Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: lismin
Age: 35

My mentor was cool and hated the OAA as much as I did.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: sarah
Age: 30

The current set up means that interns often find it difficult to keep their mentors up to speed on their developments and end up meeting with them briefly once or twice a year. I fully support the move to change the mentor to be someone from the firm where the intern is employed.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: Heman Shih
Age: 42

I have been mentoring but feel sorry for the interns I am mentoring for not able to offer more help.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: akramer
Age: 30

Mentorship should encourage a supportive friendship between intern and architect--I like the idea that the mentor is outside the firm, so you can see a different perspective. But it could be a more casual, supportive relationship, without strict requirements. Basically the mentor could be someone in the profession to talk to about the profession, if necessary.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: Justin Perdue
Age: 26

The program as is doesn't work very well, these changes could help.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: thomas
Age: 34

I think a 'mentor', in the classical sense, is supposed to be a teacher with whom one has daily contact. While my official OAA mentor is great, he cannot be expected to fulfill that role. But this doesn't make it any less necessary. I would have hoped that the intership process would fill the enormous gaps left by my architecture school experience. So far, this is not the case.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: shope
Age: 40

Information is essential for the mentor to be able to do what is expected of the role. It should be recommended to choose a mentor outside the candidate's firm should a problem arise within the candidate's employment, an impartial mentor would be key.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: jtrop
Age: 35

Strongly Agree that there should be a guide for mentors. Strongly Disagree that mentors from the firm in which you are employed should be permitted. One of the roles of a mentor has to be to advise when it is time to consider other employment options due to possible situations, and this would be a conflict of interest.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: david
Age: 50

a) advantages of mentor within the firm far outway disadvantages, b) mentor guide is essential to level the field and ensure that intern is getting appropriate feedback, and c) mentoring can easily be justified as self-directed Con-Ed points

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: smcc
Age: 33

Mentors at the same firm make sense, although an outside person that could assist the intern is a long term positive networking/ guidance opportunity. Mentors could be exemt from some continuing education points.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: Chod
Age: 38

Mentorship is an extremely important process during the path toward registration. The OAA should review this important step, otherwise a mentor will be reduced to a rubber stamp.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: orsachair
Age: 34

Mentors should remain as architects not working at the same firm. There can be a potential conflict of interest. The guide book is a very good idea though.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: Hiran
Age: 44

We should be encouraged to select a mentor from the firm that we are employed.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: Rem Koolhaas
Age: 30

Great, I love my mentor. I have spent many invaluable hours with him. Now if the OAA could only develop an incentive program for intern architects who are part of their membership. We are refugees who pay a nominal fee but have no voice on council, national bodies or any other group that may challenge our fate while we are interns.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: Steve
Age: 34

There are distinct advantages to having Mentors both in and out of the office. Consider having a PRIMARY Mentor (within the firm of employment) who can assess perfomance and offer feedback about ability and areas to improve on, etc. and then also having a SECONDARY Mentor (outside the firm of employment) who can offer more objective feedback as well as discussing strategies, options, issues that an Intern may encounter in the workplace.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: patrick trottie
Age: 43

A collaborative approach to the best interest of both should be sought.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: viktrix
Age: 34

The mentoring component of my internship was simply a signature exercise and a short visit with a nice person. I only met with my mentor twice a year. Generally, the visits held no real professional value to me beyond this. If the mentoring component could become what is described above, I believe it could be more beneficial to interns and to mentoring architects.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: cahandy
Age: 30

I don't understand why mentors cannot come from an intern's employer. It should be an option. As a mobile intern who works abroad for spells I have found the mentorship process difficult, although I think it could be quite valuable.

