Sustainable Practice Job Forum

[Brian (becoffman@gmail.com)]

Greeting all!

After much talk, Cincinnati Chapter is trying to kick off an online
post board for green jobs. In order to keep things simple and easy to
maintain, we decided to create a Google Group.

The basis for this idea is that many young professionals are now
seeking firms engaged in sustainable practice (design, research,
etc.) Firms are looking for enthusiastic people that share their
values. This online forum utilizes a Google Group format that lets
users upload and browse resumes and job descriptions. Users can also
post messages, send notifications when resumes/jobs are uploaded,
exchange contact info, and link to other websites.

the address:
http://groups.google.com/group/emerging-green-talent

A couple concerns I have:
I think the success of this depends on "getting the fire started."
That is, getting enough initial posts to be a lively and active site
that would encourage a visitor to participate. University of
Cincinnati's coop department is willing to refer firms looking for
full time hires to the site. I will begin to contact other schools
and firms to get the word out. Our local USGBC Chapter is also a good
resource. Any thoughts on this?

It would also be nice to organize the uploaded files into "resumes"
and "job posts." I have not been able to figure out a way to do this
in Google Groups, but maybe someone here has some more experience with
this?

I'm hoping this site will serve not only the architecture profession,
and not only the Cincinnati/Ohio region. So I'd like to spread the
word beyond my sphere of contacts, possibly by talking with various
colleges. I sometimes get emails from companies looking for job
candidates (maybe you do to as EGB members) and it would be nice to
have a place to refer them to.

Thanks for everyone's time!
Brian Coffman
Cincinnati EGB Chair

[Christina Joy Neumann]

Hi,
my only thought related to a post board for green jobs is to eventually
develop some sort of firm evaluation from an employee's perspective related
to sustainability in practice and operations. After working with several
architectural firms, I can say that some of those promoting sustainability
initiatives via their p.r. don't truly continue the practice in their own
operations to the extent one would believe from the outside. I find myself
frustrated when I hear talk day in and out about sustainability in projects
but then teams are flying constantly vs. teleconferencing and large
luncheons still generate mounds of trash. Of course, one could argue that
the net effect is environmentally beneficial when you consider building
operations in the long run compared to the doings of the design team but I
think understanding of impact comes from discipline in daily practice for
the designers, too. Wish there was some sort of rating similar to the way
NCARB rates firms for their success in training professionals to help match
employee/ employer values in a more informed way. Sorry if this concept
has been discussed in the forum previously- I am a bit out of the EGB loop
but just want to put the thought out there.

Thanks,
Christina Neumann

[Jeremy Knoll]

I agree with you Christina, the bait-and-switch that happens with a lot of firms can be really disheartening as a young-professional. Perhaps there is something we can do, short of a rating system, which could equip applicants to see through potential employers’ PR campaigns. Perhaps a short list of questions which applicants could ask of their interviewers, such as the following:

 

* What percentage of company employees are LEED Accredited Professionals?

*(Look out for potential employers who say "LEEDS is very important to us” – there is no ‘S’ in LEED)

* Does your company have a recycling program? Bike to work / mass-transit accommodations? Other active environmental initiatives?

* Is your office LEED certified?

* How many LEED certified projects has the firm worked on and completed?

* Does the company materials library include (clearly identifiable) sustainable materials?

* Is the firm a member of the USGBC? Is there internal support available for taking and studying for the LEED exam? Does the firm send employees to Greenbuild or other sustainable building conferences?

 

Making it clear that an interview is a two-way conversation can be empowering to applicants to not just take what they get, and will send a clear message to those firms doing the interviews that this is something they should take as seriously as we do.

 

Jeremy Knoll - LEED^® AP

Kansas City EGB Chair

National EGB Committee Member

 

P Please consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail

 

[Wansing, Ed]

I think this is a great discussion. We have been wrestling with this same discussion here in Middle Tennessee. We have posted a few job posting requests asking for applicants interested in working on green projects. However, now that we have posted those that we know are truly green companies with sincere requests, do we have to post every request to be fair, even though we don't know how sincere the company is in their green marketing? This has prompted us to halt posting requests until we can further discuss the matter with the Chapter Board. I think the points that Christina and Jeremy make are very important in setting up a job posting site. Maybe the questions that Jeremy has asked should be answered at the time the firm posts the listing.

