obligation
2 a : a set of moral principles or values b : a
theory or system of moral values <the present-day
materialistic ethic> c plural but singular or plural in
construction : the principles of conduct governing
an individual or a group <professional ethics> d :
a guiding philosophy
Where do we get our
ethical standards from?
– OK, it’s kind-of a big subject
– Social convention, individual training,
religious convictions, formulaic response to
events, etc.
– e.g., “All misery comes from a conflict of
desires” or “Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you.”
Or, look to your
professional organization
– IBD excerpt, “To be a professional involves
the acceptance of responsibility to the
public… Ethical conduct is more that
merely abiding by the letter of explicit
prohibitions. Rather, it requires
unswerving commitment to honorable
behavior, even at the sacrifice of personal
advantage.”
– IIDA Code of Ethics
Exterior to the office
– Competition
• Undercutting fees or working for free
• Denigrating competitors
– Conflict of interest
• Commissions
• Fees based on project costs
– Misuse of Proprietary information
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Sharing client data or plans
Sharing data or plans from a previous employer
Using consultants’ work without due credit
Using other design firms’ work
– Misrepresentation
• Lack of promised skills and expertise
• Lack of personnel or commitment to a project
• Commissions
Interior to the office
– Competition between employees for
• Recognition
• Advancement, salary, bonus pay
• Responsibility
– Misuse of Proprietary information
• Health data on other employee
• Non-compete clauses
– Employee theft
• Pencils
• Software
• Office facilities for outside work
– Misrepresentation
• Lack of promised skills and expertise
• Lack of commitment to a project
• Presentee-ism
Common complaints heard
by ASID
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Over billing, double billing
Undisclosed business practices methods of compensation
Purposely avoiding communication
Designer not qualified
Merchandise ordered is of poor quality
Failure to pass along full payment to suppliers
Failure to adhere to budget, unless discussed with and
approved by client first
Unclear or non-specific contract
Contract alteration as the job progresses w/o prior client
approval
Not performing in the best interest of the client
Unprofessional or improper business relationships
Complaints process:
– Complainant explains details and data in writing
– Designer given a period of time to respond
– Complainant may request to continue review by an
ethics committee
– Ethics committee and association legal council
review
– If a violation is suspected, another ethics committee
reviews to determine if complaint warrants
disciplinary action
– Disciplinary committee reviews,hears testimony, etc.
– Legal council for all parties may be present
– Committee then decides what action to take, from
censure to terminating membership
Example:
– Gerald Smith is under contract to research and design
offices for Netscape. He is then contacted to do similar
project for Microsoft. The Microsoft project is much larger
and more lucrative.
– Is it unethical to take the Microsoft project?
– Should he inform each of his clients about the existence
of the other?
– If there is overlap in the research work, should he charge
both for that work, even if he only does it once?
– What if accepting the Microsoft project significantly delays
delivery of the Netscape project?
– What if Netscape objects, but Microsoft does not?
Example:
• Your boss always orders extra fabrics, and bills the
client. She then saves the material for personal
usage. You are managing a large residential project,
and the client calls you to question where all the extra
material is.
• Do you explain the office practice to the client?
• Do you lie to the client?
• Can you hold off answering without making the client
suspicious?
• Do you complain to the boss?
• Do you try to get some of that extra fabric for
yourself?
What would you?
• Form groups of four
• Take your role, and discuss the issue,
strategies for the meeting/negotiation
• Choose one person to play the role
• Everyone else observes
– What assumptions do each person have?
– Are both people listening?
– Note how each person resolves the conflict.