Looking for a job? Here’s advice from alumni

Patrick Bisson

Director, Hobin Architecture

M/Arch 2008
B/Arch 2006

Have as many tools in your tool bag as you can possibly have. Being fluent in multiple software would be helpful. Having a good understanding of the fundamentals of architecture is critical and being a good communicator as well.  You learn a lot when you’re on the job, so you don’t have to know everything.

Michelle Duong

Intern Architect, KWC Architects

M.Arch /2022
GDAC/2019

Do a bit of soul-searching first to know what you want, and the kind of an architecture firm you want to work with. Are you really interested in residential, or do you want to work on community housing, or what’s the niche? If you don’t know, that’s fine. Maybe find a firm that does multiple kinds of architecture. But also realize that working in a massive firm that has hundreds of people is much different than working in smaller firms that might have 10, 20, or 30 people. When you go and do your interview, be sincere and know that the skills are learnable. You’re not expected to know everything. You’re expected to be able to learn and grow.

Raymond Chow
Partner, gh3*

BArch/1999
M.Arch/2002

There’s a quote that I always hang on to. The creative adult was the child who survived. Hang on to that spirit as you move through. But you’re always learning. There’s so much to learn when you’re in the profession. Finding ways of thinking around a problem and being versatile, I think is one of the most important things.

Valerie Allen

Retired Vice President and COO of TIree

BArch/1983

Be flexible and keep an open mind. If an opportunity comes up that may not exactly align with your vision for where you thought you might be or what you might be doing, put that aside and look at the opportunity and what it offers.  You do learn from every opportunity.

Tobias Fellows

Principal, Public Buildings, North America, NORR

BArch/2001

There’s a lot of work out there right now. It hasn’t always been like that. Students graduating today have a lot more ability to focus on their strengths and go in areas that they want to choose. What are you interested in? What kind of environment do you want to work in? Do you want to work in a collaborative way with a big team or do you want to work more independently? If you’re working in a smaller office, you’re probably going to be taking on more responsibilities and working more independently. Working in a bigger office, you’re probably going to be working more collaboratively with other people, in bigger teams.

Caelan Mitchell

Architect, Provencher Roy

M.Arch /2020

I think it’s about knowing when to ask questions, but also being confident in yourself and your studies. That will get you a long way. Being good at communication is the number one thing. No matter how much experience you have or don’t have, being a great communicator with one another in your team goes far.

Carl Boucher

Architect, Project Manager, NEUF Architects

M.Arch/2019

Knock on doors, write emails, and get to know the people that you speak to. I got my job through a professor at Carleton during my last semester. Be nice to people, you never know who might get you somewhere.

Michelle Harper

Intern Architect, Stantec

BAS/2016

Find something that you’re passionate about and push that forward in your portfolio and in your resume. You never know what will catch somebody’s eye. If you’ve taken a side course about healthcare or environmental design, you should put it in your resume. It might just get you hired.

Cameron Penney

Intern Architect, Moriyama Teshima Architects

M.Arch/2023

Just keep applying. Don’t be afraid to either update your work or reconsider your work. You need to selectively curate the mass amount of studio work that you’ve done and make sure it’s representing you as a person and your interests. Find firms that also have those interests. If you care about sustainability, but the firm that you’re looking to apply to doesn’t foster that community, it might not be the best fit.

Nolan Cipriano

Associate, Architect, mcCallumSather

M.Arch/2012
BAS/2010

Be open to learning and asking questions, and not being afraid to fail.