Resumes and Cover Letters

What’s in a Resume

• 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 MailDon’t email unless you‘ve had some contact firstPost resumes online

– 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·icPronunciation: 'e-thikFunction: nounEtymology: Middle English ethik, from Middle French ethique, from Latin ethice, from Greek EthikE, from Ethikos1 plural but singular or plural in construction : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation2 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• 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

– 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.