Date:  Mar 17, 2008
User: mazen
Age: 47

by having experience within an architectural firm and a mentor from another firm, an intern may benefit from a double exposure

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: gigi
Age: 28

Yes, I think allowing mentor from the same office is good. To be honest, when do we ever meet the mentor except only to sign our papers. Its extremely limited in its value. To have employed and train professional offered from OAA to assist us around the clock would be better. At least we all have the same advantages.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: tesark
Age: 34

Mentor relationships are hit and miss. More incentive for mentors could be a good thing.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: Joseph Galea
Age: 60

I would volunteer as a mentor but I no longer live in Canada nad have no intention of returning.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: Manoj Atri
Age: 46

Again the format is missing, half things here half there. The whole licensing structure is not well conceived, coordinated and the format is a complete amiss.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: Helen Desjardin
Age: 49

Is it not better to have a mentor outside of one's current employment?

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: ideate
Age: 38

Mentoring by someone within a firm would be far more beneficial. There is generally enough diversity of experience within a firm to offer valuable advice. Why the need for an outside party that has no direct involvement (and conflicting interests ie. why mentor an intern from another firm who I cannot employ and will not benefit my objectives?) with an interns daily activities and development?

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: Carole
Age: 36

The selection of an architect from the firm employed at would be helpful for some. The incentive program for Mentors? Like Con-ed points? Unfortunately too many rules just aggrevates folks who are then not likely to develop actual mentor relationships, which are valuable. Requirements are meaningless without actual mentorship care.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: Daniel Gaito
Age: 58

I mentor already at Ryerson...always useful to ensure that one's comments support direction of tutors. If there is a difference of opinion, the responsible thing to do is to let the Intern or student know, so he/her can make own judgement. Also, if a mentor has no info from larger body, one feels that the role and the time spent are not valued by the larger body.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: Maissaa
Age: 38

if the intern is working with his /her mentor then it's more benefitial because the knowledge exchange would be more practical & not theoritical.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: nomada
Age: 37

If implemented, interns would have a real mentor not only a person to sign your hours every 6 months.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: lkasawat
Age: 40

It is good to leave it optional, sometimes it is hard to find someone outside the office.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: ginfaxi
Age: 32

Mentorship is mostly a formality as it exists now, what is sorely missing is proper mentorship within firms, with young interns and architects merely preforming tasks to assist, rather than having time taken to explain and teach proper practices and hard-to-obtain informal knowledge. This part of the IAP is sorely lacking.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: KMTG
Age: 36

I agree that some changes could be made to the mentor process. I think it is valuable to have a person outside your firm (rather than within the firm) so I would vote that this requirement be maintained. However, I think the mentors should be given more guidance on expectations of them - I think many are not aware of what this relationship is for, how it is intended to work.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: Martin M. Poizn
Age: 73

Present mentoring regime gives mentors no support, and no feedback from the ARE.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: Issam A Shukor
Age: 47

I think the current mentor system is not working. The proposal that the mentor could be from within the firm is much better. Intern Architect life does not leave him with time to see his/her mentor and therefore communication should be facilitated. I would definately volunteer when I am liscensed.

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: J. Denis Seguin
Age: 50

I have acted in this capacity before, but the intern had difficulty getting to my place of work...internal is fine, but mentors should be validated with OAA (and yes we need some guidance, training in a few areas).

Date:  Mar 18, 2008
User: Sander Waxman
Age: 29

we need access to internships and mentors any help is great

Date:  Mar 19, 2008
User: intern007
Age: 51

it ios hard for some interns to find mentors outside of their current employment.

Date:  Mar 19, 2008
User: toni2
Age: 29

I'm not sure why the mentor was exclusive of employment in the first place... but does this issue no longer exist?

Date:  Mar 19, 2008
User: doug pollard
Age: 63

I have been a mentor many times and have not experienced the frustrations noted above I do not see any requirement for manuals or training and either would put me off being a mentor It would seem logical that a mentor could be in the same firm close by and well aware of what the intern is involved in

Date:  Mar 19, 2008
User: Rhonda
Age: 31

Mentors should be from a separate firm or at least not within the same chain of supervision, as want to ensure that the mentor remains a contact that the intern can openly discuss any issues with. A mentor meeting should be as simple as an open conversation with a friend about the field pratice and the experience being acquired.

