Tell me about your education. How has it prepared you for a career as an urban and regional planner?
When a hiring manager asks you this question, they are not looking to know about your grades or specific courses you took. Instead, they are seeking to find out whether or not you have made any connections between your studies and the professional world. They want to know if you have chosen to involve yourself in certain interactions and projects that have helped to shape you as a professional and helped you work towards achieving your goals.
"I completed my degree in urban planning from McGill University in Montreal. For my senior planning project, I led a small team of students and worked with the local community to identify their tourism challenges. I also worked for ABC architecture and planning firm and was mentored greatly by one of the senior partners following graduation. These experiences gave me a really full and broad scope of the industry, local community input, and the complexities of getting your design and planning ideas approved. The high level of quality work that was expected was immense, but the pressure benefited me greatly."
Preparing a good answer will help you to come off as confident- motivated and educated. You should talk about any academic activities you have done that you felt really prepared you to work. Talk about specific projects you've worked on in school or internships that really tied to real-world examples. Consider mentioning mention other things, such as case studies that taught you about specific topics or situations. If you have had any projects that relate specifically to the job you are interviewing for, now is the time to talk about them.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
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.
Kevin's Feedback
Perfect! Your answer highlights your education while also exuding a ton of confidence.
“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. But some of my most valuable learning experiences came from when I earned credits through community involvement. I volunteered for a semester with Habitat for Humanity. We went into some old schools and other large buildings removing all their fixtures, from sinks to windows to doors. Anything attached to the structure that we could take apart, we’d carefully remove to be repurposed. Then, I assisted with a project where we renovated several structures that were shell homes, using this salvaged builing materials, and placed people in these homes who were part of the program. Just the fact that the profits of anything you buy from them go towards vocational training and housing is incredible! So, when it comes to my designs, I like to incorporate a bit of new and old. That is my secret touch. Building on the foundation my collegiate experience gave me, I’ve done nothing but learn ever since. I tell people that I went to college to learn how to keep learning."
Anonymous Answer
My bachelor's in political science has equipped me with the ins and outs of government, how to develop policy, do research, and analyze and understand data. Meanwhile, my MPA has given me the skills to address policy issues, develop and implement policy, and manage organizations in the US and other countries around the world.
Stephanie's Feedback
You do a great job of highlighting your post-secondary education and how your degrees have prepared you for a career as an Urban & Regional Planner. If you have taken any specific courses that align closely with this work, you may wish to mention those by name, as this will add an extra touch of personalization to your response.
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