It is not exactly a secret that the Smart Building sector struggles to hire young professionals. In this episode of ACE IoT Flight Logs, Andrew Rodgers interviews Christina Cuellar-Nelson, Mission Critical Sector Manager at CxAlloy. Andrew and Christina discuss her professional journey, consider the advice she has for young professionals with an interest in a career in sustainability, and explore recommendations for organizations looking to hire young professionals into the Smart Building sector.
Christina’s professional path underscores the interesting, impactful and diverse career pathways available in Sustainability and Smart Buildings. For young professionals ready to make a real difference in the world of sustainable buildings, she advises the following:
Embrace unexpected opportunities: Christina’s path led her to HVAC and building optimization, where she discovered a passion for improving building performance. Opportunities in the Renewable Energy Sector are appealing to young professionals with an interest in sustainability but work in the Smart Building sector may well offer more challenging, creative and interesting work.
Build connections and find mentors: Christina emphasizes the importance of in-person networking. In her experience, the Smart Building sector is welcoming to those who are curious about the sector and employment opportunities.
Trust yourself: In entry-level Engineering jobs, recent graduates can be forced to work in unproductive ways because that is the way it has always been. Christina encourages young professionals who feel like they are biding their time and working in unsupportive work environments to explore new opportunities with organizations that have a commitment to challenging unproductive ways of working.
Watch the full video to learn more about:
The challenges and rewards of working in the built environment.
Candid observations about what the Smart Building sector can do to be more appealing to young professionals.
The importance of conferences and networking for career growth.
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ACE IoT Flight Logs is a series of deep-dive technical conversations on topics of interest to Smart Buildings practitioners. ACE IoT’s goal is to establish a repository of video content that practitioners can draw upon as they work to optimize the operations of buildings. There is no need for all of us to pay the same learning tax!
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