 

EDWARD WANSING, LEED AP, Associate AIA
DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY
GOULD TURNER GROUP
4400 Harding Rd. Suite 1000
Nashville, Tn 37205
Ph:  615.297.3122
Fax: 615.523.2805
ewan...@gouldturner.com

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From: EGB...@googlegroups.com [mailto:EGB...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jeremy Knoll
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 9:38 AM
To: EGB...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Sustainable Practice Job Forum

[Shawn Hesse]

Great suggestion Jeremy!

 

We were concerned about greenwashing as well, but putting forth a rating system for firms is time intensive, and quite a sensitive and difficult proposition (what criteria to use, etc.).  Also, as representatives of the USGBC, I don’t feel comfortable “certifying” that a company is a green firm.

 

Jeremy’s suggestion that we publish a list of questions to ask/discuss is a great way to suggest what a candidate and an employer should be focused on when offering or pursuing a “green” job.

 

Thanks for the help!

 

Shawn Hesse, LEED AP

USGBC  _I  Cincinnati Regional Chapter  _I  Vice-Chair

 

From: EGB...@googlegroups.com [mailto:EGB...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jeremy Knoll
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 10:38 AM
To: EGB...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Sustainable Practice Job Forum

 

I agree with you Christina, the bait-and-switch that happens with a lot of firms can be really disheartening as a young-professional. Perhaps there is something we can do, short of a rating system, which could equip applicants to see through potential employers’ PR campaigns. Perhaps a short list of questions which applicants could ask of their interviewers, such as the following:

[Brian (becoffman@gmail.com)]

All very good comments! As Shawn said, we want to avoid the
responsibility of "certifying" that a firm is green. I think one
simple solution would be that when a firm posts a job position, we
give them a template to fill out which includes some of the questions
that Jeremy brought up.

Of course, a firm could lie, but at least there would be some
accountability. The job candidate would have something in writing if
there is a misunderstanding later. I think this would help discourage
a firm from posting a bogus job description.

Keep in mind, nothing on this site takes the place a job candidate
from doing the normal due diligence (interviewing/researching the
firm). Maybe this should be noted on the site to avoid potential
negative feedback.

Thanks everyone,

[Kris Neurauter]

I think you might be putting the cart before the horse on coming up with
ways to keep potentially non-green firms posting to the chapter job
site.

The Chicago Chapter has one, and while people are using it, we are far
from experiencing Monster.com-levels of postings. The simplest thing
for us to do was to make it a requirement that firms be National Members
to post. Thus far, we haven't been infiltrated, even by recruiters.

http://chapters.usgbc.org/chicago/resources_-_job%20postings.html

We have a job seeker board as well, where chapter members can post their
resumes. This is not as popular.

http://chapters.usgbc.org/chicago/resources_-_job%20seeker.html

I'm not sure that greenwashing by firms for recruiting is at pandemic
levels. If firms are willing to post job listings at the USGBC chapter
level, they are probably somewhat on board. If anything, a young,
passionately "green" person might be just what that firm needs to turn
their marketing into reality, and they very well might be posting at
USGBC because they recognize that.

My two cents.

-----Original Message-----
From: EGB...@googlegroups.com [mailto:EGB...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf

[Chapman, Jeffrey]

This is an interesting concept; however it seems to me that we may be
missing a crucial element of the opportunity.

One issue we should all be looking at is the idea we must become green
warriors and "infect" firms that are not green so that they will become
green. It is easy to go to a firm like HOK, BNIM, etc and work on LEED
Projects, but the battle must be fought on multiple fronts. You have to
take the mindset of changing everything, not just those most open to the
idea or else we will be overwhelmed. For example, I joined a firm that
has only one LEED project, and I only got to work on it for one day, but
I started a group to help get others LEED AP, and I always fight for
sustainable features to get incorporated into our projects, like energy
star roofs, grasspave on fire lanes, linoleum rather than VCT, etc.
This is very important, especially in the Education and Medical fields
because of budget restrictions and other concerns such as Life safety.

So in conclusion, yes I do believe it is unfair that firms tout
themselves as more sustainable than they are, however I do believe that
if they are coming to our website we should see this as an opportunity
to make an impact.

Jeff Chapman LEED(r) AP
Architectural Intern

SHWGROUP

C 832.215.0251

-----Original Message-----
From: EGB...@googlegroups.com [mailto:EGB...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf
Of Brian (beco...@gmail.com)
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 10:58 AM
To: EGB Corresponding Committee
Subject: Re: Sustainable Practice Job Forum

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[Wansing, Ed]

Jeff makes a very good point. I found myself in the same position. My
firm had no green projects, and no emphasis on green operations. I have
been fighting to implement both, and while we are still not a green
firm, I have made tremendous strides in greening our operations and our
projects.

