APA Florida Student Flipbook

The The The Planning Planning Planning

Playbook Playbook Playbook

a playbook for you a playbook for you

TheFloridaChapteroftheAmericanPlanningAssociation (APAFlorida)isanon-profit,3,000-member-based organizationrepresentingplannersofallspecialties.All studentmembershipsarefree!

Thisguideaimstoprovideplanninggraduatestudentsaccess toresourcesandtipsrangingfrommentorsandcareeradvice towaystogetinvolvedintheplanningcommunity.The playbooknarrowsdowntheinformationyouneedto establishyourselfintheplanningworld.

ThePlanningPlaybookcoverssixcoretopics:

WhatisAPAFlorida?

APAFloridaSectionsandevents

TableofContents

2 Chapter101 Sections AnnualEvents

3 StepstoSuccess Scholarships|Internships

Mentoring | PlanningCareers

5 Certification

WhatIsAICP |AICPExam

WhyShouldIBeCertified?

APAFLORIDASECTIONS

The chapter is divided up into 12 geographic sections, each of which has its own elected board and hosts local continuing education, networking, and social events.

Sections that include or are near PAB universities include a student representative that serves as a liaison between the board and students

OnceanAPAFloridamember,youare automaticallyamemberofasection andcanparticipateintheirevents

ANNUALEVENTS

APAFloridahoststwoannualeventsthatare primeopportunitiesfornetworkingand professionaldevelopment

Florida Planning Conference

Thelargesteventoftheyear bringstogetherplannersofall disciplinesandgeographic locationstodiscussthetrending topicsandcriticalissuesfacing Floridaplannersandthecommunitiestheyserve.

Studentscanattendatasubstantiallydiscountedrate andhavediscountedhotelroomssetaside.Thisisan idealopportunityforfirst-yearstudentstobuild connectionsandlearnmoreaboutawiderangeof careersintheplanningprofessionorforsecond-year studentswhoarejob-seekingoraimtohonetheir networkingskills.

PublicPolicyWorkshop

What'shappeningatthefederal,state,andlocallevelsof government,andthelatestpolicydevelopment?Thisis yourchancetohearfromthoseintheknow!

Thisonlineeventpacksinaday'sworthofpolicy breakdownforplannersandtheaffects,positiveor negative,legislationhasonthecommunitieswhereyou liveandwork.

StudentscanattendthisonlineeventforFREE.

steps to success steps to success

Scholarships

Beselectiveaboutwhatscholarshipsyouapplyfor.Thissoundsobvious,butdon’tspend valuabletimeonthingsthataren’tagoodfitforyoursituation Ifthedescriptiontells youascholarshipisintendedforstudentsinterestedinaffordablehousing,andyouwrite abeautifulessayaboutyourfascinationwithtransportationplanning,thechancesof beingselectedaren’tverygood.Thattimewould’vebeenbetterspentonanapplication forascholarshipthatfundsgraduateresearchonemergingtransportationtechnology.

Thinkaheadandthinkbig.Youressayisthepieceoftheapplicationthatallowsyoutheflexibilitytobecreative. Personalizingitanddescribingthingsfromauniqueanglecanreallymakeyouressaystandout.Ifyou’rehaving troublefindinginspiration,tryaskingyourselfbig-picturequestionslike,"Whatmakesmysituationdifferent?"or "WhydoIcareaboutthis?"Thesewillhelpyoutellastorythatonlyyoucanwrite.Youcanalsothinkaboutyour plansforthefuture Envisionhowyourcareerwillchangetheworldandwhythat’simportanttoyou Thenexplain howthisscholarshipwouldhelpyougettoyourgoalANDbenefitothersintheprocess.Remember,thereisa limitedamountofmoneyallocatedtoscholarshipsannually;explaininghowyouwouldmaximizetheawardisa greatwaytostandout.

Theresourcesbelowareagreatplacetostartsearching(andregularlychecking)formorespecificaward opportunities,buttherearemanymoreoutthere.Don’tlimityoursearchtoplanning-relatedorganizationsor yourschoolofchoiceonly.Rememberthathow-toguidesfortheapplicationprocess,newscholarship announcements,ortipsforwritingyourbestessaycanbefoundanywhere.

APAFlorida'sAndreAndersonMinorityScholarship|APAFoundationScholarships|AmericanPublicTransit AssociationScholarships|UniversityFinancialAid&AdmissionsResources:FAU|FSU|UCF|UF|USF

Internships

Oneofthebestsourcesforlearningaboutinternshipsisyourschool’s planningdepartmentoffice.Manycompaniesoragenciesseekinginternswill contactplanningschoolsinsearchofpotentialcandidates,especiallyifthe hiringmanagerisanalum.Anothersourceiscareerfairsandonlinegroups. Sinceengineeringfirmsalsotendtohaveplanningasaservice,goto engineeringorSTEM-focusedcareerfairs.Notallcompanies/agenciespost internshipopportunities,sotaketheinitiativeandreachouttothem.Worst casescenario,youmakeacontactwhomaybeusefulinyourfuturecareer.

