An associate's degree or higher in landscaping is a good start at being employable in a landscaping job. After completing education and training for landscape design jobs and then gaining some experience, it's possible to get a landscaping job in one or more different career areas. The most effective way to get the best landscape jobs is to build up a resume of client references.
Landscape architect jobs take experience and a thorough understanding of outdoor architecture. Architect landscaping jobs are done mainly in an office setting as opposed to a maintenance and labor kind of landscaping job that is done outdoors on work sites. Strong computer design skills with some experience or knowledge of urban planning can help landscapers beat the sometimes intense competition for landscape architecture jobs.
Starting as an assistant landscaper can help build both knowledge and experience for future design landscape jobs. Landscaping assistants are often needed on an outdoor landscape crew. With some education or landscaping training, aspiring landscapers may be able to find labor and maintenance landscaping jobs by contacting local landscape companies. Spring and summer are the busiest seasons in gardening landscaping jobs and local companies often need help to fill in for vacationing crew members. Since at least 49 states require landscapers to be licensed, getting experience by being supervised on a labor crew is a good start for a landscaping job while aspiring landscapers work on getting their licenses.
The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the rate of landscape architects who have their own businesses is about double the rate of entrepreneurs in other occupations. Continuing to get landscaping jobs for one’s landscaping business relies on marketing and building good client references. It’s important for landscapers to gather client references and testimonials and use them in their advertising testimonials to attract new clients.
Many landscapers with their own landscape businesses work in residential landscaping. They must train and hire crew members who are motivated, talented and reliable. Time must be devoted to promoting the business and constantly looking for new landscaping job leads.
Government parks services are another possible job source for landscapers. Landscape designers working for the government may have to prepare reports on how their park designs fit in with sustaining the environment. Many landscape designers work for commercial real estate companies to do landscaping for shopping centers and business developments.