Date:  Mar 19, 2008
User: feedmyego
Age: 26

my mentor is useless. mostly because i dont need them and was FORCED to pick someone i dont even know because i couldnt pick someone from a firm that i had worked at. i understand it is to get an outside opinion, and i do admit that it may be useful to other interns. but i think having a mentor should be OPTIONAL to those who feel they need it, or allow interns to chose a mentor that they work with. when i need advice i ask as many people as i can. relying on 'one' opinion when i need advice is stupid, especially when that one person i ask reads me the answer from a manual. i have an idea....give the manual directly to the intern, and allow us to chose a mentor we trust and know, no matter what firm they work for!!

Date:  Mar 19, 2008
User: Jody Patterson
Age: 28

In a school where undergraduates are required to find an OAA mentor (as part of the co-op program), it is evident that the majority of students do not know a registered architect other than their employers - or their professors, who therefore wind up with heavy mentorship rosters. Widening the range of eligible mentors is a must, and more support should be given to encourage new practitioners to become mentors - the education requirements for architects have changed between the generation of most current OAA members and the students they are mentoring, so most students simply can't get their mentor's advice on that crucial process.

Date:  Mar 19, 2008
User: mnsa
Age: 39

I strongly believe that interns should have a mentor, but that the mentor should be from a firm other than that where the intern is employed. This allows the intern to be exposed to a wider range of opinions and ensures that there is no conflict of interest in speeding up the process of interns gaining their license, which benefits the firm in terms of numbers of registered architects on staff.

Date:  Mar 19, 2008
User: RyanK
Age: 28

Disagree with mentors being within the same firm as you are employed.

Date:  Mar 19, 2008
User: alejandro
Age: 24

mentors can be overwhelmed it they don't know exactly how to assist so the training is good but it should also not be a burdensome ordeal. They shouldn't be called mentor's however if they simply sign an intern's papers.

Date:  Mar 19, 2008
User: Architect
Age: 33

i have been looking for a mentor since 4 years and i hope that Interns may select a mentor from the firm by which they are employed

Date:  Mar 20, 2008
User: OlaM
Age: 26

as an incoming intern the process of finding a mentor seems overwhelming, and am not convinced that it is fully necessary. The OAA needs to clarify what the relationship is to help with and aid the interns in getting a mentor.

Date:  Mar 20, 2008
User: Nikki
Age: 47

Mentors must be willing to look at the requirements printed in the experience book and suggest ways that the intern can fulfull the knowledge required. If this means they still don't understand, then a document can be available - which should include a section on "Is this for you?" for people who do not understand that this is like any other volunteer position - it is about the Intern, not about them. Secondly, are firms willing to invest in there employees? The OAA needs to inject mandatory business education for partners running a business - on how to value employees for a win-win outcome.

Date:  Mar 20, 2008
User: Anthony
Age: 61

Am currently a mentor. Having a mentor from an outside firm avoids the possibility of conflicts of interest.

Date:  Mar 20, 2008
User: Nathalie
Age: 41

I am a mentor and would very much appreciate this.

Date:  Mar 20, 2008
User: Acer
Age: 45

I think it should be requirement that the mentor and the intern should be employed in the same firm: nobody outside the firm can properly assess the intern's experience and progress.

Date:  Mar 22, 2008
User: alan
Age: 34

I believe that there should still be a mentor involved outside the firm of employment because this offers more objective feedback and the intern can express their feeling more freely. In addition to meeting with the mentor after each log sheet is completed, the intern can also contact the mentor through email at an agreed schedule (weekly, monthly, etc.). I agree that mentors should be given more supporting material on current requirements. My mentor was helpful but knew little about the examination process or the difficulties of getting the experience necessary to complete the log sheets. Unfortunately many interns have to leave their employment to obtain the experience currently required by the intern program. This can be stressful and the interns can easily lose their confidence.

