The Eskew+Dumez+Ripple team. Photo courtesy of the firm.

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.

With a hardworking team of 50 employees, Eskew+Dumez+Ripple is dedicated to creating better communities with every project they design, from small interiors to large-scale urban planning. Based in vibrant New Orleans since 1989, EDR knows how to balance work and fun in their own office, too.

When it's time to hire new employees, what qualities does EDR seek the most? How can potential new hires grab the firm's attention? “Understanding our basic firm values, our commitment to sustainability, and how it has informed the projects in our portfolio” is a reliable starting point, according to Principal Jose Alvarez, who is in charge of hiring. Alvarez took a moment with Archinect to share more tips as well as a glimpse into the firm's studio culture.

What positions are constantly in-demand at your firm? 

We like to keep balance of experience levels in our studio but will never pass up an exceptional candidate, even if we are not looking to hire. The “right fit” can be hard to find! 

We are constantly looking for the best emerging talent, typically recent graduates or young professionals with 3-5 years of experience. We find that these candidates bring a new perspective to our design discourse. These new hires also provide leadership opportunities for our more experienced staff members. 

Each summer we look for 2-4 interns who would like to share their summer with us. We also provide a comprehensive 6 month co-op with select universities to provide students with valuable experience to compliment their ongoing education.

What information should potential candidates know about your firm's practice and work? 

An interview is a dialogue — a two-way conversation. Understanding our basic firm values, our commitment to sustainability, and how it has informed the projects in our portfolio allows for a more meaningful interview.

Candidates should understand our design philosophy and values. Beyond architectural form, we believe that design excellence combines beauty, function, economy and environmental performance. We start from an awareness of site and climate, paying attention to energy and water use, and consider the consequences of material choices on the health of occupants, the community, and the environment. Some call this approach 'sustainable design'. We believe it is just good design. 

This philosophy can be summarized quite simply: “If it doesn't work, it's not beautiful; If it's not beautiful, it doesn't work.”

Working in the most challenging climates, we look for candidates that look at design holistically — and will use data to guide decisions throughout the design process. And use targeted energy benchmarks as an ongoing measure of the project's success. We are a firm that believes and practice diversity, work/life balance and equality. We have a strong studio culture, lead the nation on emerging professional development programs and are a proud recipient of the AIA National Firm Award.

After deciding to meet with a candidate, what are you looking to learn about them from the interview? 

Beyond portfolio or experience, the primary goal during an interview is to gauge if a candidate will be a good fit for our office. We want to understand what intrinsically drives a candidate, what ignites their passion for design and their commitment to sustainability. These qualities are hard to grasp in reviewing a resume or portfolio. 

We also ask candidates to share how they spend their time outside the office. Are they involved with the any organizations? Do they volunteer or have any hobbies? We believe that an accomplished design professional is engaged with their community at a professional, cultural and civic level. We look for these indicators.

We want to understand what intrinsically drives a candidate, what ignites their passion for design and their commitment to sustainability.

What do you say is the best thing about working for your firm? What is the most challenging thing? 

I believe one of the best characteristics of our office is our studio culture. We are intentionally structured into teams, allowing a range of experience levels to collaborate and learn from one another on any given project. We believe in mentoring — in all directions. 

We are considered a “design first” practice. Rather than focusing on specific building types, we embrace design challenges at all scales: Architecture, Interior Environments and Urban Strategies. From master planning and urban parks to small pavilion exhibits, we find joy and fulfillment. This diversity provides a rich experience for our staff and provides ongoing design dialogue, but also can be the most challenging part of our practice as it puts us on a national and international level against firms with more specialized market sector experience.

What makes a strong CV/portfolio? 

The portfolio has the responsibility to carry a comprehensive summary of the candidate’s history, skills and design talent. It is important that it is clear and thoughtful. Use strong imagery — only the best of your work. Less is more — always.

Make sure to credit others and accurately represent your own contributions — we value collaboration and honesty.

Include diagrams and analysis only if it clearly reinforces your process. Make sure to credit others and accurately represent your own contributions — we value collaboration and honesty.

What are some “red flags” that make you reject an application instantly? 

A poorly designed resume or portfolio is the first red flag. Other “red flags” — small as they may be — include conflicting information, misspellings, or limited references. A resume and portfolio are a representation of a candidate's professional capabilities. We are looking for brand ambassadors for Eskew+Dumez+Ripple.

What kind of technical skills are absolutely essential for applicants? 

The design and documentation process is rapidly evolving, and so are our design tools. We look for technologically savvy individuals who are proficient in a variety of software programs but also nimble enough to adapt to new design tools as they become available. Experience with fabrication and construction is a big plus. We have numerous resources available for exploration in our studio, from physical modeling, 3-D printing and a full VR suite. Energy modeling is essential to our design process. A flexible learner will thrive in our studio.

How important is an applicant's educational background?

