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Tips for Architecture Students and Emerging Professionals

February 7, 2019

Getting and Making the Most of Your First Architecture Job

If you are an Emerging Professional, securing your first architecture job seems like a tough task. We’ve been there. We get it. The internship and first year design  job market is competitive, and you are worried that you won’t find the right firm. Here are tips from both a commercial and residential architect to get you headed in the right direction. Our own Laura Davis and her husband Bob Davis remember their school days vividly and offer their advice.

  1. Create a brag sheet: This is not a resume. Instead, it is an exhaustive list of your strengths, achievements, experiences, projects, education, etc. to better identify to yourself what you can offer a potential employer. Include the following:
  • Any relevant architecture experience
  • Every degree you hold and continuing education class or seminar you have attended
  • Experience gained in unrelated areas (i.e. teamwork from restaurant job, building experience from construction, etc.)
  • All jobs you’ve held (related to architecture or not)
  • All past professional or academic projects completed
  • Every professional qualification you have and professional affiliation you are a part of
  • Sketches/drawings you have completed
  • Renderings of Photoshop work
  • Any design competitions you may have participated in
  • Any volunteer work
  • Places you have lived/visited
  • Challenges/problems you have solved

Keep this information as a personal document and update it frequently.

Using this list, create a collection of the most relevant experience to the role(s) you are applying. These shortlisted items will help you build your resume.

CLICK HERE for information on how to write the perfect architecture resume (CV).
  1. Contact your network: Many new hires come from word of mouth so start building a list of your existing network including:
  • Your current or past college professors (many are connected to other architects in the community)
  • Fellow students/alumni who are working for architects
  • If you don’t already have one, create a LinkedIn profile
  • Join LinkedIn architecture groups so you can stay informed on the latest career news and available positions
  1. Do your research

Begin extensively researching the firms you’d like to work for and create a summary of each firm including their name, location, longevity, number of employees, the projects they specialize in, up and coming projects, their ownership structure, their past record for hiring interns, architectural associates, etc.).

Rank your list in order of most to least desirable and begin applying in that order. Consider creating a spreadsheet to keep track of your applications.

CLICK HERE for information on where to apply for architecture jobs online.
  1. Targeted Approach

Don’t send a generic application to a multitude of offices. That approach rarely works. Make sure you are taking the time to put together a targeted, well-researched application that emphasizes your relevant work for each firm.

CLICK HERE for examples of architecture resumes, cover letters and portfolios.

The internship schedule generally follows the university semesters with most openings being filled in May-June for the summer break. If you are a student, start your internship application early (January to March).

  1. Be Persistent

Don’t wait for a firm to follow up with you. Be diligent and follow up on your application with a phone call. Let firms know in your cover letter when you will be calling and then do so. Follow up that call up with a second call if you haven’t heard anything in approximately a week. While this may sound overly aggressive, it is essential to show your persistence.

The key to your success is putting together a convincing application that highlights your relevant experience and presents your unique abilities. If you are willing to put in the time and stay focused you will be rewarded.

Need more advice?  Take a look at the following  5 tips from ArchitectsGuide.com on how to get a position in an architecture firm.

Got an job? GREAT! Now follow these 11 important tips to make the most of it: 

  1. Everything is important on a job. Do the best of whatever you are asked to do.
  2. Make an impact and go the extra mile to get noticed and you won’t get lost as an architectural associate.
  3. The very best architectural associates don’t dig themselves into a hole or hide at their desk. They engage.
  4. Even the most minor details can have a huge impact on everything else. Every line on a page means something—be thoughtful about your work.
  5. Every drawing is related to every other drawing. Nothing happens in a vacuum.
  6. In a residential office, you have to do a little of everything, which is also how you learn.
  7. In a small residential firm, your mentor is usually the firm owner. As opposed to a large commercial office where your mentor might be a project manager in your department.
  8. Keep your earbuds out and your brain engaged! Listen to everything around you, ask thoughtful questions, be resourceful, and soak in everything you can learn.
  9. Skills of a good architect are universal regardless of specialty.
  10. The best design professionals realize they are part of something big.
  11. Sign up for The Architectural Experience Program through NCARB to start documenting your work experience.

