Due to personal reasons, I will be moving to DC in about a year. I am currently working in Switzerland as a project manager (multi-family residential, competitions) in a well-respected local firm, and I have a total of 7 years of post-graduate experience, one of which was in a highly reputed firm in the United States.
I am aware that I am trying to break into a market where there are plenty of competitive candidates, and at my level of experience any other architect will have a great deal of local knowledge. I would like to know if anyone has any tips on what I could do during this year to make myself a more interesting cadidate. For the time being, I'm studying to get the LEED GA qualification, and researching local codes, the architectural culture, etc. All of which seems like not enough from my perspective.
If anybody here has any tips or pointers I would be extremely grateful, as I would really like to use this year to get ahead and find an opportunity in a similar role as my current one.
With many thanks,
Gonzalo
BulgarBlogger
Oct 13, 24 1:05 pm
The LEED GA credential is a good way to get closer to the LEED AP credential, but even non-architects get that credential. So you really won’t be getting the “wows” you are expecting by getting the LEED GA.
Until you get the local knowledge and experience, brace yourself for a potentially rough transition. Someone like you might be hired to do renderings and graphics since you aren’t familiar with American Units and don’t know American codes and regulations. At some point you’ll get sick of doing that and start asking yourself why you aren’t making more money, but still not have committed yourself to actually staying in the US. You may find that this lack of commitment would be the reason for why you wouldn’t be interested in learning local codes and regulations, because why invest in something that is not applicable to where you would end up living in the future?
Competitions? Ha! Good luck with those here in the US. Very few compared to Europe.
I know this all might sound cynical, but I have met so many international folks with similar questions. The true money in the US is made in knowing about how to put a building together (“The American Way”) and how to navigate the permitting and entitlement process successfully in behalf of the client. Everything else can for the most part be outsourced cheaply to China.
Gonzalo Samaniego
Oct 13, 24 4:26 pm
Thank you, BulgarBlogger, for your honest input. While I have some construction administration experience, it is true that most of my experience,. especially as a project leader, is limited to the earlier phases. Do you think big firms like SOM or BBB or the likes could maybe have some space for a transitional, design architect role? Just to know if it's completely unheard of or if there is some wiggle room.
pj_heavy
Oct 14, 24 3:23 am
Gonzalo, design architect route is possible but it would depend on what type and the calibre of projects you have worked before. Ex-colleagues of mine moved from Southern hemisphere to a multi office firm based in Austin ( this firm is actually on hiring spree on Archinect, recently ). Get your foot in the door first , G luck
Gonzalo Samaniego
Oct 14, 24 2:01 pm
Thank you for your help! I am definitely using this as an opportunity to scale up a notch, from midsize to maybe a bit larger. It's what we're currently doing at my firm, so for me there would be some continuity in my goals. Thanks for your tips!
OM..
Oct 14, 24 11:00 am
i actually think you should be able to secure a job fairly smoothly. With +- 7 years of experience you'd be filling an early to mid career role which isn't the same as the later stage "putting a building together" crowd.
if you have a good design portfolio at solid firms (as you've indicated), are good natured, and can communicate your experience and design thinking I think you should be able to get hired by a cool firm in the DC area.
I could see it being easier to join a larger corporate office since they often rely more on design skills and portfolio. Smaller "boutique" firms might need you to be more well rounded. But the through-line is that any firm wants smart, resourceful people, that can be easily taught and good a thorough job.
Gonzalo Samaniego
Oct 14, 24 2:05 pm
That's uplifting! So far the main obstacle that I see is that the number of firms which could be interested in an interntional profile like mine isn't huge in DC. When I was looking in New York after my master's there were hundreds of good firms to choose from; DC seems much more challenging...
JLC-1
Oct 14, 24 11:56 am
Get familiar with the imperial system and polish your Revit skills, look at building systems in the US, steel and wood framing. I don't know if it's pertinent, but I see a lot of people trying to integrate AI into their conceptual designs, could be a niche.
Gonzalo Samaniego
Oct 14, 24 2:06 pm
Good to know that Revit is the prefered BIM tool. In Switzerland most firms are into ArchiCAD but luckily I use Revit daily.As for the Imperial system, I'm a bit rusty on it it's true.
I have, that would be a great transition but I'm only looking in the DC area...
Non Sequitur
Oct 14, 24 12:15 pm
Switzerland to USA? Talk about a downgrade.
sameolddoctor
Oct 14, 24 12:20 pm
Exactly...
Non Sequitur
Oct 14, 24 2:01 pm
Then why even bother?
Gonzalo Samaniego
Oct 14, 24 2:02 pm
I'm going to miss it, not gonna lie.
Gonzalo Samaniego
Oct 14, 24 2:40 pm
Family circumstances that I cannot circumvent.
Non Sequitur
Oct 14, 24 3:49 pm
My condolences on your loss. Remember, it will get a hole lot worse come November when the inevitable happens.
Pamon
Oct 29, 24 4:08 am
interesting post.
I am on the opposite situation. USA >>> Switzerland
(Also from the DC area)
Let me know if you want to chat and we can exchange some info.
Non Sequitur
Oct 29, 24 7:39 am
The only way USA is better than Switzerland is in school shootings.
monosierra
Oct 29, 24 8:47 am
Have you considered doing an L1 transfer from the Swiss HQ to an American office? HdeM has an office in NYC that handles American work.
As others have pointed out, it is a bit odd seeing someone cross the Atlantic the other way - so many young architects here would kill for an opportunity to work for an European starchitect. All the best!
