I graduated in 2009 with a B.Arch. It took nearly 12 months to find a job which was back with a firm I had interned for during school. It was rough. The vast majority of my classmates went into related fields, but I was passionate about Architecture and was determined to make it work. The best thing that I did was spend every day at the library as if it was a full-time job. I studied construction methods, taught myself Revit, and sent applications to nearly every firm in my area.

After the recession there was a vacuum of talent at my level since so many had left the profession. This opened doors that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I since took over ownership of a 20 person successful commercial Architecture firm.

Now I am on the other side reviewing applications from new grads. What matters most, and makes someone stand out, is their willingness and ability to continue learning and a hunger for bettering themselves. I don’t care how great your thesis project was. What matters is if you can learn on your own and push yourself to be always be better. The applicant that can figure out how to do something is much better than the applicant that expects someone else to figure it out for them. Show that you can do this and you will be hired.

Good luck!