ASLA Resume Posting

$100? If they are charging that for posting resumes, this is the first I’ve heard. I’ve been posting mine for free for the past several months. I think I had to pay a bit before the recession, but it was only about $10. $100 would be a huge, sudden increase right when many are still struggling to find jobs. Check to make sure they are really asking that. I find it hard to believe.
Actually, both my previous bosses found me through my resume on the ASLA website. But, if the cost has risen that much, you can always post it for free elsewhere.

You get landscape architecture magazine every month and discounts on the annual conference. How long ago did you graduate? There’s discounts for students and recent grads. If you plan on having your resume up for several months (and since the profession is still recovering,you might), it would probably be cheaper to join. Four months of posting your resume would probably be about half the cost.

My experience differs from Roland’s, which may be a geographical thing or any of a host of other reasons.  But only once (twice?) was I ever contacted in the few times (and several months in total) I had a resume posted on ASLA over the years, and it was by a headhunter, not an actual firm or LA.  As a non-member, no it is absolutely not worth the cost and is very over-priced.  As a member, it’s been free for a long while now, but even at $10… it’s not really worth the cost (let alone the additional cost of membership).

Especially consider that just posting a resume isn’t likely to be measurably effective in a job search.  With so many candidates to choose from, especially right now, they don’t go looking for resumes.  If they aren’t hiring through networks, they make a posting and then take the first 5% or whatever of resumes they get swamped with.  If you can post your resume online for free, go for it.  Use LinkedIn or even whatever job search sites, or host your own site.  But don’t pay to post it and especially not that much.  Networking is going to be the key, and ASLA may or may not provide an opportunity for that depending on where you are.

I won’t turn this into a ASLA worth it thread as there are already several of those, but since you asked I will say that unless a) your state has an active chapter and b) you are NEAR where that chapter hosts most of their activities, then no, ASLA is probably not worth it.  At least in my experience and coming from the perspective of the unemployed.  If you’ve got the disposable income or an employer that pays your dues for you it might be a different story.  And for the record, I was a member from the time I declared in school until a year after my first major layoff.

I have had 3 phone calls, 2 of which were particularly of interest.  I think it is worth it.  You’ll make that $100 back in a day or two after getting the job.