InterviewDos&Don’ts

Dobeearlyanddressprofessionally Domakeeyecontact(Tip:Duringavirtualinterview lookintothecameratocreateamorepersonable experience.)

Dosendathankyounote(Hint:handwrittennotes standoutmorethananemail.)

Doreviewsometypicalinterviewquestionsand practiceyouranswers

Doturnyourcameraonandhaveanappropriate backgroundifitisvirtual Doresearchthecompanyoragencyandhave questionspreparedaboutanyrecentprojects, awards,etc.

Don’tbringcoffee,waterbottle,food,orgum

Don'tbedistracted,turnoffyourphoneorleaveitin anotherroomorinyourpurse/pocket

Paidvs.Unpaid

Mostprivatefirmsofferpaidinternships

CoverLetterandResumeHow-Tos

Keepbothtoasinglepage

Resumeshouldfocusonskillsandaccomplishments ifnopriorworkhistory

Softskills,likecustomerservice,communication, andadaptability,areimportant

Coverlettershouldaddresswhyyouwanttowork there,bespecificifthereisaprojectthatdrewyour attention

Performspellcheckandgrammaticalreview;ask somebodyelsetoproofreadthem

Adjustresumetothespecificjobduties,use keywordsfromthepositiondescription

Understandcoursecreditrequirementsandmakesureyournewemployerdoestoo

steps to success steps to success

8thingsacareerinplanninghastooffer

Planningprofessionsallowyoutocontributetothegrowthanddevelopmentofyour communityandallowyoutoleaveatangiblemarkontheplacesyouliveandwork Planningallowsyoutohelpshapethewayscommunitiesgrow,change,andare developedbothatthemasterplanningandsiteplanninglevels. Theplanningprofessionencouragesyoutocollaborate,buildteams,andseekout newideaswithpeoplefromdiversebackgrounds,perspectives,andskills. Planningpositionsallowyoutoconsider,evaluate,andaddressthe interconnectednessofcommunityconcerns.

Planningpositionsallowyoutoadaptyourskillsandknowledgeto manydifferentpositionsandinmanydifferentareasofplanning specialties,butalwaysfocusoncommongoalsandasenseofpurpose. Planningcareerspromotegrowthandchange,bothinthetypesofplaces youworkinandinthepersonyouwillbecome.Establishafoundation thatmaybeadaptedanddevelopedintonewopportunitiesthroughout yourcareer.

Planningenablesyoutoworkindifferenttypesofplaces urbancities, suburbancommunities,andruralregions.

Aplanningeducationcanprovideyouwitharangeofcareeropportunities indifferenttypesoforganizations:city,county,orstategovernments; housing,environmental,ordisabled-rightsnon-profits;parksorschool planningdepartments;spaceports,seaports,orairportfacilities;real estate,engineering,orarchitecturalfirms.

Howtofindandapproachapotentialmentor

Thinkaboutyourprofessionalgoalsandfindsomebodywhoembodiesthem. Introduceyourself,discussmutualinterests,andaskfortheirbusinesscard. Theotherpartyneedstoknowthatyouarenotjustanotherplanningstudent seekingajob,butaregenuinelyinterestedinlearningmoreabouttheirwork andbuildingaprofessionalrelationship.

Followupwithanemailorphonecallaskingiftheyarewillingtomeet(either in-person,virtually,oroverthephone).

Duringthatnextmeeting,explainyourgoalsandaskthemiftheyarewilling tomentoryou

Ifyouneedanintroduction,useyournetwork(friends,professors,orfamily members)toseeiftheycanhelp.

CheckouttheAPAFloridaMentorAPlanningStudent(MAPS)program.

Whatisthestandardmentor/menteerelationships?

Thereisnostandard,exceptthatitistypicallyarelationshipbetweentwoparties,whereonemaybelookingfor guidancefromanotherwithgreaterexperience.Itcanbeaformalorinformalrelationship.Formalmeaningitispartof astructuredprogramwithexpectationsformeetings.Informalmeansthatitisunstructuredanddependsonthe willingnessofbothpartiestoengage.Typically,yoursupervisorcannotbeaformalmentorbutmayserveasaninformal mentor.

I’mintroverted,canIbementoredonline?

Yes!Whileyouareabletomaintainamentorshiponline,itisrecommencedtomeetwithyourmentorin-personat thebeginningofyourrelationshiptohelpbuildarapport

Withclassesandhomework+aninternshipI’mtoobusyforamentor.

