Hi all,
I’m attempting to change careers into landscape design/architecture, but I’m struggling to gain professional experience.
I’ve applied to 4 different job in the field, interviewed at one, but haven’t had enough “professional experience” to land any of the jobs. Any tips on how to proceed? I was thinking about keeping my current job while also trying freelance for very nominal pay, but I’m not really sure how to go about that either.
For background, I’ve been at my current (unrelated) job for 6 years, took a community college class on AutoCAD, did a planting plan for a friend, and put together a portfolio (work in CAD, Photoshop, SketchUp, and physical media). I have some experience with plant nurseries, and a degree in biology. An in-person college architecture program is not option due to distance and expense, and I can’t find any online programs. My portfolio gets compliments, but I seem to need more drafting experience.
My state requires a specific degree in landscape architecture to get a license. It sounds like, without it, all you can be is a landscape designer.
I know next to nothing about your field, but it seems to me that you have what’s needed: I’m having a hard time imagining anything missing, seeing as you already have designs CADed together that you can show off.
Is an internship an option, just so you get some practical experience? If I were to translate your situation into a field I k own better, you’d probably end up in the category of “probably qualified, but lacks experience”, which is the common catch22 job seekers have been faced with for the past couple of decades, so it might just be a matter of continuing to apply places that might give you this practical experience.
My two cents:
Outside of licensing and whatnot, which you should definitely look into, one idea to build experience is to approach friends, family, and your neighbors. Do work for them, and ask for them to review your work. You can also go on Facebook and NextDoor and appeal to folks there for small jobs, and work your way up. You might even consider getting a job with an existing company and working your way up that way.
