You don’t need us to tell you that looking for a job can be intimidating. Especially if you’ve just graduated from college. And – listen – we get it. We’ve been exactly where you are and felt the same anxieties and doubts. You deserve to find a job that you love so you can build a career that reminds you why you fell in love with architecture in the first place every day you go to work. But to make this a reality, you must understand how to navigate job searching and play the game. We’re here to help with the top tips for finding an architecture job in California.
Since 2014, the Architecture Design Collaborative (ADC) has been providing Southern California with innovative designs while assisting graduates like you in building inspiring, fulfilling careers. Here are some tips that will guide you to your dream job.
Top 4 Tips for Finding an Architecture Job in California You’ll Love!
Searching for a job can be daunting, but if you take the time to learn and implement some tips, you’ll discover your dream architecture career! From self-reflection to networking to finding the right firm, here are tips for searching for an architecture job.
Related Article: What to Do After Architecture School to Find Your Dream Job
Start with a Self-Assessment
You just graduated from university, so you deserve a chance to step away from your responsibilities, decompress, celebrate, and do some soul-searching. In fact, this could be a huge help to the task at hand because conducting a self-assessment is one of our tips for finding an architecture job in California.
You need to understand your goals, skills, and interests to find the right fit. What kind of architectural work do you enjoy? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What goals do you have for your career and what plan do you have to achieve them?
Now, there’s a bit of a Catch-22 here because these questions are nearly impossible to answer until you’ve had the opportunity to get your feet wet and your hands dirty in the field. Luckily, you will surely have the opportunity to do just that on the ADC team.
“One of the cool things about ADC is that everyone here has a passion for teaching young students as they come out of school. So we’re not the typical firm where you only learn 10% in the field. We give you experience covering the complete gamut, from designs to the final project walk-through. We love helping architects discover their passion and zone of genius in the field, so that they can create the career of their dreams.”
– Craig Chinn, Founder, ADC
Related Article: Why You’ll Love Your Architecture Career at ADC: Employee Testimonials
Create an Impressive Portfolio
One of the most important tips for finding an architecture job in California is to work on your portfolio. Your portfolio is one of (if not the) most important documents.
Curate a good portfolio that’s creative and reflects your talent and skills. From demonstrating proficiency using software to creative designs, your portfolio should reflect how you think through a design problem. Be bold but simple, and carefully consider color, contrast, and balance.
Your portfolio will show the people hiring you that you can talk the talk and walk the walk. If you are just out of college and looking for your first gig, don’t worry! You can consider your portfolio a blueprint of what you have learned and the architect you want to become.
Related Article: How I Found My Dream Postgraduate Architecture Job
Network for Architecture and Design Jobs
It doesn’t matter what field you work in; networking is essential in any industry when looking for a job. And this is especially true in architecture and design. Networking is a great way to find an architecture job in California.
If you’re unsure where to start, consider attending industry events, workshops, conferences, and professional organizations. If possible, use your university’s connections to meet people in your field and make connections with people who could provide new opportunities throughout your career.
If the prospect of mingling is daunting, don’t worry. You don’t have to hand out one thousand business cards or beg someone to scan your resume via QR code. But rubbing elbows with some folks could go a long way.
“My best advice for somebody who’s just graduated is to network with your peers in school and any professionals in the industry. Just grow your network as fast as you can. It’s a tiny, tight-knit community. So, the more people you know early on, the bigger your network will grow. This is probably one of the most important tips you can follow that can pay dividends in your job search because everyone you meet in the industry could have an opportunity for you and your career.”
– Craig Chinn, Founder, ADC
Related Article: Pursuing Architecture After Graduation
Find the Right Firm
Still, it cannot be understated how important it is to find the right firm. We’re architects, so we know what you’re looking for. Trust us – we were looking for the same thing when we started ADC.
You want a firm that’s inclusive, welcoming, and that nurtures your professional and personal development. You want to have a voice the minute you step through the door and work with leadership and colleagues who trust you to do the work you were born to do.
You want a work environment that facilitates learning and collaboration and where your creativity isn’t just welcomed – it’s required. Most importantly, you want to work at a firm full of like-minded creatives who make going to work feel less like a job and more like answering your calling.
Well, when you join the ADC family, that’s precisely what you get! Forget the rigid and oppressive hierarchy and office politics that plague other firms. We do things differently.
“One thing that really separates us from the other firms is our culture. In the office, we love to have company events, laugh, and play games, like design charades, to keep work lively. We’re constantly getting everybody together. We have no offices either, so you’ll have someone who just graduated sitting next to and collaborating with the president. At other firms, it’s hierarchy, and you’ve got the leaders in a different area, and they kind of step down. Here, it’s kind of flat, you know? Everyone sits together and does the same thing side-by-side. We have created a real egalitarian culture.”
– Craig Chinn, President, ADC
Related Article: Architecture Design Collaborative’s Jobs in Architecture and Design
Are You Searching for the Agency of Your Dreams? Apply Today!
So, now you know the top tips for finding an architecture job in California. You deserve to work at a firm where you can learn and grow, do meaningful work, meet other like-minded creatives, and thrive in a culture that promotes and nurtures creativity. If that sounds like what you are looking for in a firm, then you are in luck because that’s what ADC offers.
Visit our Architecture Jobs page to apply today to join our team!
