Claudia, it is good to see you are exploring your options in regard to your pending May graduation. This has to be the most difficult time ever for graduating landscape architects. As a Landscape Architect practicing in the Upstate I have seen first hand the slow down in new work. Just about every firm I am aware of in the Greenville / Clemson market has been forced to let go of some very talented people in order to stay afloat. And this is not just Landscape Architecture firms, it is happening to all design disciplines.
I say this not to be the bearer of doom and gloom but to remind you to network, network, network. It’s important for you to get out there and meet people while you are still a student, as it sounds as if you are going to be tied to the Upstate upon graduation. If the economy does pick up as we all hope in the spring and summer and firms have the ability to hire new staff, you are going to want you name to be at the top of the list. There are a lot of people looking for work in our field, and that list grows daily as firms lay off and students graduate. The days of having your pick of job offerings has vanished for the time being.
As someone mentioned earlier, get out there and shake those trees. Attend an Upstate Landscape Architects meeting, visit all the different firms, and meet the City Planners for all the towns in our area. Build those contacts now, they will pay off in the future.