-----Original Message-----
From: EGB...@googlegroups.com [mailto:EGB...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf
Of Chapman, Jeffrey
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 11:27 AM
To: EGB Corresponding Committee

Subject: RE: Sustainable Practice Job Forum

[Jeremy Knoll]

This was, admittedly, my experience too. On my first day at my firm we had a meeting where the VP announced that the firm had lost a bid for a LEED job because we had not done one before, and then challenged us to figure out what was necessary to "break in" to this kind of work. I took that as a call to action, and have been the firm's "green warrior" ever since. The firm is now housed in a LEED-CI certified office space, has 3+ active LEED projects (including phase-2 of the project the VP discussed on my first day), 30% LEED-APs, an automated recycling program, a green purchasing policy, a rotating LEED exam study group, sustainable specs, a digital sustainable materials library database, etc.

 

Maybe the pointed questions I posted earlier could be tempered by a follow-up to any "NO" reply:

 

·         Are you willing to invest my billable time to make this possible?

 

Great discussion all! Keep it coming!

[Brian (becoffman@gmail.com)]

Jeff: I totally agree: a firm that is striving to "green" itself
probobly needs a Sustainability advocate more than a firm with an
established record. I know my firm is in the transition phase right
now, only a few weeks ago bagging our first LEEd registered project.
If there is a way to measure a firm's commitment to sustainable
practice, that would be valuble.

Next item: I'm quoting Conor here, hope he doesn't mind:

"This is Conor from the Colorado Chapter, we will try to make our job
postings available on this website and borrow from yours to post on
ours. There's my spark to add, let's hope it catches.... "

Makes me wonder, though, if EGB should have one central website for
all these postings. One of my secret worries is that we'll not get
enough postings for this site to take on a life of it's own and "cath
fire." If everyone pooled all their contacts into one site, it seems
like a strength. After all, why limit this geographically? People
take jobs in other cities all the time, if there are opportunities. I
see that other groups have this (thanks Kris, I checked out the
Chicago link). At the very least, the Chapters that have job postings
could link to eachother...

[Chapman, Jeffrey]

Actually, I would be the biggest advocate of doing both. It seems like we need a National Page anyway, one that is a little bit more professional and is focused on Nationwide issues. This will allow for exposure to large movements, such as the 2010 Imperative, Solar Decatholon, etc. Then the individual chapters can feed relavent information to there constituents, and post localized information, ie a place to watch the 2010 Imperative and how to donate money to the local schools Solar Decatholon team. Each page should have the job postings, the national would have all of them, and local having the ones they find most local, keeping in mind that people looking to move elsewhere can check A.) other local pages or B.) National Pages. This way we can tell employers who post to our site that they will have ad's in two places.

Of course, all of this is in theory, we really need imput from Traci on how this actually gets done.

Jeff

________________________________

From: EGB...@googlegroups.com on behalf of Brian (beco...@gmail.com)
Sent: Mon 7/30/2007 7:45 PM
To: EGB Corresponding Committee
Subject: Re: Sustainable Practice Job Forum

NOTICE:

[Christina Joy Neumann]

Thanks for the input- thoughtful points.
Guess I was not thinking so much about a quantitative rating system but more
loosely a way for employees/employers to be able to express themselves about
their sustainable beliefs and practice so the questions that Jeremy listed
are right on target. Of course, one has always to be wary of hypocrisy in
the words/ actions of employers AND employees in the case of any evaluation.
Hey, that's a caution to human nature in general and of course I don't count
myself out. I just see the benefit of potential employees/employers have
direct ways to be as honestly informed as possible about what they will
experience. As some of you have mentioned, it is important for strong
advocates of sustainability to be there on the front lines where more
understanding is needed, as well. I commend you and didn't mean to sound
negative- In fact, I'm sure you all realize that the best way to combat
negativity and "preachiness" is to keep green goals clearly understood and
to accentuate the positive benefits for all of us living beings. Last year,
only one person biked to work in my 30+ person firm routinely and now 9-10
people do regularly because they simply feel much better at work all day in
addition to the fuel cost savings The first bit of encouragement from some
of us to try their bikes out for a week has got them going. Now, I'm going
to have to do a better job of getting the secretary to check out Green Earth
Office supply for our bulk orders of disposables (compostable pla
plasticware, recycled sugar cane, etc.).

