As more people enter into the architecture field, the number of positions available rises along with it. With there being so many jobs for architects, how hard is it to get one of these gigs?

It seems like every day we read or hear about another company laying off their architectural staff. This has become commonplace as most companies have eliminated their in-house architectural departments and hired outside firms or individuals to handle this task.

Most employers look at having an architect on staff as very expensive, if not completely unnecessary. Some even go as far to say that hiring an architect actually costs them money because they have to pay extra for office space, utilities, etc.

So what can be done to help you land your dream job? If you’re willing to put in the work, here are some tips from someone who didn’t quite make it onto the best lists.

Don’t be discouraged

Blogging isn’t new, but creating an online journal or book is. Many professionals use blogging as a way to promote themselves and/or their services, which is definitely valid!

However, writing a few blogs won’t do much unless you expose yourself to bigger platforms. This means picking a medium you feel comfortable publishing on and keeping up with it – something most people don’t always do.

Find an architecting job

Finding work as an architect is not easy, even in the midst of a booming market. There are many ways to approach it, but making sure your portfolio is up to par and being familiar with the architecture career path is a great start!

Running into trouble because you don’t have much experience isn’t a good reason to be too hard on yourself. You can always train by doing some projects or taking courses at universities or architectural firms. Or you could just keep practicing and gathering skills from people who are more experienced than you!

The hardest part about becoming an architect may simply be knowing that you want this lifestyle – all of it. If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed or tired, think back on what made you decide you wanted this life and take a break. Then get back into it soon enough!

Good luck out there, architects! We hope we gave you some tips here.

Applying for jobs

When you are ready to apply for an architecture job, the first thing you should do is create or update your online profile. This includes LinkedIn, Behance, Top Architects, etc. Make sure all of your profiles match! For example, if your Instagram account has very artistic pictures, then include that in Your Online Profile.

Your online profile will act as a snapshot of you as an architect, so make sure it is consistent and authentic. People will look at this information before making a decision about you as an artist/architect.

Keep yourself organized by using pre-existing applications to list your apps, courses, and certifications. You can also add photos and stories to enhance your profile.

Some things that may influence whether or not people want to work with you are how well you talk, what languages you speak, and if you display an impressive portfolio.

Get your portfolio ready

Now that you have designed some buildings, it is time to showcase those designs! If you are looking to get into architecture as a career, then starting off with designing simple landscapes or house layouts is not the way to go about it.

You should be thinking of what kind of building you would like to design now, instead of just creating more beautiful nature scenes.

It’s hard enough getting people to hire you as an architect for a few reasons, but being able to show them what you can do beyond pretty pictures isn’t one of them.

That is why I recommend trying to find someone else’s architectural work that you admire and make notes on how they built upon their own style.

Take some time to look through Google images or YouTube videos to see if there are any famous landmarks or buildings you know and can draw inspiration from.

Know how to use software to design

Even if you are not professionally trained as an architect, you can still put your skills to work by designing layouts using software such as Photoshop or Sketch.

The most important thing about using software for architectural designs is that you have to be able to take what the computer gives you and edit it to make it perfect!

Most architects start off with a basic idea they want to implement into their own office space or home, then add decorations, textures, and other features onto the plan in editing software.

These decorations and textures are then carried over into actual building projects via 3D printing or brick-and-mortar construction. Some people also create logos and illustrations using free or paid software before producing them physically or hiring someone else to do so.

So, even if you never actually study architecture, there are many ways to apply your artistic talents to make creative contributions beyond just giving directions to builders.

Designing tips

As we already mentioned, being able to draw is important to ensuring you’re hired for an architectural position. However, beyond that, there are other skills needed to be successful as an architect.

You need to know how to put together a business plan, manage your time, work with others, keep motivated, and use appropriate tools and software to do your job.

But what if I told you that even though you don’t have any formal education in architecture, you could learn these things? You can! And you should!

Education isn’t the only way to improve your career prospects but it does play a big part. If you want to be an architect, you must understand why educational opportunities exist and what employers look for when they recruit someone.

Get a firm grasp of the basics

Even if you’re already in your early twenties, there are many fundamentals of architecture that most people don’t know how to do. Luckily, learning these basics is easy! Most architectural programs offer courses in art, design, and business, which can be supplemented by taking online lessons or talking with architects about what they learned during their studies.

Architects usually have at least one undergraduate degree (usually either art, design, or engineering) as well as some sort of professional certificate or degree like those from the Royal Architectural Institute or the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management. These additional credentials show that you're serious about building houses, and give you more opportunities for employment.

Marketing your resume

Even with all of these applications, getting interviews is not easy. You will need to market yourself consistently across your resume, LinkedIn profile, and through meeting people in-person or via chat or phone calls.

Interviews are typically a two way conversation so you must be prepared for both verbal and nonverbal cues about you and what you want to do next.

If you get lost during the interview process, don’t worry! Most likely, someone has already done something similar, or something very close to what you were hired to do, so keep that as a lesson instead.

Find the right job for you

A few years ago, it was easy to be overwhelmed by the number of accredited professional architects in the world. There are now close to two million licensed professionals who can use the word architect after their name!

That’s almost one person per city across the globe with an architecture degree. In fact, there were only half a million active licenses back in 2007!

Now that numbers have ballooned, however, making it even harder to know which careers are a good fit. Some experts suggest we’re already at or beyond maximum capacity when it comes to employment opportunities for architects.

We probably don’t need any more architects, but how do you know if there aren’t any jobs available? If you’re looking to advance your career as an architect, here are some tips for finding the best position for you.