Getting Employed

2nd Andrew’s recommendation – I learned AutoCAD on the job in a city engineering department.  Alternatively maybe with a contractor (shop drawings).

Are you marketing yourself as a landscape architect to those firms or specifically how your skill sets fit their needs for simply drafting as-built plans or whatever else they need done? 

A cover letter letting them know how your skill sets are valuable to them and that you are unlikely to be a competitor in the future may help. Some LAs tend to market themselves to CE/LS offices in such a way that looks like they want the office to do more LA type work rather than to show how you can help them with what they already do.

Small local firms near where you live are a good place to start.

Your response above is exactly what I was alluding to.

“They were only interested in what they do” 

Well, they are not in business to do what you want to do. If you want to get your foot in the door at a CE or LS office you have to put the landscape design/architecture out of your head and think like a CE or LS. I assume that you are trained in ACAD and have some site plan drawing skills – that is exactly what many of them need more than another rod man or someone who tested harmonics on a suspension bridge.

If you go in looking to be pigeon holed as a landscape person, they have little use for you. If you go in there willing to draw lot lines for survey points to be put on for field work, to connect survey points to draw existing conditions’ to add an addition onto a house plan, to put dimensions to property lines, …. It is a piece of cake after years of LA design studio. A bit boring, but easy. Soon they’ll have you adding septic design, grading, drainage, …. and everything besides planting design. …. and eventually they’ll have you doing that as well as long as you are hanging around.

If you want to work for them, you have to do what they do. Show them that you want to do what they need you to do and they’ll take you in. It is a huge springboard, especially if you are not getting in anywhere else.

That is great experience to get into an LA office. It is even a better place to see how all the different design fields work with (or without) each other and give you a chance to see where unexploited opportunities are for a future business of your own.

If you think like everyone else, you’ll be just another of a ton of LA students looking for the same job in the same way …. lost in the crowd.

Step out of the crowd and find a way to fit an existing need. Don’t wait for a need that fits you.

Hello Shawn;

When & if you do get a “job interview” with any type of company…I would highly recommend that you buy the job interview book called “HIRE ME” by Patricia Drain.  I purchased a copy for around $10.00 on Amazon.com.  This book takes about 45 minutes to read and it teaches you EVERYTHING you need to know to do an “outstanding” job interview.

In her book, for example, she states that a prospective employer will make up their mind whether or not to hire you in LESS than the first 10 seconds they lay eyes on you.  So, the old saying “First impressions count” is VERY true.

Be sure you have a very professionally prepared Resume’ & that your LA portfolio is well organized…..and only contains your BEST work.

GOOD LUCK!

J. Robert (Bob) Wainner

Design / build is a good way to break in. Try Esterline Landscape in Lakeland, Florida.

Shawn,

I agree with the people who mentioned CE and LS firms.  This is how I started and when things slowed in the office, I went outside as a rodman and learned surveying.  Working with engineers and surveyors really paid off in the long run.  As an LA our projects ultimately consist of working with the land, so understanding a survey, grading, underground utilities, easements, regulations, etc., is a great benefit to anyone in the profession.

Learning Autocad is the first thing you need to do.  If you don’t have this skill, you are really at a disadvantage.  Even LA firms are going to require CAD skills.  Going to night class to learn may be hard work, but that would be my recommendation to you.

What’s the economy like in PA?  Around here (TN), it’s booming and has been for a few years.  Maybe you should consider moving?

Good Luck in your job search.

Around here Autocad is king.  My knowledge of Solid Works is minimal, however 3D isn’t a strong requirement in many offices.  CE’s do use Civil3D and Architects use Revit as well, but most LA’s I know do not use 3D.  It’s fun to work in 3D, but around here there isn’t a strong demand for it.

My recommendation is to stick with vanilla Autocad, unless you have a strong desire to work for an architect, civil engineer, or other specific profession.  If you are interested in a specific profession, then you should research the software the firms in your area use and then learn that software.

Perhaps there is a firm that would offer to teach Autocad to you.  I mentored a high school student for about 6 months.  He came by after school for 2 – 3 hours a day, twice a week.  I did not pay him initially, but once he started producing real work, I started paying him.  During the summer he came by everyday.  It worked out well for both of us.  Perhaps something like this could work for you?

One final thought.  During the holidays work tends to slow down.  I’m not sure if that helps or hurts.  If you did find someone willing to mentor you, having a slow down may give them extra time to teach you.