Job hunting and salary negotiation

Immigrant Architects Coalition

Job hunting is hard enough on its own, especially with all the requirements and paperwork associated with it. Adding salary negotiation to this mix can easily make the process overwhelming. In a situation like this, it is easier to break down the one big goal of “getting a job/ internship” to multiple, small goals that are simpler to manage. These goals can be further subdivided per an individual’s need, but a five-step process keeps it efficient, making it a good place to start.

Goal 1: Selecting Firms

This goal is unique to every individual because everyone has their own set of restrictions. Knowing your expectations/limitations is important. I work better with lists and Excel sheets; hence I always start by writing down my criteria. Some that worked for me are:

Location: This matters more when you are willing to relocate but can also be a consideration within the city based on your distance/method of commute.

Firm size: Everyone has a different comfort zone. Some people thrive in big organizations, while others prefer the comfort of a small firm. Knowing what works well for you is critical.

Type of studio: Some firms have offices in multiple locations, but not all those offices do the same type of work. Knowing which studio is in the location you are applying to can be important. It is a tricky task because sometimes this information is not easily available on the company website. Networking and LinkedIn are the best tools for finding this information.

Studio structure: Some firms have their studios structured such that you get to work on the same project through different phases, while others have you work on different projects in one phase, like concept packages or construction drawings, etc.

Sponsorship: As someone who is not a U.S. citizen or a green card holder, it is important to know whether the firm you are interested in will support your visa and understand what that process would be like. There is no sure way of knowing this answer until you go through the process and have an honest discussion with them, but it’s comforting to know whether they have supported/gone through this process in the past. A good resource for this would be https://www.myvisajobs.com/.

Once you have identified your criteria, start listing out the firms. I often see people applying to an overwhelming number of positions just because they see there is an opening at that firm. I would encourage you to keep this list to a max of 30; you can add to it later if needed.

Goal 2: Selecting a position/understanding what you are qualified for

Sometimes you know the exact position that your skill set will translate to/you should be applying for, but there are other times you don’t.

In the architecture industry, international licenses don’t always transfer easily, but your experience does. You don’t always have to start from scratch. Your experience with working in a team, coordination skills, leadership, and mentorship abilities, etc., are all crucial assets that cannot be taught and come only with experience. These are some examples of soft skills that easily translate over borders. Understanding your worth and what you bring to the table is important.

Read the job requirement and understand what they are seeking. See how your skill translates into that role. While every firm has a unique approach toward its office structure, the AIA has done a good job of creating a list of typical architecture positions and their duties. Use this resource to understand the position best suited for you, AIA Best Practice – Definition of Architectural Positions. Another good source for this information would be the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center’s online library.

Do not underestimate yourself. Aim for your dream position; if nothing else, the experience might make you aware of the things you need to work on to build yourself up for that position. Some firms also let you apply for more than one position; see whether you can use that opportunity to your advantage.

Goal 3: Getting an interview/reaching out and following up

If the firm is any good, rest assured you won’t be the only person applying for that role. Always follow up on your application. If the application process is online through a third-party portal, it might be worthwhile to call the firm and ask to be connected to the person in charge of hiring. If asked what the call is about, feel free to say that you are following up on your job application. If they don’t have a point of contact, ask them what the firm’s application and follow-up process is and how you should go about it.

“Follow-up” is the key word here. Sometimes people skip the firm’s application process and call or email directly asking for an interview. This seldom works in their favor because they are often directed back to the online application.

The ideal time for the follow-up is one to two weeks after you apply for the job. If you are following up via email, be brief, confirm your interest, reiterate your top qualifications, and express your gratitude.

Goal 4: The art of salary negotiation

Knowing your worth and what you bring to the table is important. When discussing salary, do not pull an arbitrary number out of your hat, do your homework. Salary negotiations are rarely easy. Some items that might help in deciding this number are:

• Salary for the desired position in the given firm • Average salary for the desired position in the given city/ state • Minimum salary required to support your visa status • Cost of living in your location of choice Some sources that can help you get this information:

• AIA salary Calculator • Foreign Labor Certification Data Center Online Wage

Library • LinkedIn Salary Calculator • Glassdoor Salary Calculator • Cost of Living Index • Networking There might be cases when the salary is fixed, and it can’t be increased beyond a certain limit. In such cases, it is better to negotiate perks and benefits. Try negotiating the number of vacation days, health facilities, transportation expenses, and all such things. Sometimes the combined value of the salary offered the benefits, and facilities provided ends up being a satisfying salary package.

Goal 5: Know your “must” and “maybe”

This is one time you can put all your cards on the table. List out your “must” and “maybe” prior to having this conversation with the firm. “Must” are items you need to have. For some people, these can be items like visa sponsorship, flexibility with working from home, flexibility with office hours, etc. “Maybe” are items you would like to have, but they are open for negotiation. Depending on your priorities, sometimes it is easier to be flexible with the salary, but be honest about what is most important to you out of that list.

Know what you are asking for. Example, if visa sponsorship is in your list of “must,” familiarize yourself with the process. Understand what that process requires and what would be needed from you and the firm to make that happen. When negotiating, if there are follow-up questions to your request, you should be ready to answer.

Negotiation and self-advocacy go hand in hand. The key is to have reasonable requests and be able to advocate for them.

Saakshi Terway, Assoc. AIA, LEED Green Associate

Terway is a licensed architect from India, currently working as a designer at in Washington, DC. She focuses on responsible architecture with a social impact, and is a recipient of the 2022 AIA|DC Emerging Architects Award and 2022 Sho-Ping Chin WLS Grant.