Date:  Mar 23, 2008
User: s z
Age: 35

I agree mentors should be given some information/assistance/incentives, however they should remain at arms length from the practice at which the intern is working.

Date:  Mar 24, 2008
User: filippo
Age: 43

The employer tends to be a Mentor in the process, shouldn't this be enough?

Date:  Mar 24, 2008
User: Ron Milne
Age: 74

While living and working in both London and Windsor I served as a mentor in the RAIC Syllabus Program and would be prepared to serve again in the Ottawa area.

Date:  Mar 24, 2008
User: Derek Newby
Age: 35

The intern-mentor relationship is important to the process, but better tools need to be in place to help the mentor easily direct the intern. It is a significant commitment, and should be rewarded with some incentive, perhaps con-ed points, or reduced fees for courses.

Date:  Mar 25, 2008
User: D. Cardinal
Age: 34

Mentors are great. An in-house mentor offers better accessibility, but the intern is only learning the habits of the firm they are working for. Typically, an intern will informally acquire a in-house mentor anyways. An external mentor offers insight into how other offices work - project types, project management, etc., etc. However, accessing external mentors can be difficult at times.

Date:  Mar 25, 2008
User: gilbert
Age: 28

I think mentors are important. However, the mentor should not be at the place of employment to keep an unbiased opinion and aid.

Date:  Mar 26, 2008
User: r.m.odell
Age: 31

Allowing an intern to have a mentor who works in the same office is a welcome change. This makes the process of finding a mentor, and continuing a relationship much easier. Of course, situations will arise where this relationship could be strained, but exceptions should never dictate progress.

Date:  Mar 26, 2008
User: intern
Age: 35

I don't think that having a mentor at the same firm works. It will only mean conflicts of interest: will that mentor be more interested in the firm's bottom line or in the professional development of the intern? Again, having a mentor from the same firm may only mean giving employers more control over what an intern will experience rather than for the good of the intern's career. I think it is good to have a mentor, but the mentor and the intern should not be working at the same firm. Also, I think it is important to have some privacy/confidentiality guideline set out by OAA regarding what a mentor can or cannot release to anyone about information pertaining or conversation with their interns. There should be a trusting relationship between interns and their mentors, and that relationship should be recognized by OAA.

Date:  Mar 27, 2008
User: Robert
Age: 37

why on earth do you need a mentor if you are working within an environment chock full of other architects of varying levels and opinions within a studio. is it old meets young kind of thing... is it a guarantor on a passport kind of thing?

Date:  Mar 27, 2008
User: alexis
Age: 40

The mentoring component of the process was weak in my experience. Partially because I did not push it to it's potential, but also because the requirements required a signature, not actual mentoring.

Date:  Mar 28, 2008
User: ca16060
Age: 24

Presents a significant conflict of interest between intern and employer.

Date:  Mar 28, 2008
User: Name with held
Age: 30

Get serious. If the firm has no intention of providing the necessary experience or views junior staff as a disposable resourece then having a mentor who is employed will accomplish absolutely nothing regardless of how honourable the mentor is. Face reality, money = power. If the firm has control over the mentor (i.e. the mentor is not a principal and thus cannot be fired) they have power over them too.

Date:  Mar 28, 2008
User: Ctrl-Z
Age: 28

I don't know of any mentors that actually mentor their interns. In most cases, the mentor is the employer.

Date:  Mar 28, 2008
User: slk123
Age: 30

to me it is obvious that your employer could be your mentor.

Date:  Mar 28, 2008
User: erin
Age: 25

I have a mentor technically, but I consider my employer much more of a mentor. I chose to work for them because I look up to them. My employer is also in a close working relationship. With the mentor having to be apart from employment, I don't find it relates so well, the mentor doesn't really know what I'm up to, nor do they know me. I would rather just my employer have to sign off on the CERB forms.

