Case studies: Landscape architect: Jonathan

Jonathan has worked on everything from developing brand new cities in the Middle East to public squares in the UK

When considering degree courses, I was interested in subjects such as architecture and graphic design, but as I also had an interest in the environment and public spaces, a careers adviser luckily steered me in the direction of landscape architecture which perfectly matches my interests.

Although the training is long (four to five years), I would advise people not to be put off by the length of the course. University affords a great opportunity to express your ideas and run with what you want to do. I also had a chance to take part in several interesting study tours, visiting different parts of the world.

My time at university was very relevant to my current job. At university, I learned a lot about the environment and horticulture; how ideas are formed and taken forward into design; how to generate ideas and learn which ones to develop; how to take criticism and turn it into a positive experience; and how to present to tutors and peers. Taking part in one-to-one interviews with examiners has also helped develop my communication skills.

The portfolio is a very important component of a job application. It's important to have a strong, eye-catching portfolio where each project tells a good story from initial idea to implementation. Students should also practice explaining the portfolio before going to interviews.

As part of my postgraduate studies, I did a placement one day a week and was fortunate to get a full-time position with the same company after graduating. Initially, I was in a supportive role but as I gained more confidence and experience, I was given more responsibility over projects and could accompany peers to meetings with clients. As a new graduate, it's important not to be afraid to express ideas and ask for help. It is also useful to work towards chartership status, as more doors open up.

I enjoy the range of work on offer and the variety of projects. As part of my current role, I liaise with clients, contractors, suppliers and subcontractors; do a lot of outline and detail design; work with teams to put together documentation for submission to competitions; and create visualisations for designs. I also enjoy working with local communities.

The atmosphere in the office is great, as most people have a similar background. We want to design and have fun doing it. Our office environment has to be relaxed so that ideas can flow. Aspects of the job that can be sometimes frustrating are the budgetary and other constraints set by clients and difficult negotiations with contractors.

I have just recently achieved chartership status and am fully qualified. It is possible that in the future, I may think about setting up my own practice.