Photo © Paul Vu, courtesy Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects.

The search for employment is unpredictable and demands unrelenting patience. When you're at your wit's end, it can be tempting to send the same exact resume to what feels like the same job ad over and over again. However, no two firms are identical and there are particular qualities and red flags that a firm won't always simply list on their job ad. In Archinect's “How To Get A Job At ____”, we asked some architecture firms how candidates can stand out from the crowd when applying to their practice.

Lorcan O'Herlihy established his eponymous architecture practice in 1994, based on the principle of working with “ruthless optimism” and creative pragmatism to design projects that can ultimately enrich communities. “You need to take an approach to architecture that pulls away from seeing a building as an isolated object, but instead see it as a tool that engages social and civic interactions,” Lorcan O'Herlihy previously told Archinect.

Based in Los Angeles and Detroit, Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects has designed over 85 projects across three continents — and their team continues to grow. When it's time to hire, what does LOHA look for in the right candidate? LOHA Director Ian Dickenson took a moment with Archinect to share.

What positions are constantly in-demand at your firm? 

What's always in demand at our firm are creative minds that want to contribute at a range of different positions. We don’t only place people within specific available roles, but rather continuously look for people who can contribute to our culture, bringing with them unique points of view. 

When meeting with a candidate, what are some ways that they can make a positive first impression during the interview? 

We are looking for people with a passion for architecture and socially conscious design, as well as bringing with them a level of optimism, high ambition, and a desire to contribute to the direction of the practice. 

We encourage applicants to treat their CV like a design problem to be solved. 

What do you want to learn most about the candidate during the interview? 

Beyond the candidate having a strong ambition for architecture and a true interest in our work, we are always interested to know what it is about our practice that attracts them and how their knowledge, interest, and skill set can contribute to the practice.

What is the most common mistake that candidates make when applying to your firm? 

We often see candidates treating their CV’s like a form to fill out or a box to check off versus an opportunity to creatively think about how they can introduce their unique point of view and experience. We encourage applicants to treat their CV like a design problem to be solved. 

How have previously successful applicants expressed their passion for architecture and socially conscious design during their first interview?

There is an energy and optimism in the way that successful applicants speak or write about their past experiences in architecture, and how they envision their continued growth within the field. Architecture is a pursuit that requires a lifetime of commitment, passion, and curiosity for what we do.

What makes a strong CV/portfolio? 

A strong CV/portfolio comes from someone who knows the job that they are applying for. In other words, a CV/portfolio that speaks to what they are hoping to achieve at LOHA. We recommend that the CV be tailored to the firm that they are applying for, and to focus on giving an understanding of what that firm does, and fundamental insight of how they can fit into the practice through their CV. 

How important is an applicant's educational background? 

We really want a broad range of thinkers to make up our firm. With that in mind, we’re not just looking at where people went to school, but instead how their specific experience can lend itself to us putting together the best team of diverse individuals. At our firm, these team members come from a number of schools of thought and educational backgrounds.

What kind of training do new hires undergo when they first start? 

We want to create a system around people that supports them, but we rely on the individual to match their own ambitions with how they want to grow within the practice. We prepare them with a formative understanding of the way that we work, our philosophy, and the way that the office is structured — which is more like a studio environment than a traditional office. In this way, people rely on their peers and the people around them to create an environment that supports and promotes creativity and open interaction.

Do you have an internship program? If so, briefly describe. 

Yes, we have relationships with a number of academic institutions that continuously provide us with strong internship candidates. We appreciate being surrounded by the ambitions and desires of young designers, who can contribute to fostering new ideas within the practice. 

Did any of your full-time employees start out as LOHA interns? 

Yes, we have (and have had) a number of interns that have transitioned to full-time employees.

What are three words that your employees might use to describe your firm? 

Optimistic. Explorative. Collaborative.

What additional social activities do you do as an office? 

As our main office is located in Los Angeles we often have office socials like BBQ’s and happy hours throughout the year. We also have a number of off site events such as field trips and site visits, where we grab a bite or drink in the surrounding neighborhood to glean further insight and understanding about the context that we are working within. 

If a candidate had the choice between you and another firm, what argument would you use to win them over?

We want people to apply here who are truly passionate about what we are doing. We make things, and the opportunity for candidates to experience ideas being built is very important. Our office relies on people that are fully committed to, and embedded in our work. We are looking for people who are seeking us out, not just because we are a great firm but because what we do, truly resonates with them.

We are looking for people who are seeking us out [...] because what we do truly resonates with them.

How do you see your firm growing in the next five years? 

We believe the goal of architecture is not so much about how to design an isolated object, but how to use architecture as a tool for engaging in culture, politics, and social structures, in order to amplify our urban landscapes and elevate the human condition. That said, in the next five years, we see ourselves continuing to expand that pursuit in both the diversity of project types and the culture and context of the spaces we work within.

Interested in joining Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects? Check out their Archinect profile to see if they have any current listings. To see more active listings from hundreds of firms, browse Archinect's Job Board.