Interested in more tips for design professionals? Listen to our podcast 18: Tips for interns and architects who hire them.

Follow hpd architecture + interiors on Facebook and Instagram.

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Category: Architecture as a Profession

About Laura Davis

Laura Davis is a registered architect and interior designer, as well as a founding member of hpd architecture + interiors. Laura is a graduate of Texas A&M University. While a student, she focused on historic preservation and now enjoys working with existing homes to bring new life to older properties.

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#TBT The Lakewood Theater was designed by Dallas #TBT  The Lakewood Theater was designed by Dallas architect H. F. Pettigrew and was constructed in 1938 by Edward T. Moore with Dines & Kraft and George P. O'Rourke Construction Company. Interior decorator/muralist Eugene Gilboe and artist Perry Nichols worked together to create murals for the theater. The theater also includes sculptures by Jose Martin. The Lakewood Theater was constructed in classic Art Deco and featured an iconic 100-foot tall neon tower. It is part of the complex of buildings at Abrams and La Vista, now known as the Lakewood Shopping Center.

The Lakewood Theater opened on October 27, 1938, showing "Love Finds Andy Hardy," starring Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, and Lana Turner. It brought in movie-goers from throughout East Dallas. It continued operation during World War II but then saw a decrease in movie attendance in the 1950s due to the television's addition in private homes. The Lakewood changed hands several times through the years and underwent many alterations and renovations between 1950 and 2007.  The jazz lounge, the Balcony Club, currently operates out of the loft above the historic Lakewood Theater.

A Dallas Landmark, the Lakewood Theater retains the vast majority of its original design, including its iconic round pylons, as well as its historic integrity. It is believed to be one of the most fully intact Interstate theaters remaining in Texas. The Lakewood Theater is an excellent representation of the historical development and cultural characteristics of the 1930s Lakewood Neighborhood.

On #TBT, we are featuring some of Dallas County's unique architecture that has earned their prestigious spot on the Texas Historic Landmarks record. Content and photos derived from historical data at Dallas City Hall's Landmark Structures & Sites.
#TBT The Mallory Drug Store was built in 1912 on o #TBT The Mallory Drug Store was built in 1912 on one of the city's busiest streetcar lines. It was also a transfer point for the Interurban line that ran to Fort Worth. For several years during the streetcar era, Mallory was the vortex of the neighborhood. It later became a Clarence Saunders grocery store, and then it housed B&B Bicycles in the 1970s. It is currently the home of Pachanga Wholesale, a Quinceañera shop.

The structure, assumed to be designed by architect C. A. Gill, is a one-story tan brick commercial storefront row building located in Oak Cliff. It is characterized by a flat tile mansard roof pierced by three pedimented store entry bays. Its window frames are currently aluminum with plate glass but were probably originally wood. The original transom windows have been uncovered and restored along with the fanlight in the clipped corner.

Much of Oak Cliff was torn down in the mid-1950s to make way for Interstate 35. However, Jefferson's intersection at Tyler is one of the very few corners to retain its original character.

The Mallory Drug Store is a perfect example of the early neighborhood retail shops that dotted the Interurban streetcar lines providing convenient services to streetcar riders.

It was designated as a Dallas Landmark in 1998. 

On #TBT, we are featuring some of Dallas County's unique architecture that has earned their prestigious spot on the Texas Historic Landmarks record. Content and photos derived from historical data at Dallas City Hall's Landmark Structures & Sites and oakcliff.advocatemag.com.
#TBT Maria Luna was a 23-year-old widow with two #TBT  Maria Luna was a 23-year-old widow with two young children when she came to Little Mexico from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in 1923. She initially worked in a grocery store and, after eight months, purchased a corn grinder from the store's owner. At the time, Maria knew nothing about making tortillas. She depended upon the expertise of the women of Little Mexico to help her launch her first tortilla factory business in February 1924. 