Date:  Mar 29, 2008
User: Cory Stechyshyn
Age: 44

I completed my architectural education through the RAIC Syllaus and am now volunteering my time back to the local Design Studio. I firmly believe in mentoring / student interaction.

Date:  Mar 29, 2008
User: mustafa
Age: 35

working in company after that mentor why the process is so tuff can we make more tuff for international people / international architects so wewill never be so called qualified architects

Date:  Mar 30, 2008
User: Kristin S
Age: 30

As it stands I rarely get to see my mentor but having one within the office that I work would be much more beneficial. The ability to go to them, see the even day to day and have them help you get the hours you need because they are in a position to find them within the same firm would be helpful.

Date:  Mar 30, 2008
User: Kris_B
Age: 28

Although I agree with introducing some guidelines to help to direct mentors, I think that allowing interns to choose in-house mentors presents some conflicts. Mentors should be kept seperate from the job place.

Date:  Mar 31, 2008
User: Drawswell
Age: 52

The idea of having a mentor from the same firm in which an intern is employed could work provided there is a significant commitment on the part of the firm's management to review the intern/ mentor relationship regularly - with required reporting to the OAA to keep everything on track.

Date:  Apr 01, 2008
User: erin
Age: 24

mentorship is not required anyway. the fact that the mentorship has been in operation while the mentors have been uninformed is evidence that it is just as easy for students to find out themselves about current requirements. Employers should sign off work experience forms and other parties should not be involved or inconvenienced

Date:  Apr 01, 2008
User: ddrussell
Age: 35

In the past few years although I am not currently registered with the Alberta Association of Architects - I have continued to mentor a group of first year students with a group of licenced practitoners and will continue to do so it is important to the profession but must continue to strive to push the bar in upward momentum.

Date:  Apr 01, 2008
User: Meshah
Age: 39

Current mentor system does not work as efficiently as intended, I strongly agree with propositions above.

Date:  Apr 01, 2008
User: jayleb
Age: 27

The mentoring changes sound great, maybe a registry of available mentors should be established... I'm still looking for one outside my firm!

Date:  Apr 01, 2008
User: Joyce
Age: 26

I do not see my mentor enough to benefit from any guidance they could potentially offer so perhaps a mentor in the firm I work in would be more accessible and ultimately have a better relationship with the intern. It is ironic to even call someone a 'mentor' when one is seen twice a year.

Date:  Apr 02, 2008
User: Denise Lepage
Age: 49

An in office mentor would help the process and for me has been a handicap that it was not an option. I am busy, meeting outside the office with another mentor did not happen as often as I would like. An in office mentor becomes more aware of your experience needs and invested in your success and can assist in providing the experience you need.

Date:  Apr 02, 2008
User: Jason
Age: 34

I think the mentor process is a complete waste of time and an obstacle in getting the hours submitted. I only meet with my mentor when I have to get my hours signed, not because I am learning some architectural life-lessons. My mentor does nothing for me, except that we bitch about the OAA. Ooops, did I just say that? Allowing the mentor to be in the same office is a good idea.

Date:  Apr 04, 2008
User: intern
Age: 37

This will make it more convenient for intern & mentor if they are both at the same firm. It's hard to find time outside of the office for both parties.

Date:  Apr 04, 2008
User: internarchitect
Age: 28

It is never made much sense that mentors cannot be from the same firm as where you are employed. Partners / senior staff at a firm is in the perfect position to be a mentor, and in manner ways function as such more so then the 'official' mentor on the log book. It is much easier for someone who you deal with on a daily basis to give honest professional advice.

Date:  Apr 04, 2008
User: Michaela
Age: 39

The mentorship requirement is useless. I am 39 years old and have been working for 10 years - I could be a mentor - I don't need to have one - complete waste of time.

