Application Guide

How to Apply for Graduate Landscape Architect (London)

at AECOM

🏢 About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure firm committed to delivering sustainable legacies through innovative design and environmental solutions. Working here means joining a multidisciplinary team on high-impact projects that shape communities and address climate challenges. The company's emphasis on collaboration and professional growth makes it an ideal launchpad for a landscape architect's career.

About This Role

As a Graduate Landscape Architect in London, you'll contribute to projects from feasibility through construction, producing drawings, visualizations, and technical documents. You'll collaborate with engineers, planners, and environmental specialists, gaining experience across all stages of design while working towards your LI chartership. This role offers hands-on project exposure and mentorship in a supportive environment.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a team check-in on a public realm project, followed by drafting sections in AutoCAD for a park design. You could attend a client meeting to present visuals, then coordinate with ecologists on planting plans. After lunch, you might update project schedules and review construction drawings, ending the day with a CPD session on sustainable drainage systems.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who AECOM Is Looking For

  • A self-motivated graduate with a degree in Landscape Architecture (or related field) and a strong portfolio demonstrating creative design and technical skills.
  • Proficient in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and preferably 3D modeling software (e.g., SketchUp, Rhino, or Revit); experience with GIS is a plus.
  • Excellent communicator who thrives in collaborative, multidisciplinary teams and can present ideas clearly in meetings and workshops.
  • Actively working towards or planning to take the UK Landscape Institute professional exam, with a clear commitment to chartership.

📝 Tips for Applying to AECOM

1

Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that align with AECOM's focus on sustainability and infrastructure, not just aesthetic design.

2

In your CV, quantify your contributions (e.g., 'assisted in 5+ public consultation events' or 'prepared drawings for a 10-acre park').

3

Research AECOM's recent projects in London (e.g., HS2, Thames Tideway) and mention how your skills could contribute to similar work.

4

Emphasize any experience with UK planning policy, such as knowledge of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) or local development plans.

5

Showcase your ability to manage time and budgets by providing examples from academic or extracurricular projects.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for sustainable design and how it aligns with AECOM's mission to build legacies.", 'Specific examples of your technical skills (e.g., producing technical drawings or using BIM workflows).', "Your commitment to achieving LI chartership and how AECOM's support will help you grow.", 'Your ability to collaborate across disciplines, citing a team project where you integrated design with engineering or environmental goals.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review AECOM's 'Sustainable Legacies' report and their approach to net-zero and climate resilience.
  • → Look into their recent landscape projects in London, such as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park or the Greenwich Peninsula.
  • → Understand the company's structure: AECOM has a dedicated 'Environment' business line that integrates landscape architecture with ecology and water resources.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the Landscape Institute's 'Professional Standards' and the current exam syllabus.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a project where you had to balance creative design with technical constraints (e.g., budget, regulations).
2 How would you approach designing a public space that promotes biodiversity and community engagement?
3 Explain your understanding of the LI Pathway to Chartership and how you plan to progress.
4 Tell us about a time you worked in a multidisciplinary team. How did you ensure effective communication?
5 What software are you proficient in, and how do you stay updated with new tools in landscape architecture?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic portfolio without tailoring it to AECOM's project types (e.g., infrastructure, urban regeneration).
  • Neglecting to mention your progress towards LI chartership or showing lack of awareness about the process.
  • Overemphasizing aesthetic design without demonstrating understanding of technical documentation, regulations, or project management.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to AECOM!

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