Urban and Regional Planners Interview Questions

Urban and Regional Planners Interview Questions & Answers

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1. 1.

   Tell me about your education. How has it prepared you for a career as a Urban and Regional Planner?

   How to Answer

   Talk about your level of education, where you went to University/College and where you completed your internship. Were you mentored by anyone along the way?
   
   

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   Anonymous Answer

   "I have a bachelor's degree in architecture with many classes in project management. I also have a master's degree in urban design. Not only can I design a project from a napkin sketch, but I can complete the cost estimate and manage the project from conception to completion."

   

   Rachelle's Answer

   Perfect! Your answer highlights your education while also exuding a ton of confidence.

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I completed my Degree in Urban Planning from McGill University in Montreal. For my apprenticeship I worked for ABC architecture firm and was mentored greatly by one of the senior partners. This experience gave me a really full, and broad scope of the industry and it's expectations. The high level of quality work that was expected was immense but the pressure benefited me greatly."

2. 2.

   What cities have you studied that impressed you the most?

   How to Answer

   Which city impresses you the most, and why? Be sure to include some thoughtful detail in your answer.
   
   

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   "Chicago, lakefront in public parks, also Paris, the height restrictions and scale of the streets works excellent."

   

   Rachelle's Answer

   Good observations!

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "For myself, I am very impressed with the design of Berlin, Germany. Berlin has become one of the greatest creative centres of the world and is now becoming leader in design. It's focus is environmentally conscious and sustainable."

3. 3.

   When have you worked with difficult individuals? For example, people that may have very poor communication skills. How do you handle these situations?

   How to Answer

   There are difficult personalities in every industry and it's always best to talk about those situations in as positive of a light as possible. Be careful not to bash other people in the industry either.
   
   

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   "I was in charge of sending out inspections for the General Business Licenses. When people didn't respond, I would send multiple emails requesting the information or send emails to their managers, copying the previous emails I sent to those people."

   

   Rachelle's Answer

   Were you able to help these people become better communicators in the end? How did copying their managers on the email sequences help the situation?

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "Working with difficult personalities is something that comes along with the job, from time-to-time. Being an urban planner, I find that the more difficult situations to navigate come when we need a work-around with a city design. The government is not the easiest to navigate and the employees are not always given the ability to decision make. If I do not get the answer or response that I am looking for, I will call another time, until I reach someone that I can work nicely with."

4. 4.

   Where do you get your inspiration from?

   How to Answer

   What inspires you to be the best? Do you stay motivated through new inspiration? This answer can be basic or you can get a little bit more personal.
   
   

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   Anonymous Answer

   "From nature, international visits, other cities that have prospered. Many different places."

   

   Rachelle's Answer

   Great! Try adding in your favorite places to visit or specifics when it comes to landmarks, etc.

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "My initial inspiration came from watching my mentor, a senior urban planner, take such pride when a project was complete. It truly is a great feeling to walk or drive through a project upon completion and be able to say that these were YOUR ideas, implemented. I also subscribe to a couple of architecture and planning magazines."

5. 5.

   What is most important to you, something quick and flashy, or something that is timeless?

   How to Answer

   This question will be important to the interviewer, as it will determine much about your potential fit within their organization. Do your research on the planning group prior to the interview. Are they known for flashy work or are they a reputable company with a reputation for long standing design?
   
   

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   Anonymous Answer

   "Something timeless, lasting design is a good design in my book."

   

   Rachelle's Answer

   Well said!

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I fully believe that creating a timeless design is the most important. That doesn't mean that it can't be attractive or somewhat 'flashy' either. It needs to catch the eye, but also keep it."

6. 6.

   Describe a time where you worked well under pressure.

   How to Answer

   Be sure to use a recent and relatable example when you answer this question. Spend less time talking about the problem and more time talking about what you did to find a solution. What was the outcome?
   
   

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "Last week our client made some pretty significant changes to our plans just 2 days before the submittal deadline. Everyone was really stressed. I agreed to work many hours of overtime for those 2 days so that we could hit the deadline our client required. It's easy to freeze up in times like that so I was sure to create a milestones schedule and stick to that. I also made sure to utilize our technical staff and junior planners more than usual. We hit our deadline and our client was thrilled!"

7. 7.

   What projects have you worked on in the past?

   How to Answer

   It is really important to mention projects that the interviewer will be familiar with. The more they can visualize your work, the better.
   