Gonzalo Samaniego
Nov 4, 24 4:14 pm
Fortunately my experience in Switzerland wasn't with a starchitect; I've had that experience in the US and it was great, but at my current firm I've gotten a degree of responsibility that would have been a lot more difficult to obtain in that kind of context.
I know it's not the most common of moves but I'm excited about the DC architectural scene. Changing jobs now isn't a possiblity for me so I'm stuck with making the move with a new job, as sweet as it would be to work for HdeM. I really admire their work...
Hi everyone,
Due to personal reasons, I will be moving to DC in about a year. I am currently working in Switzerland as a project manager (multi-family residential, competitions) in a well-respected local firm, and I have a total of 7 years of post-graduate experience, one of which was in a highly reputed firm in the United States.
I am aware that I am trying to break into a market where there are plenty of competitive candidates, and at my level of experience any other architect will have a great deal of local knowledge. I would like to know if anyone has any tips on what I could do during this year to make myself a more interesting cadidate. For the time being, I'm studying to get the LEED GA qualification, and researching local codes, the architectural culture, etc. All of which seems like not enough from my perspective.
If anybody here has any tips or pointers I would be extremely grateful, as I would really like to use this year to get ahead and find an opportunity in a similar role as my current one.
With many thanks,
Gonzalo
The LEED GA credential is a good way to get closer to the LEED AP credential, but even non-architects get that credential. So you really won’t be getting the “wows” you are expecting by getting the LEED GA.
Until you get the local knowledge and experience, brace yourself for a potentially rough transition. Someone like you might be hired to do renderings and graphics since you aren’t familiar with American Units and don’t know American codes and regulations. At some point you’ll get sick of doing that and start asking yourself why you aren’t making more money, but still not have committed yourself to actually staying in the US. You may find that this lack of commitment would be the reason for why you wouldn’t be interested in learning local codes and regulations, because why invest in something that is not applicable to where you would end up living in the future?
Competitions? Ha! Good luck with those here in the US. Very few compared to Europe.
I know this all might sound cynical, but I have met so many international folks with similar questions. The true money in the US is made in knowing about how to put a building together (“The American Way”) and how to navigate the permitting and entitlement process successfully in behalf of the client. Everything else can for the most part be outsourced cheaply to China.
Thank you, BulgarBlogger, for your honest input. While I have some construction administration experience, it is true that most of my experience,. especially as a project leader, is limited to the earlier phases. Do you think big firms like SOM or BBB or the likes could maybe have some space for a transitional, design architect role? Just to know if it's completely unheard of or if there is some wiggle room.
Gonzalo, design architect route is possible but it would depend on what type and the calibre of projects you have worked before. Ex-colleagues of mine moved from Southern hemisphere to a multi office firm based in Austin ( this firm is actually on hiring spree on Archinect, recently ). Get your foot in the door first , G luck
Thank you for your help! I am definitely using this as an opportunity to scale up a notch, from midsize to maybe a bit larger. It's what we're currently doing at my firm, so for me there would be some continuity in my goals. Thanks for your tips!
i actually think you should be able to secure a job fairly smoothly. With +- 7 years of experience you'd be filling an early to mid career role which isn't the same as the later stage "putting a building together" crowd.
if you have a good design portfolio at solid firms (as you've indicated), are good natured, and can communicate your experience and design thinking I think you should be able to get hired by a cool firm in the DC area.
I could see it being easier to join a larger corporate office since they often rely more on design skills and portfolio. Smaller "boutique" firms might need you to be more well rounded. But the through-line is that any firm wants smart, resourceful people, that can be easily taught and good a thorough job.
That's uplifting! So far the main obstacle that I see is that the number of firms which could be interested in an interntional profile like mine isn't huge in DC. When I was looking in New York after my master's there were hundreds of good firms to choose from; DC seems much more challenging...
Get familiar with the imperial system and polish your Revit skills, look at building systems in the US, steel and wood framing. I don't know if it's pertinent, but I see a lot of people trying to integrate AI into their conceptual designs, could be a niche.
Good to know that Revit is the prefered BIM tool. In Switzerland most firms are into ArchiCAD but luckily I use Revit daily.As for the Imperial system, I'm a bit rusty on it it's true.
have you looked at the jobs section? https://archinect.com/jobs/entry/150450085/design-technologies-bim-manager-100
I have, that would be a great transition but I'm only looking in the DC area...
Switzerland to USA? Talk about a downgrade.
Exactly...
Then why even bother?
I'm going to miss it, not gonna lie.
Family circumstances that I cannot circumvent.
My condolences on your loss. Remember, it will get a hole lot worse come November when the inevitable happens.
interesting post.
I am on the opposite situation. USA >>> Switzerland
(Also from the DC area)
Let me know if you want to chat and we can exchange some info.
The only way USA is better than Switzerland is in school shootings.
Have you considered doing an L1 transfer from the Swiss HQ to an American office? HdeM has an office in NYC that handles American work.
As others have pointed out, it is a bit odd seeing someone cross the Atlantic the other way - so many young architects here would kill for an opportunity to work for an European starchitect. All the best!
Fortunately my experience in Switzerland wasn't with a starchitect; I've had that experience in the US and it was great, but at my current firm I've gotten a degree of responsibility that would have been a lot more difficult to obtain in that kind of context.
I know it's not the most common of moves but I'm excited about the DC architectural scene. Changing jobs now isn't a possiblity for me so I'm stuck with making the move with a new job, as sweet as it would be to work for HdeM. I really admire their work...