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Permalink Reply by ani alf on May 2, 2012 at 4:09am

I have not really looked for a job in more than a decade, however, I do remember that when looking for my first job after graduating that my professors ( who in most cases had not been in the job market and working as a landscape architect in decades and really...lets face it... they are in a different field---which is  teaching) gave me all kinds of bad information about portfolio design and business contact etiquette at the time which was the nineties and email was just coming out.  That was a long time ago and email still the way to go then and now.  Most will not open attachments so you need to make sure it looks good in the body of an email.  Many times servers are so limited that you cannot send samples so you may need to set up a web address they can go to to see your portfolio and simple link.  for me when hiring or advertising if anyone sends me something by snail mail and does not email it - I think its weird.  Also faxing that is a definite no...I dont even know our fax number although we do have one.  I would say email and follow up with a phone call. 

 

Beware if ads that do no identify the firm as on craigslist where they can have an anon link...that is just stupid.   If someone puts out an ad for a position and does not expect to get phone calls or be contacted they are narcissits and thing they are better than  you and you dont want to work there.  That behavior is assuming their time is far more valuable than yours in the potential mutually beneficial relationship you BOTH hope to establish.  I can't stand the directive of 'no phone calls please'....  that attitude is probably the reason you need help in the first place--all your people walked out becuase you are an elitist and not interested in mentoring or talking to those coming up in the profession to even speak for five minutes.  If you put out an ad expect to spend a ton or your week for a week or two just responding to enquiries.  In the day, I used to at the very least get a thank you for my portfolio submission but I have heard that firms have such ill manners that they dont even acknowledge  the applicaion. That is wrong and hopefully firms that do this (most these days) are reading this.

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Permalink Reply by Gillian Hutchison on May 2, 2012 at 5:51pm

Wow!  Thanks for the advice!  I love my profs, but I am also very interested in working professionals opinions, which is why I started this thread.

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