Poll: Do you make a living as a planner or are you an amateur?

[dobopoq]

O.K., I'm taking a poll. I'm curious to know what percentage of Cyburbians are actually employed in the field of planing?

I can't help but feel a little pathetic on this site since I have a business background and am thus not employed as either a planner or a developer. I am merely a concerned citizen with an interest in the built environment. I don't know much about blogs in general, but this site seems way more substantive than the chaff you normally come across. And although many Cyburbians are professionals the site is anything but stuffy. People show lots of personality and comraderie which keeps me coming back for more. But so that I might feel slightly less pathetic in my amateurishness, I'd like to know if there are a least a few other people in the same boat as me. If I am in fact the only crank among your clan, then maybe my contributions will at least be of some value as one whose point of view is outside the beltway of plannerdom, if you catch my analogy. And I certainly will temper the strength of my opinions in proportion to the relative experience of those with whom I am blogging with.

[Michele Zone]

You might check this thread too: Non-Planners What Do You Do Thread ,


MZ, professional amateur...er, career amateur...er...it's nearly 2am and I'm going to bed. Sigh.

[noj]

Yes, for my sins, I'm a 'professional' planner. Don't like to crow about it much though as if people find out I'm a planner they always feel compelled to tell me about their Auntie Doreens 'battle' with the planners to get a conservatory on her house.

I have a planning friend who tells everyone he works in insurance. That way no one asks him any more questions about it!

One of the many things I like about this site is the varied usership and the fact that not everyone here is a planner. I reckon there might even occasionally be some architects logging on

[noottamevas]

I'm a Proefssional Land Surveyor by trade. I joined this group to seek advice on our city's redevelopment plan. (which I oppose) I have stuck around because I like the personalities of the group and value their input. I have been surprised how many topics apply to issues we are facing here.

[Floridays]

I am a planner by profession but that was not my "plan" when I was in college (undergrad). My bachelor's degree is actually in Journalism/PR, and I worked that gig for a few years until I "ran into" the planning profession.

After I served a term on the City Council, I decided I'd rather be a planner than a policy maker, so went on to earn my Master's in Regional & City Planning.
I love what I do. I tried the private sector but much prefer the public sector.

Land development policies and regs are always changing and that keeps the field from stagnating. I am fortunate enough to work for an organization that really VALUES the planning function, and that makes a huge difference.

[PlannerByDay]

Professional planner working mostly in long range planning, suplement my income with rental property.

[boiker]

I'm a professional (city gov) planner, although it seems you hardley can make a living doing it

[michaelskis]

I am a planner... kind of... Zoning and Codes Administration. (last job was a planner 1 and next job will be something in urban develoment/ design with the dark side.

[Jaxspra]

Yep, I work for a local govt. as a City Planner...mostly historic preservation.

[JNA]

Public Sector in a combined city and county plan commission -
small staff - jack of all trades.

[Gedunker]

Public sector planner / preservationist / redevelopment planner / fair housing officer / urban enterprise association board member / census specialist / grant writer / public works staff. Mostly do current planning. Paid only as a planner, all the rest is my gift to the fair city

[giff57]

I am a Planner and work for local government, but my title is City Administrator.

[Trail Nazi]

I am a senior planner for a regional planning council. My past lives have included working a planner for counties. I do have a fun parttime job teaching water aerobics.

[NDPlanner26]

I also pay my bills with community money. I am the Senior Planner for a wonderful fast growing community and love every minute of it.

[NHPlanner]

Town Planner for a town of approx 25,000.

[jread]

GIS guy here. Wish I was a planner and will go to grad. school for it, but I'm leaning more toward the field of demography these days.

[Boru]

I am a planner working for a private practice. Some of our clients are developers(most in fact), some are members of the public who want to submit objections to development. I have never worked as a public sector planner, but I may try for some interviews soon as I wouldnt mind finding out how easy life might be if I had 40 days paid leave per year!

[teshadoh]

I'm a GIS guy who has an interest in planning - will be working for a regional agency starting next month & will be involved in planning matters though.

[Cardinal]

I have a long history of public and non-profit planning and economic development, and recently made the change over to the dark side.

[nerudite]

Manager of Planning for an upscale burb of Edmonton.

[SkeLeton]

Hmmm No "Geography student that may or may not end in the field of planning which will most likely be in the public sector" option?
This survey is biased against me! I demand statisfaction.....

[Zoning Goddess]

I'm a planner for a county, have also worked for another county and a regional agency.

[mike gurnee]

I enjoyed the comments in the initial post. Yes, there is comraderie amongst us, and we really appreciate viewpoints from persons with differing backgrounds/ outlooks. Most of us really get beat up at work, and it is nice to hear from someone who does not attach the phrase "I'll see the Mayor about this" to a comment. Among the professionals on board, Cyburbia is our support group.

[Richmond Jake]

Majority of career in county gov't (currently with a county). But I've also worked for 2 cities in California.

[dobopoq]

Hmmm No "Geography student that may or may not end in the field of planning which will most likely be in the public sector" option?
This survey is biased against me! I demand statisfaction.....

Sorry, SkeLeton, you're right. I should have included options for current students. But since I myself don't have experience working in planning, let alone a formal education in the subject, I'm primarily concerned here with becoming aware of those who actually have professional experience to back up what they say on the board. Whether formally as a student of academia, or informally as a thinker upon the built environment, there's a big difference between having studied planning issues, and actually making the almighty dollar as a planner. Since you are for the time being, a non-professional I would reccomend the third option.

Perhaps we could start a new poll inquiring about the most common majors of people on the site. I hope this clarifies for you and the many other current students who blog here, my intentions for the pole. Thanks.