Archinect - Features

Archinect's Tips for Recent Graduates Navigating Architectural Employment

2023-06-26T11:49:00-04:00

In 2023, navigating the job market for recent graduates can be daunting. Discussions surrounding portfolio advice, crafting an effective resume, and if one should follow their "dream job or a dream school" have been ongoing topics on Archinect and our forum. Within the last few years, expanded discussions over work conditions, ethical labor, and internship opportunities for graduates across our editorial have also been widely discussed. More recently, discussions of fair wages and unionization have propelled the launch of salary transparencies across several U.S. states and parts of the U.K.

For students who have recently graduated and preparing to enter the workforce this summer, Archinect aims to provide as many tips and resources for those preparing to step into professional practice.

Remote Work and 'Zoom towns' Aren't Just Changing Our Offices, They're Changing the Future of Employment Opportunities

2021-03-25T08:29:00-04:00

Last year the Archinect team spent time connecting with our community to learn how architects, firms, and students adapted to remote work and learning. However, after a year of "practice," remote work doesn't seem as daunting as it once was. It has opened a new set of opportunities for companies and teams to explore, especially when hiring. However, during the pandemic, remote work has also led to the rise of "Zoom towns" and proposes a new look at city structures. "The shift is already changing the way that cities compete to build their economies and attract jobs," shares Richard Florida and Adam Ozimek of the Wall Street Journal's Saturday Essay.

As companies continue to expand their teams, employees and prospective job seekers are also looking to relocate out of larger cities and move into smaller, mid-sized towns that offer better housing costs and more outdoor amenities.

Over the last 12 months, Archinect has been listening and learning. We're asking questions to help find a p...

How to Use Archinect to Get a Job: Optimizing Your Profile With Your Current Portfolio and CV

2021-01-26T09:00:00-05:00

It goes without saying that the job market for architects is really tough right now. It does need to be said, however, that there is much more job seekers can do to improve their chances of getting hired. Naturally, Archinect, the first and only go-to talent marketplace for the Architecture industry, is the place to start.

Archinect currently hosts nearly 40,000 active job seekers within our huge directory of architecture portfolios and profiles in Talent Finder. Archinect also hosts tens of thousands of firms that are actively utilizing Archinect to find new staff. The problem, as we've heard from many employers, is that too many job seekers are doing a less-than-stellar job at selling themselves.

But fear not, we're here to help! We've compiled the feedback from employers, and studied our huge database of job seeker profiles, to put together a simple guide to help you optimize your profile to increase your chances of getting employed.

What Architecture Firms are Hiring Right Now?

2020-06-26T14:17:00-04:00

Archinect has offered most popular architecture and design job board for over two decades, and that standing enables us to get a unique look at hiring trends throughout the industry at any point in time. With the economy taking a hit, and employers navigating many unknowns due to COVID-19, job seekers are wondering what the future holds for them. We decided to create a brief outline of what we’re currently seeing on our job board in hopes of providing some insights into what might be occurring in the larger architectural employment market.

Tools of the Job Hunt: Understanding the Employer

2019-09-16T12:11:00-04:00

We've shared a lot of helpful information on job hunting: how to craft the perfect resume and cover letter, how nail the job interview, the importance of the portfolio... While all of these are useful, they tend to lack the underlying principles one should understand as they navigate their job search. In short, these resources give us practical and prescriptive instruction but tend to lack the why behind what we’re doing. Just as in architecture, we must understand why we do something, not only how to do it. When it comes to job hunting, that is what this article will aim to address.

A 3-Step Guide to Choosing Your Next Architecture Job

2019-03-26T12:00:00-04:00

As a professional, there will inevitably come a time when you will need to search for a new job. This should be a simple enough endeavor, but as you sit there, contemplating your next steps, it begins to appear quite complicated. What firms do you apply to? Which ones will be the most fruitful? How do you know you’re not making a mistake? The questions go on, but ultimately, what you’re really searching for is some kind of guideline or “measuring stick” to help you in your first couple of steps. This article is your measuring stick.

Soapbox: Job Interviews

2018-05-02T09:00:00-04:00

Soapbox is a weekly series delivering a curated set of lectures, talks and symposia concerning contemporary themes but explored through the archives of lectures past and present. With the plethora of lectures, talks, symposia and panels occurring world wide on a daily basis, how can we begin to keep up and if not, find them once they are gone? Soapbox looks to assemble a selection of recent, archived and outlier lectures surrounding a given theme. Soapbox looks to curate this never-ending library of ideas into an engaging and diverse list of thoughts and provocations. Soapbox is just that, a collection aimed at discovering the occasional needle in a haystack.

Want to join the LMN Architects community? Partner Stephen Van Dyck shares tips on what potential candidates should know

2018-04-19T12:01:00-04:00

For Seattle-based LMN Architects, community is at the heart of everything they do — from their diverse portfolio of civic-centric projects to the ongoing design research of their in-house Tech Studio.