   

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "The projects that you would be most familiar with would be some of the larger scale projects that I have worked on. For example, the community of Madigan is a big one in my portfolio. Mount Pleasant is another. For commercial, I also worked on the traffic flow, parking and green space for the Crossroads Mall development."

8. 8.

   What do you know about our company?

   How to Answer

   It is imperative that you do research on the company history and its past/current projects. Have they won any awards or received recognition for a job well done?
   
   

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I have done a lot of research on your company because I want to ensure that it is the right fit for me as well. What stands out to me most is that, as such a well established company, you are still developing new and creative ways to stand out from the crowd. Your reputation is impeccable and I really enjoy the projects that you do. They are unique and very well done."

9. 9.

   What area in this city do you believe has the most potential?

   How to Answer

   The research you have retained on the company prior to the interview will be important when answering this question. It is great to tell the interviewer about the areas of the city you would love to see revitalized however, be sure to know the company's past, current and future projects as well.
   
   

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I feel that the Inglewood area has the most potential as it's central, has a great vibe, and has a lot of thriving small businesses to offer amenities to the residents. Your recent project in the Renfrew area is a perfect example of that. It's another great neighbouring area that could benefit from a revitalization."

10. 10.

    Have you studied a poorly planned city project? Tell me about it and what went wrong.

    How to Answer

    How you answer this question will show the interviewer more about your keen eye for detail and your ability to think critically. Answer this is a way that remains positive but is also constructive. Avoid bashing the work of another firm.
    
    

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    Anonymous Answer

    "I think rustbelt cities that were planned out around one industry are great examples of poorly planned cities because they have not all been able to adjust with the times very well."

    

    Rachelle's Answer

    You make an excellent point here - well done!

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I was tasked to study a couple of former city projects during my time in University. One being the residential community of Waterfront and the other being the residential community of Silverado. These projects are full of confusing traffic circles which has made for an increase in vehicular and pedestrian accidents over the years. Drivers are afraid of missing their turn to get to the correct shopping area and they forget to keep an eye on the road."

11. 11.

    Why are you the best candidate for us?

    How to Answer

    This is a great time to brag about yourself a little bit! Talk about any awards or recognition you have received and be sure to include something unique about yourself. This will help the hiring manager to remember you.
    
    

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I feel that I am the best candidate for you because I bring direct experience in the types of community and residential projects that you specialize in. I am also a very strong technical artist and won the design award last year in my current company."

12. 12.

    What would you begin to change about our community if you were given full access for planning today.

    How to Answer

    Your answer will speak to your level of attention to detail. It will also show the interviewer that you have the ability to think outside of the box and understand how communities continue to need improvement.
    
    

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    Anonymous Answer

    "The way the permitting is done, I would transform it into an entirely cloud-based e-permitting platform that is a one-stop-shop on the front and back end."

    

    Rachelle's Answer

    This sounds very convenient. Nice suggestion!

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "In my current community I would start by adding more green space. The area is starting to see more young families and there are not a lot of options for them as far as parks and playgrounds go. I would also make room for more single family homes. There are a lot of condo developments which has caused some population congestion and parking concerns."

13. 13.

    What is your greatest strength? How does it help you as a Urban and Regional Planner?

    How to Answer

    The answer that you give will help the hiring manager to determine if your greatest asset is something that they could use on their team. Be sure to follow your answer up with some type of confirmation of it's truth.
    
    

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    Anonymous Answer

    "My passion for getting better and taking whichever community I am working for."

    

    Rachelle's Answer

    Your passion for improving and helping others along the way is a high strength! Can you tie in how this helps you succeed in your career? The room for improvement sentence doesn't seem to fit here.

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "My greatest strength is my ability to see the project in a large, full picture, before beginning any solid plans. My ability to view all facets of a plan has been incredibly helpful in my career as it prevents me from making some unnecessary errors and oversights. My current manager has made this comment to me multiple times in my past performance reviews."

14. 14.

    When have you provided an excellent presentation? Describe it to me, and why it was successful.

    How to Answer

    Give an example of a time when you created your own presentation. Who did you present it to? What was the feedback?
    
    

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    "I have provided many excellent presentations throughout my design career, specifically for the ULI competition in grad school. It was successful due to the amount of time and effort I put into the project, as well as the great infographics and renderings and how well everything connected to tell one cohesive story."

    

    Rachelle's Answer

    This sounds like a success, indeed! If applicable, discuss a bit about who you presented it to, and in front of how many people.