Date:  Apr 05, 2008
User: 1hk1
Age: 37

My mentor was able to give me impartial advice about situations that arose during my employment. It was extremely helpful to me. At any time, I could send my mentor an email and feel that someone is listening to me. For this reason, I strongly believe the mentor should not work in the same firm as the intern. The OAA could help by having meet and greet sessions for mentor/interns in various cities in the province. The would be better than trying to select a mentor from a list.

Date:  Apr 08, 2008
User: Chintan Virani
Age: 46

Mentors know lot more than interns, there is no doubt about it. They will pick-up the mistakes - errors immediately and also adivse how we should think for details. More interaction will benefit to the society.

Date:  Apr 09, 2008
User: tzjakab
Age: 22

Interns should have the option of who their mentor is, regardless of whether or not they are employed by them.

Date:  Apr 09, 2008
User: gejb
Age: 39

Interaction / meeting between mentors and is too limited and not structured. I often hear of such meetings as being a short-term task approach, such as filing Income Tax.

Date:  Apr 09, 2008
User: wing nut
Age: 39

I think mentors outside the practice are pretty important, get outside the lens of internal office politics. Having a mentor internally is convenient, but would surrender the quality of perspective that an outside mentor could offer.

Date:  Apr 10, 2008
User: marc
Age: 36

I have had no issue with my mentor. My meetings with him were informative and rewarding.

Date:  Apr 10, 2008
User: deanna
Age: 28

Convenient access to a mentor is important, this used to be someone you worked for, continuing to learn within the profession. Mentors in this system can be practically detached from an intern's professional experience.

Date:  Apr 11, 2008
User: jsbaker
Age: 35

Mandating and formalizing the mentoring process is faintly ridiculous; the value in such a relationship is that it arises organically from mutual interest in each other's careers and development. Further, differing advice will be of differing value to different interns; standardizing the advice is likely counterproductive. If mentoring is to remain as a formalized requirement, allowing the mentor to be from an interns own firm is definitely necessary.

Date:  Apr 11, 2008
User: rhizome
Age: 44

Would be convenient to allow in-office mentoring rather than searching the city for people. Especially when you don't know the city.

Date:  Apr 13, 2008
User: parallax_ca
Age: 42

even hard to FIND an architect as a mentor in more remote areas (most of ontario is NOT toronto!)

Date:  Apr 14, 2008
User: Amy Huddleston
Age: 29

More advice from the mentor would be very useful. And if the mentor is from the firm by which they are employed they would be much more easily accessible for questions and advice.

Date:  Apr 15, 2008
User: darchitect
Age: 37

it is the job of the mentee (??) to tell the mentor what current requirements they have or need. giving the mentors more guidelines or info is just more meddling by adminstrators that will serve no purpose other than to waste time and money. If you are a mentor and feel you don't have the tools to do your jobm then go learn them.

Date:  Apr 15, 2008
User: Nancy
Age: 28

Mentorship should count toward continuing education for architects.

Date:  Apr 15, 2008
User: TomK
Age: 32

They should be compensated somehow. Can mentorship count towards con-ed points?

Date:  Apr 15, 2008
User: markazi
Age: 54

I AGREE I HAVE A MENTOR BUT WE HARDLY GOING FORWARD

Date:  Apr 15, 2008
User: evelyn
Age: 33

I don't think this helps. The actual work environment should take more responsibilty for helping us gather the necessary experience and answer questions. The mentor is too out of the loop to really comment. Get rid of this. My mentor is so busy it took over 3 months to meet with them...and they have 11 interns to help!

Date:  Apr 24, 2008
User: arch_intern78
Age: 29

1. Your mentor should be your boss, or at a senior employee at the same firm! This would be the best way to ensure a pro-active role & responsibility for achieving a broad scope of experience.

