Pub. 1 2020-2021 Issue 1

19 Be flexible and think outside the biz • Expand your search to different sectors, different size firms and new locations. Don’t be afraid to relocate for the right opportunity or ask if remote work is an option to save moving expenses. • Consider an architecture-adjacent position. An internship for city government, a job in real estate or facility management, a display designer in retail or museums — even non-architecture positions can help you develop valuable skills. Panelists who accepted positions like these during their job search gained experience in software (drafting/rendering) skills, contracts, budgeting, marketing, communication, customer service, and more that provided a leg up in interviews. • Let your boss and colleagues know your long-term goals, so some tasks and experiences can support where you want to go. Ask the right questions and be strategic • Bring your questions to an interview and decide if the firm has a culture you want to join. • Questions about how the firm handled the previous recession, and the current economic uncertainty can tell you a lot about the culture. • If you need a visa, if you need a certain salary, if you need flexibility, be honest throughout the interview process and seek out positions that will meet your needs. • If you need the job to pay the bills, then continue your job search once employed. It’s OK to change jobs if the fit is not right! Persistence pays off • Send lots of resumes! It’s a game of odds and eventually, your resume will arrive at the firm that needs someone just like you. • Seek informational interviews. Even if a firm isn’t hiring, you can learn valuable information and make critical contacts. Plus, they may know someone else that is hiring or they’ll remember your tenacity when they are ready to hire. • Show you are ready to learn and work and you will be a great colleague. Everyone has had to look for a new job before, and they know what you are going through. Don’t give up — but promote what makes you unique and perfect for the job! Remember — you aren’t the first to be looking for a job in tough times, and you won’t be the last. Take charge of your search (it is a job in itself), and learn from any rejections. You have unique skills someone will need, so go for it! Good luck! b Stay connected with professors, classmates, friends, family, extended community, alumni; you never know who in your network will have a pivotal connection if they know you’re looking. Real projects start with the industry standard Photography ©Jeffrey Jacobs Before they broke ground, HBG Design ensured the Guest House at Graceland™ Resort was protected with AIA contracts. AIA Contract Documents used: B103-Owner/Architect Agreement for a Complex Project, C401-Architect/Consultant Agreement, E201-Digital Data Protocol Exhibit, plus associated administrative G-forms. Learn more at aiacontracts.org/aiachapter CD_Guest House at Graceland_B103_half-hor_ART.pdf 1 8/16/18 11:23 AM