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "Just last month I was asked to present a city community plan to the surrounding residents. The plans were going to interrupt some of the surrounding wetlands which meant that some of the attendees were skeptical. I created a very clear and entertaining presentation in Keynote and rehearsed it for a few days prior. After presenting this to the 50 attendees, many of them commented on my knowledge and ability to answer their questions and address their concerns. I feel it was successful because everyone left with a full understanding of the project's pro's and con's."

15. 15.

    When have you had to explain a process or idea, to someone who was either stubborn to the idea, or just did not understand the idea or process?

    How to Answer

    Being able to teach is a really important skill, especially if you would like to become a manager or lead a team one day. Be sure to talk about a time where you were in this scenario and discuss the outcome.
    
    

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    Anonymous Answer

    "During the process of getting important figures on board with the One Stop Shop permitting system it was difficult sometimes because some people did not understand the idea, so we had to set up multiple meetings and have much more communication with them than other people who understood the idea more easily."

    

    Rachelle's Answer

    This is a good example of a time when you needed to account for people learning at various paces. It may be useful to add in a bit about your ability to remain patient and helpful through the process.

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "In my previous role I was tasked with the training of a new, junior planner. We were learning some of the basic steps on a project and he could not seem to understand 'why' we were doing things that way. I was able to break down the reason for his inability to learn and it was simply because he didn't understand the larger picture; or, end goal. We were able to move past that and now I am aware of the best way to communication with him."

16. 16.

    What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?

    How to Answer

    This answer should be focused on a work-related weakness but be careful not to say something you will regret later. Focus more on the positive. What you are doing to improve?
    
    

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    Anonymous Answer

    "I put too much into a project. I will work overtime because I am passionate about what I do, even if that has meant less family and friends time. I have taken steps against this, like turning off notifications of emails on my phone. On my latest vacation, I only looked at my email on the last day."

    

    Rachelle's Answer

    I recommend choosing a weakness that does not sound self-serving. "I work too hard" is an answer that many hiring authorities report as being too far towards selling your weakness as a strength. This could backfire. Is there anything listed in the job posting or job description that is a job requirement that you are not a 10/10 in when it comes to skills and strengths?

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "In my last performance review my manager asked me to improve my working knowledge of GIS. I have since signed up for a course which will be complete in December."

17. 17.

    Why should we hire you?

    How to Answer

    Similar to the 'What makes you the best candidate for us?' question, you will want to talk a bit about what makes you a stand out candidate for the role. This particular question also offers you the opportunity to ask for the job.
    
    

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "You should hire me because I am a very talented planner with direct experience in the types of projects that you focus on. I know the industry and hold a strong reputation within it. Knowing what I have told you about myself; is there any reason why you would hesitate to hire me? Is there anything more I can clarify for you about my background?"

18. 18.

    Why is urban planning important to you?

    How to Answer

    This answer can be simply stated. Talk briefly about what you feel the benefits are to others' by having urban planning experts.
    
    

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "Urban planning is not only important because it creates a sense of order in a city but it is also required for the safety of its citizens. I can make a difference in my city by providing insight towards a great future for generations to come."

19. 19.

    Tell me about a project you studied in college that impressed you the most.

    How to Answer

    The answer that you give will show the interviewer what types of projects seem to interest you the most. Be sure to give examples of why you found the project impressive. (If, during college, you studied one of the past projects of this company you are interviewing with, even better!)
    
    

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    Anonymous Answer

    "We worked on a Master Plan for a 100 plus acre site. We worked as a cohort, maximizing our undergraduate degrees' strengths simulating a multi-disciplinary team. I worked closely with another architect to create the 3D model for the project. It impressed me the most because it helped me learn early on that some people are not going to put as much effort as others and will do just enough to get by."

    

    Rachelle's Answer

    I was hoping this answer would end on a positive note! Your example sounded very team-oriented and then...whomp. Try talking positively about what you learned and how you yourself improved rather than focusing on others.

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "One stand out project that I studied while in school was the Lotus building in Seattle. I believe your firm headed this project up? The fact that it was such an environmentally friendly project was really impressive to me. I see that your company continued with a focus on staying green. That is great, and a big interest of mine."

20. 20.

    How have you incorporated public transportation into your past designs?

    How to Answer

    Planning public transportation in your designs can be a tedious task so be sure to bring examples of your work with you. Sometimes it is easier to show, than to tell! You can take the interviewer through your work history as well and touch on some of the designs you have done in the past.
    