Unlessyouarepartofastructuredprogramthatrequiresmeetingonceamonth,thereisnorequiredlevelofeffort formentoring.Likewitheverythingelse,yougetoutofitwhatyouputintoit;meaningthatifyourmentoring sessionsareworthwhile,theydon’thavetobefrequent.

HowdoIgrowarelationshipwithamentor?

Itisarelationshipthatbenefitsbothparties,sobewillingtogiveasmuchasyoureceive.

Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.

― Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities

WhatisAICPandwhyisitimportant?

Yes,youcanbecertifiedifyouarecurrentlyastudentorhaverecentlygraduated! CertificationfromtheAmericanInstituteofCertifiedPlanners(AICP)isanationally recognized,verificationofaplanner’squalifications.Thiscertificationhelps tremendouslywithprofessionaldevelopment,asseveralplanningpositionsrequireor preferanAICPcertifiedplanner,especiallyformidtoseniorlevelroles.Onaverage,a certifiedplannermakes$16,000annuallymorethananon-certifiedplanner,sothere arefinancialbenefitstogettingcertifiedaswell.

AICPcertificationrequirespassingtheAICPexamandaworkexperienceassessment. Thenumberofyearsofworkexperienceneededvariesbasedonyoureducationalqualifications.

UseAICP’sinteractiveexperiencecalculatortoseehowmuchexperienceyouneed Tomeettheminimumwork experiencerequirements,besidesthedurationofwork,youalsoneedtohavedemonstratedexperiencewithavarietyof planningtasks.UsetheAICP’sExperienceWorksheettomakesurethatyoumeetalltheminimumrequirements.

Keydatesandregistration

YoucangetcertifiedwithintheSpringorFallcycleeachyear.Therearethreerequiredsteps togetcertified:

1.

2.

3.

Registertogetcertified(April&October)-$255

TaketheAICPexam(May&November)-$0

Verifyyoureducationandworkexperience(June&December)-$255

Rememberyouneednotcompleteallstepswithinthesamecycle.Furtherdetailsregarding thecertificationprocesscanbefoundinthisCertificationGuide.

ManyemployerscoversomeorallAICPcertificationcosts,aswellasmembershipdues,so talktoyourcoworkersorsupervisoraboutgettingcertifiedoraskduringajobinterview.Also, checkforotherfundingopportunitieslikeAPA’sDiversityScholarshiportheWomenin PlanningDivision’sGrantProgram.

Howtopreparefortheexam

TheAICPExamcoversavastrangeofplanningtopics,soit’snevertooearlytostartstudyingforit.Statistics,Law,History, Theory,andmanyothertopicsontheexamarecoveredwithinmostPAB-accreditedprograms.

UndertheOnePathtoAICP,youcantaketheAICPExamatanytimefollowinggraduation.Bypassingtheexam,youcan usethe“AICPCandidate”designation,evenpriortogettingtherequiredworkexperience.It’sadvisabletotaketheexam soonaftergraduationwhenalotoftheplanningtopicsarefreshinyourmind,andyourtest-takingabilitiesareatapeak!

Examstudytips

APAFlorida’sTreasureCoastSectionoffersaFREEonlineAICP StudyGroupeveryexamcycle,withliveclasseseveryThursday eveningandSaturdaymorningforthethreemonthspriortothe exam TwoFAICPvolunteershosttheprepcourseandattracts participantsfromacrossthecountry!

TheAICPExamincludes170multiple-choicequestions.Thetopics coveredontheexamfallintoninecategories.

APA’sExampagehasconsolidatednumerousresourcestohelp withexampreparation,includingrecordedwebinars,online resources,andpracticeexams.APAFloridaalsooffersseveral resourcesfortakingtheAICPexam.

If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.

― Michael Jordan

aicp aicp

Networking & social media Networking & social media

UsingLinkedInfornetworking

It’simportanttostayengagedwithcontactsyoumakeatnetworkingorotherevents,andonegreatwaytodothat isthroughsocialmediaplatformslikeLinkedIn.Aneasywaytoapproachthisistoaskthemtoconnectwithyouat theendofyourconversation Herearesomepromptsyoucanusetoaskthemtoconnectviasocialmedia:

Ithasbeenreallygreatmeetingyoutoday!I’dlovetostayintouchandmaybeevengetcoffeetogetherin thefuturesoIcanlearnmoreaboutyourcareerpath AreyouonLinkedIn?Iwouldlovetoconnectthere!

I’vereallyenjoyedourconversationtoday!PerhapswecouldconnectviaLinkedInoranothersocialmedia platformtostayintouch?