There also are organizations in addition to the USGBC such as the "Natural
Step" (primarily in Oregon right now) to which firms, businesses,
governments, institutions etc. can obtain membership and demonstrate further
commitment to sustainability-

I am impressed by the very encouraging EGB network-
Christina

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wansing, Ed" <EWan...@gouldturner.com>
To: "EGB Corresponding Committee" <EGB...@googlegroups.com>

[Christina Joy Neumann]

Forgot to note that our "positive" incentive for getting the pla compostable
plasticware is to help provide fresh soil for the secretary's office veggies
which we're now making w/ composted coffee grounds- although we're trying to
prevent the "attack of the gigantic spider plant" office situation.
C

[Traci Rose Rider]

As Jeremy said, this is a GREAT conversation!  And all of our National Committee members have been keeping up with it, whether we've given input yet or not.  We will be sure to address this on our national committee call this afternoon and figure out how best to move forward - and actually make it work.

It's been great watching the conversation grow and ideas transform.  Keep it going!  We'll chime in with thoughts or a plan of action after our call this week.

Traci

PhD Program, College of Design
North Carolina State University
------------------------------------------------
USGBC Emerging Green Builders
www.usgbc.org/egb
919-455-5995

[Stacey G.]

I'm really enjoying this discussion about job postings. It seems to me the natural place to have such a post would be on the USGBC website. Since there are so many EGB groups that aren't connected to each other and so many chapters that don't necessarily keep in close contact, the only way to get every listing in every area together in one central place, a place job seekers and employers would automatically think of looking would be the USGBC website. Is there anyone who manages that site that we can get on board with this idea? It would be most effective if jobs and resumes were sent to the webmaster and then posted under a link for each state or chapter.

Stacey Glenewinkel
Bellingham EGB President, WWU

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[Ryan Evans]

The job board was further discussed on the National Committee call today. We are thrilled with the volume of discussion it has generated thus far. Further, we have been watching this topic with keen interest and will work to bridge the gap between EGB and USGBC as EGB-LL develops this idea. From what I’m told USGBC has toyed with creating a job board in the past, but it has never been a high enough priority to commit the resources. I’m sure USGBC National would be thrilled if EGB were to take this on. Regardless, it seems to be something we need. Thus, this will be a topic of discussion on Thursday’s call, so please join us if you can and help shape the future of this idea.

 

As EGB discussions usually go, this idea has grown into something bigger. The topic was broached today about the possible development of an EGB website to house the current google groups resources, date, functions, etc., but also the proposed job board. Obviously, this will take some monetary, technical, and professional resources, but it would be owned by us. Anyway, make sure you think about this over the next few days and come with your ideas to the conference call. Talk to many of you Thursday!

 

Ryan

 

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From: EGB...@googlegroups.com [mailto:EGB...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Stacey G.
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 5:32 PM
To: EGB...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Sustainable Practice Job Forum

 

I'm really enjoying this discussion about job postings. It seems to me the natural place to have such a post would be on the USGBC website. Since there are so many EGB groups that aren't connected to each other and so many chapters that don't necessarily keep in close contact, the only way to get every listing in every area together in one central place, a place job seekers and employers would automatically think of looking would be the USGBC website. Is there anyone who manages that site that we can get on board with this idea? It would be most effective if jobs and resumes were sent to the webmaster and then posted under a link for each state or chapter.

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[Brian (becoffman@gmail.com)]

Thanks everyone who participated in last week's Conference Call! The
continued discussion really helped us clarify the short and long term
goals of the Job Forum project. My immediate task is to keep the
Google group page going as a "pilot project." First of all, to see
how much of a response we can get from employers and job seekers.
Also, to see what the site's strengths and weaknesses are before
potentially investing more greater time and energy into a nationally
hosted website.

So at this point, I need everyone's help. Let's try to get his website
filled with postings! You can get the word out via EGB listserves,
local USGBC chapter contacts, local colleges, friends and co-workers.
(Any other ideas?)

Also, based on the the previous discussions on this topic and the EGB
LL conference call, I added a couple pages the the website:
More About this Forum
http://groups.google.com/group/emerging-green-talent/web/more-about-this-forum
Advice for Job-Seekers
http://groups.google.com/group/emerging-green-talent/web/advice-for-job-seekers