How to Succeed in an Interview for a Planning Position

This session will cover both practical aspects of how to conduct yourself during a planning interview from both sides of the table. Session topics will cover interview key ingredients, what hazards to avoid, how to handle an interview in a union environment and finally, how to impress the hell out of those who are interviewing you - among other things.

Duncan Fraser, RPP MCIP was a Senior Planner for the City of Edmonton within the Urban Planning and Economy Department for 35 years prior to his semi-retirement in 2017. He recently taught for seven years at the School of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Alberta. He has hired professional planners and planning technicians at multiple levels during his time in the planning industry and has witnessed seemingly outstanding candidates on paper who blew it in the interview by making fatal mistakes. Conversely, he has also witnessed many new supervisors (and experienced supervisors who should have known better) who were not prepared to conduct the interview and showed great disrespect to those being interviewed.

Note: this session is intended to host interactive information exchange and conversation in a limited capacity forum. Registration will be capped at 15 participants, more sessions will be offered at future dates. Participants must be prepared to participate with their cameras and microphones turned on. This session will not be recorded.

This session qualifies for 1.0 structured learning unit.