Attracting Talent

The University of Oregon Student Recreation Center Expansion, a Robertson/Sherwood/Architects project

Attracting the best talent in today’s marketplace is a major challenge confronting many architecture firms. Demographic trends and the aftereffects of the 2008 recession have resulted in a persistent shortage of capable candidates for a surfeit of openings across the country. Additionally, profound changes for the AEP industry—ranging from new technologies to how practices are managed—threaten to leave behind those who are slow to adapt. 

My office, Robertson/Sherwood/Architects, is hoping to hire new staff to help us meet our current and projected workloads. We also want to position ourselves well for the long-term in a marketplace that will only become more competitive. This means vying for the attention of the best and brightest individuals possible. How do we do this? We can tout the remarkable variety of our work, our supportive office environment, and our competitive salary & benefits packages. We can appeal to prospects who prefer to live in a community like Eugene—smaller, less congested, and more affordable than bigger cities, while still offering access to good healthcare and schools, varied neighborhoods in which to live, outdoor recreation on our doorstep, and a multitude of cultural offerings. We can also promise opportunities for personal growth, professional advancement, and potentially positions of leadership within the firm. 

Millennials are the future of the profession. What do they want? By some accounts, it isn’t just money. Equally or more important is how stimulating their work is. Millennials crave opportunities to contribute in meaningful ways. They want to be difference makers. At the risk of grossly overgeneralizing an entire generation, they’re also risk-takers willing to chase the most attractive opportunities available. Given their current good fortunes, they can afford to be choosy but also footloose because greener pastures abound. 

So, recruiting is one thing. Retaining the best people is another challenge. Our office will benefit greatly from an injection of youthful energy, but we cannot afford to squander it. It’s not enough to give our young staff the opportunity to develop and reach their full potential; we must keep them engaged and invested in the future of the firm. We need their creativity, imagination, and talent so we prosper not only when work is plentiful but also when prospects are leaner because we know they inevitably will be again. Our continued success is contingent upon the degree to which we develop organizational agility and resilience. We believe our new staff will help us get there. We’re embracing change and looking forward to what the future will bring. 

Here’s our job posting. We’d love to hear from you if you want to learn more about what we have to offer. 

Robertson/Sherwood/Architects pc - Eugene
Open Positions: 

Robertson/Sherwood/Architects is looking for enthusiastic, career-oriented individuals to add to our team. Candidates must hold a degree from an accredited school of architecture, and already possess or be in active pursuit of professional licensure. Demonstrable design talent and the ability to think critically are essential, as are strong communication skills. Proficiency with Revit is a definite plus.

RSA’s hallmarks are attention to detail, focus on service, emphasis on the value of teamwork, and a supportive, family-friendly office culture. Our diverse portfolio of project types provides our staff with an exciting range of opportunities for professional growth. 

Interested? Send your resume (and work samples as a PDF or link to your online portfolio) by email to Randy Nishimura, AIA at rnishimura@robertsonsherwood.com.