Yourroleat[company]soundsveryinteresting.Iwouldlovetolearnmoreaboutwhatprojectsyouare workingonthere.PerhapswecouldconnectviaLinkedInoranothersocialmediaplatformtostayintouch? Afantasticwaytoensurethatnetworkingcontactsyoumeet followuponconnectingwithyouviaLinkedInistomake simplebusinesscardswithyourname,contactinformation, abriefnoteaboutyourcareeraspirations,andacallto actiontoconnectonLinkedInorothersocialmedia platforms Businesscardscanbedesignedthroughfree onlineprogramslikeCanvaandorderedfairlyinexpensively online.Pleaseusethesebusinesscardoptionshereandhere togetyoustarted.(Tip:ConsiderputtingaQRcodetoyour resumeonthebackofthecard!)

IfyouforgettoaskthemtoconnectviaLinkedInwhenyoumeetinperson,don’tfret! LinkedInmakesiteasytoconnectwithprofessionals.Itishighlyrecommendedthatyou sendamessagewhenrequestingaconnectiononLinkedIntoaddapersonaltouchandto remindthemofhowyoumet.Herearesomepotentialpromptsyoucanuseinamessage whentryingtomaketheconnection:

Itwasgreattomeetyouat[event][yesterday/lastweek/applicabletimeperiod].I’dlovetoconnectandlearn moreabout[companyname]andstayuptodatewithwhatyourcompanyisdoingtoinnovateapproachesto [categoryof]planning

Ilookforwardtotalkingsoon!

Itwasgreatdiscussinghowyoubecameaplannerat[event][yesterday/lastweek/applicabletimeperiod] Your roleat[company]soundsveryinteresting.Iwasintriguedbyhow[pullonepoignantthoughtfromconversation]. Thanksagainforamemorableconversation.

Itwasgreatspeakingtoyouatthe[event]in[city][yesterday/lastweek/applicabletimeperiod].Ienjoyedour conversationaboutyourinterestsin[relatedtopic]andhowyougotinto[profession].Onefollow-upquestionI hadwas[question].

Thankyouagainforyourtimeandadvice.

InadditiontostayingconnectedtothemviaLinkedIn,youmaybeinterestedinaskingthemtodoaninformational interviewwithyoutolearnmoreabouttheirroleandgetcareeradvice.Herearesomepotentialpromptsyoucanuseina messagewhenaskingforaninformationalinterview:

I’marecentgraduatefrom[insertschool]andwanttogointoplanning I’vebeenfollowingyourwork,andyour careerpathimpressedme.Ifyoueverhave30minutes,I’dlovetolearnhowyoustartedworkinginthefield.

I’vebeenfollowingtheworkyou’vebeendoingfor[companyname]inthelastfewmonths,andI’mvery impressedwiththeresultsachievedinsuchashorttime!Iwouldlovetochatmoreandlearnhowyougotthe opportunitytoworkwithsuchagreatorganization.

Networking & social media Networking & social media

Makingyoursocialmediamoreprofessional

It'seasytoforgetthatwhenpostingontoanysocialmediasite,youareleavinga digitalfootprint. Youarelettingoffsomesteamaftermidtermsandwanttoshow youarereleasingthestressofexamsonyourTikTokorInstagrampage.While physicalandmentalhealthareimportant,youneedtorememberthatany potentialemployer,mentor,orcolleaguecanseewhatyouhaveposted.

Youneedtobeawareofobviousorsubconsciousmessagesyouaresharing, becauseonceyouarehired,youractionsdorepresentyouremployer,evenifyou don'tthinkitdoes Today,mostcompanieshavesocialmediaguidelinesthatyou mustagreetobeforeyouarehired.

LookatourfriendDollyPartonontheright.Asidefrombeinganationaltreasure, Dollybroketheinternetwhenshepostedthismemethatperfectlyillustratesthe differencesinsocialplatforms.

Yourfutureemployer whowilldoasocialmediasearchasapartofabackgroundcheck willlookathowyou communicate.Areyoucoherentusingcompletesentences,notusingshortcuts?Thismayseeminnocuousbutthey arelookingtoseehowyouwilltalktocustomers/clients,especiallyonLinkedIn.

Wehavesomesuggestionsonhowtocleanupyourdigitalpresencetogetyoureadyfor"therealworld":

Getaprofessionalheadshot.Itisimportanttodressforthejobyouwant. Asmentionedearlier,filloutyourLinkedInaccountwithsoftandhardskills,volunteerexperiences,languages,etc. Spellcheck!It'stheeasiestandmostoverlookedtool.Useit.Often. Deleteolderpoststhatcouldbeperceivedaspoortasteorbaddecisionmaking.Remember,toneandsarcasm canbemisconstruedthroughsocialmedia. (Hint:ifthereareswearwords,delete.)

Thisdoesn'tmeanthatyoucannotshowyourcharacteronyoursocialaccounts Dollydid,soyoucanyou Just rememberthatafteryou'reemployed,itismorethanjustyounow. Besmartandjustask,whatwouldDollydo?

Connectwithus!

BesuretofollowAPAFloridaaswepostall importantchapter updatesandnewsonourwebsiteandsocialaccounts.