Date:  Apr 26, 2008
User: Chris
Age: 38

Mentors should, in principle, remain outside the intern's place of employment. Interns and their mentors should file a bi-annual plan/update throughout the period. Mentors could be registered in an email program to keep them updated with information.

Date:  Apr 26, 2008
User: senior
Age: 53

Periodic meeting with mentor as & when required to seek necessary guidance. For self employed depending upon scope of project. Reciprocity between Architect & Engineer to be maintained act as mentor to widen scope.

Date:  Apr 28, 2008
User: rima
Age: 41

Mentoring is a good idea, however it should be optional, as some interns with long years of experience may opt out of this requirement given the choice. Although mentors intend to help, but some are not well equipped. A mentor kit, web page, or a hot line can provide support for mentors. Possibly a one page explanation by the mentor as to the reasons why s/he is taking on this intern and how s/he thinks be helpful, can be required as part of the intern applicaiton.

Date:  May 06, 2008
User: Tmac
Age: 37

Mentors good to ease interns mind and give good insight

Date:  May 15, 2008
User: S.B.G.
Age: 25

I understand the criticism and concerns of having a mentor in the current place of employment, however, interns are free to chose their mentors and are free to look outside their firm if they wish. It can be a burden to find both an architect to sign off on your experience and a second one, completely neutral, to act as a mentor. Incentive programs and training for the mentor will also greatly improve the relationship and usefulness of this requirement.

Date:  May 15, 2008
User: Shirley Ting
Age: 32

I agree, I admire and was very happy to find my mentor. However I found I had to inform him of what is expected and I often did most of the talking to make sure he was abreast of my situations. Plus it would be great to really mentor or be mentored more than once a year or whenever CACB experience needs to be signed. It would be best to have a meeting before the signing or every 6 months to keep abreast and to have establish a game plan or set of goals for the intern to keep the intern motivated as well as inspire the intern on the integrity of being an architect.

Date:  May 30, 2008
User: H.H.
Age: 33

Mentoring is one of the oldest and best ways for Interns to get into the profession. This aspect of Internship should be elevated in importance. The restriction on employers being mentors should be stricken - oftentimes, the employer (e.g. a single Architect) is the best person to mentor an intern. Incentives for Mentors - allow time to be counted towards Con-Ed; public recognition of Mentors such as in a registry; awards for top mentors.

Date:  Jun 11, 2008
User: leadfoot
Age: 40

I agree a mentor in the same firm is fine. In reality we all know this mentor stuff is BS. You go for lunch, shoot the shit, and then go back to your office.

Date:  Jun 17, 2008
User: tinac
Age: 31

sounds like a very useful idea.

Date:  Jul 20, 2008
User: edcuhaci
Age: 78

Mentors should be carefully selected by tha OAA or by a commitee appointed by the OAA

Date:  Aug 04, 2008
User: Michelle
Age: 28

i agree with the training - not with the idea that the mentor is from the firm you work with - i think an outside opinion is very valuable

Date:  Aug 21, 2008
User: sonya
Age: 33

Guides for mentors essential. Role could be redefined to be more supportive rather than "supervisory" as co-signatory on CERB form suggests.

Date:  Sep 28, 2008
User: Poet of Bithyni
Age: 33

The mentor process in itself is very confusing. I am an Architect since 2003, with overseas credentials froma recognized university; however, I still have not been able to find a "mentor"; and the OAA is of no assistance in my job search at all.

Date:  Oct 06, 2008
User: joelb
Age: 34

I think mentorship is very important. I actually would like to see more interaction. As an intern, there is unfortunately a feeling that there is a curtain for which you can't enter behind (to talk to the architect). "I want to know how fees are set? What slice of the pie is my boss getting? Why am I making so little?" Is a mentor really going to lay this out for you? Not in a 30 minute conversation. I'm also suspicious that the architectural community is so small that mentors may not give you information straight up (for example, the fees question; or why a partnership dissolved). There has to be more motivation for people to mentor as well.