Navigating through employment opportunities can be a daunting task for many, especially for recent graduates. Over the last few months, Archinect's forum has sparked discussions over job and internship opportunities for recent graduates. Discussions surrounding portfolio advice, working part-time as a full-time architecture student, internships, crafting an effective resume, and if one should follow their "dream job or a dream school."
As summer approaches, Archinect explores our Archinect Tips section to provide resources for recent grads preparing to step into professional practice. For over two decades, Archinect has provided the industry with the leading architecture job board in the US. With our expertise focusing on architectural employment, professional practice, and academia, we wanted to provide recent graduates a curated list of resources to help them sharpen their portfolios, understand how to craft an effective resume/CV, and prepare them for job interviews. We've also included an easy-to-follow guide to creating an Archinect profile that attracts employers.
For students looking for jobs, one struggle is knowing where to look. While some students rely on "word of mouth" referrals or job openings, it's important for students to be proactive in their search. The dream to work for large international firms like Shigeru Ban Architects, Steven Holl Architects, Snøhetta, and MAD Architects are a dream for many. Yet, there may be others looking to start their careers in small or medium-sized firms that will help them grow and gain experience.
The pandemic may have altered work expectations with remote working and hybrid office set-ups, however, finding a job and gaining experience in a post-covid world may have more pros than cons. Reflecting on Archinect's coverage of "What to Expect After Graduating From Architecture School," let's reflect on how you can create a post-graduation plan that works for you.
In our coverage of what to expect after graduation author Sean Joyner shares, "you’re entering a new frontier. One that is unknown to you. After school, you’re going to have to step into a world that should be familiar but is oddly foreign. This article will give you some insights into that foreign land. Think of it as a kind of map of unexplored terrain. If you embrace the points to follow you will surely be ahead of the game as you embark on this new chapter in your life." Joyner reminds students to keep these things in mind when searching for a job post-graduation.
This article works as a resource and reminder for recent graduates to be realistic yet flexible in their approach towards what to expect after graduation.
When entering a work scenario, assuming what a role or position may entail may not be the best step. Let's start with a breakdown of common job titles related to recent graduates and how learning a position's definition can lead to a more focused job search. Back in December 2019, Archinect' unpacked job titles within firms through our Archinect's Guide to Job Titles.
Archinect's Guide to Job Titles: Intern
Excerpt: As one progresses in their professional journey, the depth of knowledge required to practice architecture arises as a requisite reality. Aspiring practitioners enroll in college and proactively acquire foundational skills for their future careers as architects. Internships act as a salient supplementation meant to deepen the practical education of the up and coming pupil, with an aim for growth and development. But what exactly does an intern do? What do firms look for in an intern? And what characteristics make up a good internship? (Read more...)
Archinect's Guide to Job Titles: Designer
Excerpt: Within the architecture studio, designers exist as a polymorphic phenomenon so varied and nuanced that there subsists no exhaustive description of their fundamental nature. On a foundational level, designers design, but they are also so much more than that. Some might run their own projects, working through all phases of a project, while others may only operate in the schematic phases. The differences are endless. Moreover, designers can be junior, intermediate, and senior; all experience levels spanning eons uncommon in other positions. And so the challenge becomes one of defining such a wide-ranging position, a task this series has set out to tackle. (Read more...)
The notorious resume. The age-old question of what to include, what to omit, and if "embellishing" a past job experience is worth it has been a recurring question on our Archinect Forum. However, this is also a question many people across several industries look into. While we're specifically covering resume building and fine-tuning for an architect or designer, the following tips can also be applied to areas outside of architecture-related employment opportunities.
Resume tip: Tailor to the job
Excerpt: Resumes are kind of a default when it comes to job hunting. Sometimes they might even seem like an accessory to your portfolio and work samples. In a sense it is, but only with the right sense of value. Like a building made of many parts, some more visible and beautiful and others more rough and hidden, they all are necessary for the structural composition to hold together. In your application package, the portfolio packs a powerful punch, but the resume communicates your historical value in a way that a portfolio cannot. How do my past experiences position me for the position in front of me? This is the question we must ask when crafting a resume. (Read More...)
When to omit a job from your resume
Excerpt: ...employers want to see relevant experience, not just experience for experience's sake. Upon college graduation, I had a lot of work experience compared to most of my peers. When I was fourteen, I started working at Six Flags Magic Mountain. When I turned eighteen, I started working at Home Depot. I then did a little stint with ADT Security, knocking on doors, until I finally transitioned to architecture internships while in school. (Read more...)
It's easy to fall into common writing habits or "trends" when crafting the ideal resume. Not only do you want to showcase a level of competency and experience, but many are also quick to flaunt their proficiency in specific software. However, in this piece, the author reminds us, "when tackling the skills section of your resume, make sure not to do these two things: using graphic charts to show software knowledge and listing generic software."
When preparing your cover letter, the goal is to communicate what you as a candidate can offer in addition to your proficiencies. However, when does "selling yourself" become too much? When does highlighting your achievements or skills begin to sound too arrogant?
On your cover letter, sell yourself without "selling" yourself
Excerpt: The best way to sell yourself is by highlighting favorable aspects of your character through your resume, portfolio, and cover letter. You don't want to try and do this by telling a prospective employer how great you think you are [...] Your cover letter should be used to highlight how your experience aligns with the opportunity you are responding to. You can put all of your awards and achievements on your resume, but the cover letter is an opportunity for you to show a bit of your personality. (Read more...)
