Why ASLA matters more than ever for your Landscape Architecture career

Written by: Hannah Daly, TYG Principal Consultant

I spend a lot of time speaking with landscape architects across the USA, from people looking for their first landscape architecture job right through to principals leading some of the country’s top practices.

And one thing I see time and time again is that the strongest candidates usually bring more to the table than a good portfolio and technical experience.

They know what’s happening outside their own practice and stay connected to the wider industry, and I don’t just mean on LinkedIn.

Being involved with organisations like the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is a big part of that, and I think its value to your career is sometimes overlooked.

It tells a firm more than you think

When I’m speaking with landscape architecture firms about what they’re looking for, technical ability is obviously important. Your experience, project work and portfolio are always going to matter.

But your portfolio can’t do all the talking.

Being involved with ASLA tells a firm something else about you. It shows that you’re interested in what’s happening across the wider landscape architecture industry, you’re building relationships and you’re invested in the profession beyond your day-to-day job.

And when two candidates look pretty similar on paper, that extra bit of involvement can make a difference.

The more senior you get, the more it matters

This becomes even more important when you start looking at senior landscape architecture jobs.

At that level, firms aren’t only asking whether you can do the work. They want to know whether you can lead people, build client relationships, develop younger designers, bring in business and represent the practice well. So, no pressure then.

That’s quite a lot for a resume to prove on its own.

If you’ve spent time building relationships through ASLA, attending industry events, mentoring people or contributing to your local landscape architecture community, you’ve already got real examples of those qualities to talk about.

And generally, people who stay connected to the industry have better conversations in interviews too. They know what’s happening in the market, they’ve heard different perspectives and they have something to talk about beyond the projects they completed last year.

Build the connections before you need them

Getting involved doesn’t mean you need to suddenly become ASLA’s most active member, join three committees and start speaking at every conference. Unless that’s your thing, in which case, go for it.

Sometimes it really is just about showing up.

Go to a local ASLA event. Meet other landscape architects. Speak to people outside your practice and find out what they’re working on.

Whether you’re two years into your career or twenty, there’s value in knowing people outside your immediate circle.

Landscape architecture is a relatively small industry. Someone you meet today could end up being a client, colleague, future hire, mentor or even the person who puts you in touch with me for your next landscape architecture career opportunity!

Much better to build those relationships naturally now than suddenly discover the importance of networking the week you need a new job.

There’s a bigger picture in Landscape Architecture

There’s obviously a bigger reason to get involved too.

ASLA gives landscape architects a collective voice and helps make sure the profession is represented in conversations around climate adaptation, infrastructure, housing, sustainability, public health and how our cities grow.

And that needs people at every level.

For more experienced landscape architects, there’s also a huge amount of knowledge worth passing on. Getting involved gives you the chance to share some of that experience with people coming through the industry, while keeping yourself connected to new ideas, people and practices at the same time.

So if you’ve been thinking about getting more involved with ASLA, I’d say do it.

Not just because it’s another thing to add to your resume, but because of what it says between the lines. The relationships you build, the conversations you have and the wider view of the industry you gain can genuinely help your landscape architecture career.

And if it happens to make you a stronger candidate along the way, even better.

Want to get more involved?

Whether you’re looking for your next landscape architecture opportunity or just want to know what’s happening in the market, give me a shout. I’m always happy to chat.