7/1/20 APA-IL Career Webinar: “Executive Presence” & tips for finding successAre you nervous about the economy or the future of your career? Do you need resume and interview tips? On July 1, 2020 we talked with planners across the Nation about ways you can feel more confident in your skills and career resiliency. | Watch the APA-IL "Pathways to Planning" Career Webinar!Explore the diverse nature of planning jobs ... | Get the Guidance You Need with Micro-MentorshipShort, focused advice from Harvard Business Publishing. |
Aghhh! I’m graduating into a global crisis!Feeling anxious about your job security? Find out what you need to know ... |
Career Advice
The urban planner's role is to provide the big picture and to relate the project to various goals and guidelines, such as ordinances or design review, in order to achieve a final project that meets the needs of the community. This might include appropriate design, environmental considerations, support for the local economy, or equitable access for all members of the community. Click here to learn more about choosing the planning profession.
What are the fields of specialization within the larger planning profession?
What skills do great planners possess?
Which schools offer a degree in planning? Two resources with information: the national APA website and StudyUrbanPlanning.com
What is Urban Design? Join the APA Urban Design and Preservation Division to get helpful advice to students, those interested in becoming urban designers, and planners interested in learning more about urban design.
Looking for employment?
See what the APA-IL offers:
- Monitor the APA-IL's Job Board. New jobs are always being added.
- Join the Emerging Professional Planners for their educational and networking events.
- APA-IL and the APA-IL Chicago Metro Section (CMS) offers once a month workshops and sessions regarding current topics and issues. It's a great place to stay current and meet fellow planners in the Chicago area.
- Attend the APA-IL's virtual networking programs to build your own personal network.
- Volunteer for APA-IL's Pro Bono Program activities.
See what the APA offers:
- Look into the APA Career Center APA offers to give your career a boost. Some services, such as posting your resume, are included with a national APA membership.
Visit other websites for career information and job advertisements:
- StudyUrbanPlanning.com is the resource to learn about planning programs throughout the U.S. and Canada.
- Indeed (search for urban planner or try "government", "federal government", "public policy", "political science", "public administration" )
- UIC's Urban Planning & Policy Job Board
- Congress for New Urbanism-Jobs
- US Green Building Council
- Illinois City/County Managers Association (ILCMA), Why choose a career in local government?
- Illinois GIS Association (ILGISA) Job Center
- Urban Land Institute
- Idealist (a project of the nonprofit Action Without Borders)
- International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) Why Become a Local Government Lawyer? (YouTube video plus scholarships and job postings)
Looking to build your career skills?
The APA-IL Membership Committee has assembled a series of webinars to talk through planning careers at various stages. Whether you're looking for a job, thinking about making a leap to management, or just graduating we encourage you to look through all the resources below.
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