    

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    Anonymous Answer

    "We did a project in a neighborhood that lacks connectivity. We integrated a new transit stop and increase connectivity and desired paths throughout the shopping parking lots."

    

    Rachelle's Answer

    Great response! This project sounds like one with many moving parts, if you have a visual portfolio to support your answer, even better.

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I have a few examples with me that I would be happy to show you. As far as incorporating public transportation into my designs, I have done so approximately 5 times this past year. Let me show you..."

21. 21.

    Tell me about your portfolio. What do you like about it? What would you change?

    How to Answer

    Which projects are you really proud of, and are there some that you feel mediocre about? Be sure to bring your portfolio as well so that you can physically show examples.
    
    IE: "My portfolio has a wide range of both commercial and residential planning. I began my career in commercial development and have since been working on building communities and park areas. I really like my portfolio - even my early work, because it got me to where I am today. I wouldn't change anything about it but I will say that my work has become much more detailed since the beginning of my career."

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "My portfolio has a wide range of both commercial and residential planning. I began my career in commercial development and have since been working on building communities and park areas. I really like my portfolio - even my early work, because it got me to where I am today. I wouldn't change anything about it but I will say that my work has become much more detailed since the beginning of my career."

22. 22.

    What do you believe makes a happy community?

    How to Answer

    Think of the things that you really appreciate about your own community. Do you feel that everyone should have those amenities?
    
    

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "The few things that I always think of when I am planning a new community are flow of traffic, safety, green space and ample amenities for ease and convenience. Individuals really like to feel a sense of community within their neighbourhoods. No matter how large the city is, I believe that most people like to feel as though their neighbourhood is a small town or community within itself."

23. 23.

    Where do you see yourself in five years?

    How to Answer

    When you answer this question be sure to include your thoughts on where you would like to be with this particular company in 5 years.
    
    

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "One of the really big things that attracts me to your company is the fast growth that you've displayed over the past few years. I would be thrilled to join a company such as yours and grow into a management position over time."

24. 24.

    The planning process involves input from numerous groups, which requires great communication skills. When have you exemplified such skills in past work?

    How to Answer

    Multiple groups means multiple personalities so it's best to give an example of a time when perhaps you were working with a team that didn't always see eye to eye.
    
    

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I am continually working with multiple groups that do not necessarily see eye to eye. We almost always have the same end-goal but not necessarily the same ideas on how to get there. Strong communication is key since it is so easy to misunderstand. What I do is take my time to talk to the other party and repeat back what my understanding of it is. This way, we know for sure if we are on the same page."

25. 25.

    What civic organizations do you belong to?

    How to Answer

    This is a simple and straightforward answer. Be sure to have these listed on your resume if you have any involvements as well.
    
    

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I am a current member of the city's Urban Planning Association. I am also an alumni member of the local CSO."

26. 26.

    Are you a detail oriented person?

    How to Answer

    Being a talented Urban Planner requires great attention to detail. If you are successful in this career path, you are - in fact - going to be naturally detail oriented. Talk a bit about your ability to see the small, finite details. Include an example of a time when you caught an error or oversight.
    
    

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I am very detail oriented and am a careful planner. Just last month I was reviewing a co-workers plans prior to client submittal. It was missing a small detail on the roadway which would have caused too severe of narrowing and blind spots while turning around the corner. We fixed the error right away which saved us a lot of un-billable hours."

27. 27.

    How are your communication skills?

    How to Answer

    This answer can be brief and should include an example of something that you do to ensure you are communicating clearly.
    
    

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I have been told by my current manager that my communication skills are very good. I try to always break my emails and phone conversations down to the simplest facts so that everyone involved is receiving the most pertinent information. I also possess great follow up skills."

28. 28.

    How would your former employer describe you?

    How to Answer

    Talking about previous reviews and also your references are going to be really important when answering this question.
    
    

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "My previous employer and I worked very closely together for many years. He would say that I am a hard worker who is willing to go above and beyond expectations to ensure a job well done. My performance reviews were always good. He will be happy to provide a strong reference for you. We parted on very amicable terms."

29. 29.

    How well do you know this market?

    How to Answer

    If you are new to the city, you should let the interviewer know this, but also follow up with some of your current knowledge about the city.

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Rachelle Enns wrote: "I moved to Seattle just 1 year ago but in that time I have been able to get to know the flow of the city very well. I also did a lot of research on Seattle and the urban sprawl prior to moving here."