Four rookie mistakes architecture graduates make when writing a cover letter (and how to avoid them)
Excerpt: You've just graduated architecture school and it's time to start pursuing your first job. Like most, you've probably spent a lot of time on your portfolio, and perhaps even your resume, but what about the cover letter? Are you confident you're composing this crucial component of your application package in a way that captures the attention of your prospective employer? And more importantly, you'll want to be sure you aren't doing the opposite, that you aren't destroying your chances of moving forward in the hiring process by making avoidable errors. (Read More...)
Portfolios – every architecture student can agree this might be one of the most stressful components to finding a job. Some may grapple with finding the perfect projects to showcase their skills, while others may have a problem with editing and curating what to include and what to omit. Either way, the goal of a portfolio isn't to be perfect but to communicate a culmination of your work.
...the goal of a portfolio isn't to be perfect but to communicate a culmination of your work.
When it comes to portfolio preparation the author shares "there are too many portfolios out there that just look too pretty, too perfect [...] An employer wants to see how you arrived at that final result. Think about math class in grade school. You had to show the teacher how you solved your long division problem. The teacher's job was to teach you how to arrive at the solution, not just how to write down the correct answer on the page."
Despite the pandemic slightly altering the way young designers find jobs, interviews still play an integral role when landing the job. However, if you're not a conversationalist or worry about saying the wrong thing, don't fret. Interviewing is a skill that improves with practice. Whether it's a mock interview with a mentor or colleague, the important thing to remember is that firms hiring want to have a conversation.
If you're not a planner and prefer "winging" your interview, keep in mind a little preparation never hurts. Archinect's coverage on interview planning covers researching the people you're meeting, preparing yourself for an informational interview, and how to follow up after a job interview. If you're worried about the "tell me about yourself" question, we have you covered.
Diving into a career in architecture is a bit of a balancing act. Especially if you're a student, the thought of taking classes, studio, and working as an intern or junior designer seems ideal but also overwhelming. Last May, Archinect dove into the question "How To Choose Between Architecture Schools." This also happens to be one of our most discussed topics on our forum. Selecting the right program can be a tough decision. However, we've provided a guide to help prospective students organize themselves and their thoughts during our investigation. But wait, how does this relate to choosing between working and going to school OR working versus pursuing a Master's program? This month two questions were asked by a fellow Archinectors.
Similar to picking the right school, a few key points made in the article can also be applied to these two forum questions. For example, remember to ask yourself what your end goals are and what your constraints are. These constraints can be based on factors like location (the US or outside the US), your financial situation, and how well you manage your time. Another point to keep in mind is what the job entails if you decided to work while attending school OR taking a job versus pursuing another degree. While advice and comments vary, both decisions will have their pros and cons. As one enters professional practice, different experiences will work for different people.
When it comes to putting yourself out there students and postgraduates often wonder how they can put their resumes and portfolios in front of firms currently hiring. Earlier this year Archincet created a special feature that breakdown how you can use Archinect to get a job. Developed by Archinect's very own Paul Petrunia, he's created an easy to follow guide on How to Use Archinect to Get a Job: Optimizing Your Profile With Your Current Portfolio and CV.
Consider your Archinect profile as the place to keep all your information that architectural employers look for when recruiting. Simply put, if you want a job, spend the time to complete your Archinect profile.
According to Petrunia he explains, "one of the most appreciated aspects is that employers are able to quickly browse job seekers, in a consistent format, allowing the skills, work, and biographic information to be presented clearly without the hassle of navigating different presentation formats. Unfortunately, many job seekers haven't devoted the time to complete their profile, and some simply provide a link to their own website. When an employer is browsing hundreds or thousands of potential employees' CV's on Archinect, these incomplete profiles often get passed by due to the time required to get more information. Consider your Archinect profile as the place to keep all your information that architectural employers look for when recruiting. Simply put, if you want a job, spend the time to complete your Archinect profile. We'll go over how to optimize each component of your profile."
This easy-to-follow guide is the final step to positioning yourself in front of firms currently hiring and checking Archinect. You can post your resume, CV, and portfolio in addition to other skills and personal links like social media platforms to your Archinect Profile. Capture the attention of your future employer by learning how to maximize your profile. If you have any questions, or advice, about how the profiles can be improved, feel free to contact us or post to the comments below.
Don't have an Archinect profile yet? Click here to get started.
*If you're interested in exploring more tips, check out our Archinect Tips: Employment piece that provides an organized archive of news and features relating to architecture employment at any stage of your career. If you're curious about how to get a job at a specific firm, don't miss Archinect's "How to Get a Job at _____" series, where we asked some architecture firms how candidates can stand out from the crowd when applying to their practice.
Katherine is an LA-based writer, editor, and visual artist. As a writer, she focuses on architecture's relationship to media and cultural studies, social policy, urbanism, and behavioral economics. Her design interests involve blending art, narrative environments, and lighting design. Her work has ...
2 Comments
None of the job openings are requiring experience that is less than 5 years, and yet this article is for recent graduates,p.
Unpaid internships are worth negative experience.
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