Ayers Saint Gross is an employee-owned design firm specializing in architecture, planning, landscape architecture, graphic design, interiors, and space analytics. Headquartered in the Locust Point neighborhood of Baltimore (with additional offices in Washington, D.C. and Tempe AZ), Ayers Saint Gross specializes in projects for mission-driven organizations, such as higher education and cultural facilities, including the recently completed Edward St. John Learning and Teaching Center on UMD’s College Park Campus. The Edward St. John building is the benchmark for an active, engaged campus community, featuring abundant collaboration space, 12 active learning classrooms and nine teaching labs, and embodies the firm’s mission to engage people and to create designs that enrich the world.
Ayers Saint Gross is currently developing many exciting projects worldwide, and regularly seeks qualified people to hire. In addition to full-time employment, they offer career development opportunities through summer internships and student externships.
So how do you land a job at Ayers Saint Gross? We asked some of the firm’s studio leaders and have your inside track, below:
What do you look for in a portfolio from a new student? What about a seasoned professional? When we review materials for students and recent graduates, we look for creative thinkers who can communicate their personalities and ideas visually. Portfolios should be beautiful and legible, with technically correct graphics, clear writing and labeling, and no typos. If you include a team project on your portfolio, please indicate what role you held on the team. Preferably, a student will also have prior internship experience.
For a seasoned professional, we want to see these same qualities as well as an emerging focus or expertise within the industry, whether a project type or a part of the design process. A candidate should demonstrate this focus with a depth and breadth of relevant work, along with clear analysis and beautiful graphics. We also look for stability and tenure at previous firms, as well as any involvement in their firm or community beyond work. When describing a project, candidates should be clear about their roles and give credit to others when appropriate.
What are three characteristics of an ideal candidate? Strong visual communication skills, creative thinking and self-motivation.
What stands out in either a cover letter, resume or portfolio? Visual presentation is important. Ideally, an applicant’s resume and portfolio are in a creative but easy-to-read format, with the information spaced appropriately. If a document is overcrowded, it can be hard to decipher and see details. We always look for proper punctuation, grammar, and consistency in formatting.
We also consider and evaluate the quality of an applicant’s previous experiences, projects, internships, accomplishments, degrees, and volunteer efforts.
What’s a red flag? A major red flag on a resume is job hopping. Typos also show a lack of attention to detail.
How important are cover letters? Resumes and portfolios are the most important parts of a candidate’s job application. Given the volume of applications that recruiters receive, they generally focus attention on the resume and portfolio first so that should always be the priority. Cover letters are useful if you can describe a personal connection to the firm or can demonstrate a familiarity with the firm and its work. Customizing your cover letter (and making sure it’s proofread) is usually worth the time investment to help stand out, especially for positions that require attention to detail and good communications skills.
What’s a good way to get a foot in the door at Ayers Saint Gross? We encourage applicants to make a connection with someone at the firm, attend career fairs, and participate in office visits. We often have student groups visit to learn about the firm and get a tour of the office. Frequently, students will connect with our staff when they are on campus for design critiques or other events. Many of our staff members teach at local institutions, maintain strong connections with their universities, and are excited to welcome the next generation of design professionals to our firm.
What positions do you have open right now? Applicants can see full job postings and apply online at our careers page: http://asg-architects.com/careers/. They include:
Project Architects – Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC
Architect and Interior Designer – Washington, DC
Planner – Tempe, AZ
Graphic Designer – Baltimore, MD
Environmental Graphic Designer – Baltimore, MD
Marketing and Proposal Coordinator – Baltimore, MD or Washington, DC
Contract Specialist – Baltimore, MD