r/MobileAL • u/Grouchy_radish138 • 18h ago
Jobs Husband needs a job!
My husband is a residential architect/home designer and was laid off about a month ago. He’s applied for everything on Indeed he is even remotely qualified for, from Walmart to project management positions. He’s gotten some phone interviews, one in-person, but no luck with actually securing a position. We have 3 kids, I’m employed full time and in grad school, and we are soon going to be dependent on my financial aid to make ends meet. Both of us have over 20 years of experience in our fields and both require bachelor degrees at minimum with additional certifications. Thankfully, the family insurance is through my employer, so that is not a concern. What is going on with the job market in Mobile? Anyone have any advice? TLDR: Architect in need of a job!
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u/FlyingCloud777 17h ago
If he has strong CAD abilities, look for jobs with that, also obviously construction management-related positions. He'd probably make a great office manager for any engineering firm too: my own undergrad was architecture and I work in a totally different field, but I got enough knowledge of civil and even mech eng to handle the business sides of those if ever need be.
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u/Grouchy_radish138 12h ago
Thank you! He’ll keep looking with those in mind. He has been applying for construction management positions also and his CAD skills are very strong. He actually used to teach drafting also. He’s been looking on indeed, Glassdoor, zip recruiter, the Alabama jobs website (Alabama works I believe), and the websites for the big construction companies like Airbus and Austal. Should he be looking anywhere else?
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u/FlyingCloud777 7h ago
I really don't know specifics of where to look. I have not worked in architecture for years, I work now in pro sports consulting so fully different field. I do know that despite the ongoing boom in construction actual architects seem to be having a hard time all over from friends I've spoken with.
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u/IJustDrinkHere 17h ago
Try Austal or Novelis. Novelis just setup a big facility in Bay Minett. They likely will need bodies for something
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u/Grouchy_radish138 12h ago
Thank you! He’s tried Austal and checks regularly. Novelis has just been added to the list though!
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u/RustySeatbelt 17h ago
Bethel Engineering & Army Core of Engineers (downtown office) are two that come to mind with possible CAD positions.
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u/Grouchy_radish138 12h ago
Good ideas! He’s checked the corps, but not Bethel yet. I’ll add that to the list.
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u/Conspiracy_Thinktank 12h ago
Try showing up to some networking events through the chamber, check out some permanent staffing firms and then target some companies he’s interested in working at. It’s a good labor market still so he should be able to find work by plugging in and being active. Good luck 🍀
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u/Grouchy_radish138 12h ago
That’s solid advice, I was thinking about the job fairs and such also. He has been looking online for hours daily without much success. We have been able to identify some common themes in the scam job posts however, so I suppose there is a silver lining of a sort in the form of amusement 🤷♀️
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u/OhyeahhhRS 11h ago
Not sure if yall have heard of or used Alabama Works to search but that was a helpful resource I found out about when I was on short term disability leave a few months ago and they actually reached out to me randomly to meet at a career place in our town and it made me feel like “oh these are people actually trying to help” compared to other job sites. The website is definitely a lil complicated but yeah check that out if yall haven’t yet 🫡
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u/Grouchy_radish138 11h ago
Yes, thank you, he has been looking on Alabama Works also. Did you look through jobs on the website or actually talk to someone? He hasn’t had any luck yet with the web applications.
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u/OhyeahhhRS 10h ago
The career guide or builder, something in that particular area is what got me to receive a call from em, just can’t remember but I also remember every listing I signed up for on the site I would go to the company hiring’s site and apply directly through there
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u/Solid_Thanks_1688 16h ago
Look at Airbus....
I know a guy that I may be able to get your husband in contact with if you DM me. I'm a female, BTW..not a creepy dude. 😂
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u/Solo__Wanderer 6h ago
Online applications are filtered by AI ... then moved to the spam box by most employers.
Go in person and speak to people. The worst that can happen is they say not interested.
One must be willing to sell your skills to employers and best way I have used is networking through personal contacts ... in person.
Or ... stay at home and keep doing what was old 5 years ago.
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u/DCTron 4h ago
Has he thought about starting his own company? We went through a remodel and finding a qualified/architect/draftsman was difficult. In fact, the person we eventually found is now deceased. If interested, he could send his name to local custom builders/remodelers who need plans to submit for permitting purposes.
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u/Slacabormorinico 2h ago
I just built a house and had a terrible experience with our home "designer" ( not an architect) I bet he could get some income by doing just house plans, not full blown architecture services. I want to say I paid +/-$4500 for 7 sheets and had to wait 4 weeks for the guy to get to us
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u/gulfcoastbuzzard Midtown 8h ago
Have him send his resume to the local AIA (American Institute of Architects) chapter and ask them to blast it out to their 60+ members. They are happy to do it.
He can also come out as a guest Sep. 18 to the Oyster House (in the back room) on the causeway to their monthly lunch. They will have guests stand up and introduce themselves. Couldn't hurt.
aiamobilechapter@gmail [dot] [com]
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u/cheeznipsmagee 18h ago
Show up in person with a resume. Sell yourself.
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u/Grouchy_radish138 10h ago
Have you had success with this method in recent years? So much is online now and when my husband (or my kids) have gone in person, they were told to apply online. If you have any recommendations for companies that prefer in-person applications, please share! That’s what we were used to also.
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u/BillAt10oClock 17h ago
The best tip I have for you is any position that he actually wants is to email the recruiter directly. Not a LinkedIn message, but to find that person’s email and when you apply, send an email of “hi, I’m X and just applied for X. I think this would be a great for me because…” That strategy worked for my last two positions when I was in a similar situation.