Our studio currently employs alumni from more than 40 different academic programs. We rely on the diversity of thought and backgrounds of our team to support a collective design culture. We hire staff from across the country and the world. We are looking for candidates to commit to the licensing process; as such we look for an educational background from an accredited institution. Outside of that, we evaluate each candidate based on their merits and contributions, drive and talent, differentiators and accomplishments.

What kind of training do new hires undergo when they’re first starting? 

EDR has developed an employee orientation program that welcomes new hires and begins the on-boarding process even before they arrive. New employees receive “welcome emails” outlining their first days and the logistics of joining the studio. They are invited for a team-building event or social hour shortly before their official start date to let them meet their new co-workers in advance. Once they arrive, a “welcome packet” of EDR branded swag (t-shirt, flash drive, office monograph and more) is waiting for them at their desk, along with studio wayfinding information and staff photo chart.

New hires go through an orientation session and are assigned a “buddy” who accompanies them for the first few days to answer any questions and explain the formal and informal idiosyncrasies of the office. Designated studio members and leadership also bring the new hire to lunch during their first week. We want our leadership to be accessible and relatable. 

Our BIM manager guides new hires through our Tech Standards and provides BIM training suited to their personal needs. New staff also receive EDR’s Leadership Guide and Employee Handbook, and access to our intranet site to easily access our corporate materials. Branding standards, project management tools, study guides for ARE/LEED AP, there are ample resources that are accessible to all.

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

As most firms, we have the traditional summer internship program and have partnered with multiple design schools around the country for co-op opportunities. We appreciate the fresh enthusiasm, ambitious problem solving, and diverse backgrounds that students and young professionals bring to the quality of work in our studio. 

In the spring of 2018, we are launching a formal 6-12 month internship program. The goal of this “extended” internship is to provide meaningful and unique professional experience within a studio-based environment. Our program will focus on providing robust mentorship during a comprehensive long-term work experience and exposes students to the challenges and rewards of the profession. These paid positions will be offered to talented and motivated students with backgrounds in our core disciplines of Architecture, Interior Environments and Urban Strategies. Internships will be open to design students and young professionals who have completed at least six semesters at an accredited institution. 

Regarding professional development, EDR strongly encourages architectural staff to pursue licensure and LEED accreditation. We have developed an incentive program to support this and are honored to have been named an “IDP Outstanding Firm” as a result — a distinction earned by only a small number of firms nationally. For new hires who qualify for the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), we offer focused project development and experiences that qualify towards required hours for licensure.

What additional social activities do you do as an office? 

We are lucky enough to live and practice in New Orleans, and at times the social opportunities seem endless! 

At the end of each week the office hosts a weekly happy hour / lecture series called the Friday Forum. The entire staff gathers in the kitchen for signature cocktails and to celebrate the end of a successful week by engaging with each other, and typically an invited speaker from our community. 

The program might include presentations by guest lecturers and community activists, project presentations by the staff, or discussions with other architects from around the country that facilitate a dialogue of design. Field trips and hard hat tours led by the lead project designer aren't to be missed! 

Christmas parties and other special events are open to families and partners. Grillmasters are invited to compete in our annual BBQ / pool party, this year we had a rib cookoff with blind taste testing. Other annual events include a crawfish boil, bowling tournament, and a day-long/studio-wide field trip to visit multiple EDR projects post-completion. 

EDR prides itself on our robust commitment to pro bono services. Every January, the firm hosts a “Day of Service” to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Considering New Orleans's architectural heritage or ongoing efforts like post-Hurricane Katrina rebuilding, how much does the city influence your practice? 

Our approach grows from the belief that architecture plays a profound role in shaping our experience of the world and our place within it. We believe that design excellence combines not only beauty, function, and economy, but also performance. We view the creation of environmentally responsive design as a core value of our practice. Out of this commitment, we have produced a body of work that inextricably links beauty and performance to create projects of lasting cultural and social value. 

Each design opportunity is part of an ongoing investigation into the manner in which context, culture, and place can be revealed in the work. The result is an architecture that emerges substantively, not scenographically, from each particular locale. Our design vision incorporates geography, climate, cultural resources, and traditions to develop an architectural response clearly of our own time and place while maintaining a respect for the past.

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

“Lagniappe” is a Cajun-French term that means “a little something extra,” like the thirteenth donut in a baker’s dozen. We believe that this little extra is essential: a good building always exceeds its brief, just as a good gumbo always exceeds its ingredients. Excellence exceeds expectations: This is our firm’s mindset, nurtured in a culture that reaches from the studio to the academy, to peer professionals, to the community at large; and one that is realized in beloved buildings and places. Vital architecture, as we seek to demonstrate, is a product of a vital firm culture.

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

From the firm’s inception, we have been driven by four enduring core values: Design Excellence, Environmental Responsibility, Community Outreach, and Client Commitment. Every aspect of the practice has been structured to support these ideals, where beauty equals performance. We see the firm growing by stepping up to meet new challenges as we continue to design with a mindset of beauty = performance to develop exceptional and responsible architecture in an increasingly harsh environment.

Interested in joining Eskew+Dumez+Ripple? 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.