Maria and her two children lived above the tortilla factory, and by 1925, approximately 25 women were working at the tortilla factory producing about 500 tortillas by hand each day. By 1929, the factory began home delivery to Little Mexico, the West Dallas Barrio, Cement City, and El Rancho Grande, which occupied Texas Stadium's present site. In 1938, Maria Luna took out a building permit for the construction of the Luna Tortilla Factory on McKinney Ave. 

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The factory was remodeled in 1961, and in 1989, a four-alarm blaze damaged the building's roof and second floor. Luna Tortilla Factory remained at the McKinney location until leaving the area in 2007. The building is one of the last visible remnants of Dallas' first Hispanic barrio called Little Mexico. It was designated a Dallas Landmark in 2001 and is currently an office building.

On #TBT, we are featuring some of Dallas County's unique architecture that has earned their prestigious spot on the Texas Historic Landmarks record. Content and photos derived from historical data at Dallas City Hall's Landmark Structures & Sites.
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The school is an example of Italian Renaissance architectural style & is characterized by round arches, solid volumes, weighty massing, and articulated detailing. It was constructed of structural masonry brick with detailed brickwork, stone windowsills & trim, Roman arches, a flat roof in the middle with a hipped roof over each of the protruding bays, and a decorative parapet. Concrete steps lead from the front walk to the porch.

The school's initial enrollment was 178, which caused immediate severe crowding. Several improvements were made to the school between 1904 & 1956, including the addition of more school rooms, the installation of indoor bathrooms, a basement remodel, a reversal of the entry from facing Alcade Street to North Carroll Ave., and a one-story central plant that provided the building with central air-conditioning and heat. 

David Crockett Elementary underwent much expansion over the years, which replicated the original design while retaining its architectural integrity. It was the oldest operating school in the Dallas Independent School District when it closed in 1989. 

The school was named a Dallas Landmark in 1993. According to the nomination form, it is unclear how the name David Crockett was selected for the school. However, it is noted that the school gained particular prominence in 1955 when the famous song "Davy Crockett" was at its height.

On #TBT, we are featuring some of Dallas County's unique architecture that has earned their prestigious spot on the Texas Historic Landmarks record. Content and photos derived from historical data at Dallas City Hall's Landmark Structures & Sites.
#TBT With Halloween just two days away, it seemed #TBT  With Halloween just two days away, it seemed fitting that we feature not only a Texas Historic Landmark but also one that is believed to be haunted. The Sons of Hermann Hall is a fraternal lodge-turned-bar and music venue that is located on Elm Street in Exposition Park. It is housed in a historic building that had its grand opening in April 1911. It was designated a Dallas Landmark in 1987. ⠀
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This historical dance hall and home of Sons of Hermann Lodge 66 and Lodge 22 is said to be the oldest free-standing wood structure in Dallas AND the oldest bar! Some also believe that the former “cranky” caretaker Louis Barnhardt haunts the place. People have reported seeing phantom figures walking by a doorway, while the stairs, a downstairs back room and the ballroom all have had ghostly activity. Others have reported seeing a formally dressed couple walk in, go down a hall and then vanish. Other accounts include stories of pictures falling off the walls, unexplained voices echoing, children's laughter and slamming doors.⠀
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An interesting fact… In 2002, the winner of the first season of American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, passed her first audition at Sons of Hermann Hall. While the hall is currently closed to the public due to COVID, it is available for small private events. When it reopens, patrons can enjoy weekly swing dancing, live music, and acoustic jam sessions. It can also be rented out for events. You can find their calendar and contact information at sonsofhermann.com ⠀
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On #TBT, we are featuring some of Dallas County’s unique architecture that has earned their prestigious spot on the Texas Historic Landmarks record. Content and photos derived from historical data at Dallas City Hall’s Landmark Structures & Sites.⠀
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