LMN Architects also instills collaboration and multi-disciplinary thinking into their office culture. “LMN operates as a single studio in a single office, meaning that our staff have the opportunity to work across multiple project typologies and gain experience from a variety of leaders in the office,” LMN Partner Stephen Van Dyck says. So what else can a new LMN employee expect on the job? In Archinect's latest “How To Get A Job At ___”, Stephen Van Dyck got in touch to share some tips for applying to the practice.

Want to score a job at Populous? Their Kansas City office shares how applicants can stand out from the competition

2018-03-20T12:40:00-04:00

Populous likes to go big. Since their founding in 1983, the global architecture and design firm has worked on over 2,000 projects around the globe. They have worked with high-profile clients — ranging from professional sports teams to universities to civic clients — in designing an array of stadiums and arenas, convention centers, masterplans for over 30 major worldwide events, airport renovations, and more.

Finding unique, well-rounded employees who can work in a team is critical for Populous when it comes to hiring at any one of their 14 global offices and three regional centers in Kansas City, London, and Brisbane. So how can job-seekers stand out from the competition? In Archinect's latest “How To Get A Job At ___”, Missy Ragsdale, Director of Human Resources at Populous' Kansas City regional center, got in touch with us to share some tips and a glimpse into office life at the firm.

“All experience will have some form of relevance”: How to get a job at Rafael Viñoly Architects

2017-10-17T09:30:00-04:00

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.

Want to land a job at Eskew+Dumez+Ripple? Get to know them first.

2017-09-08T12:15:00-04:00

“Treat your CV like a design problem to be solved”: How to get a job at Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects

2017-08-09T12:22:00-04:00

How to get a job at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, architects of the iconic Apple Store

2017-06-30T13:10:00-04:00

How to Get a Job at OMA

2017-06-12T10:00:00-04:00

Chris Fogarty, founding partner of Fogarty Finger, shares the perks of working at a midsize firm

2017-04-07T09:00:00-04:00

How to get a job at Amenta Emma? Start with an internship

2017-03-23T09:00:00-04:00

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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but 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.

How To Get A Job At: Aedas

2017-03-06T13:26:00-05:00

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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but 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.

How To Get A Job At: Dattner Architects

2017-03-01T06:37:00-05:00

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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but 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.

How To Get A Job At: Eight Inc.

2017-02-17T12:15:00-05:00

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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but 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.

How To Get A Job At: KieranTimberlake

2017-01-26T11:57:00-05:00

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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but 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.

How To Get A Job At: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

2017-01-16T14:21:00-05:00

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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but 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.

How To Get A Job At: JERDE

2016-12-12T12:03:00-05:00

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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but there are particular qualities and red flags that a firm won't always simply list in 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.

How To Get A Job At: MASS Design Group

2016-11-29T11:35:00-05:00

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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but 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.

How To Get A Job At: Rios Clementi Hale Studios

2016-11-16T12:30:00-05:00

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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but there are qualities and seemingly obvious 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.

How To Get A Job At: CO Architects

2016-11-02T12:09:00-04:00

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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but there are qualities and seemingly obvious 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.

How To Get A Job At: Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects

2016-10-12T12:05:00-04:00

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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but 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.

How To Get A Job At: Weston Williamson + Partners

2016-10-05T01:18:00-04:00

Searching for a new job can be an exhausting task, especially in such unpredictable times. 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. Possessing certain technical skills are required across the industry, but 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 ask architecture firms how candidates can stand out from the crowd when applying to their practice.

An expert's thoughts on how to negotiate, at any point in your career

2016-09-06T11:59:00-04:00

After a few intense years of late nights and long days, you’re now ready to embark on even more years of late nights and long days in the form of your next job. However, you do have some say in your working conditions. How should an architect negotiate the terms of their new position to create the ideal environment?

The Architecture Job Application Hints & Suggestions from Employers: Part II

2015-09-04T11:14:00-04:00

What is the best way to apply for an architecture job? We once again asked employers on Archinect to tell us what they look for in job candidates, including portfolio tips, desired software skills, and the best way to impress during an in-person interview.

Here’s what we asked employers:

How important is it for applicants to grasp/articulate the underlying philosophy of the firm in their cover letter/application materials?
What software skills do you wish applicants to have?
How much work should an applicant include in their portfolio? Should that work be tailored to the specific types of projects the firm undertakes, or is it important to see a broad range of what the applicant can do?
How should an applicant prepare for the in-person interview process?
How important are references?
How important is your website, and the applicant's knowledge of your website, to the interview process?
What are the most common mistakes potential employees make on their applications?
Can you offer any othe...

Looking Hot in a Tight Market: How Firms Successfully Attract Job Applicants

2015-05-21T11:55:00-04:00

Employers, we’re not trying to hurt your feelings, but be honest: Does your company seem like an attractive place in which to work? Thanks to a robust post-recession job market that favors employees, job seekers now have a variety of choices when it comes to finding an employer. This means that, much like going on a date, an employer who wants to attract top talent needs to put more effort into the appearance of their job ads. Although looks aren’t everything, first impressions do count.