{"id":41650,"date":"2025-01-21T20:05:33","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T19:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architect-us.com\/blog\/?p=41650"},"modified":"2025-01-24T12:08:14","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T11:08:14","slug":"my-experience-at-dcm-designs-in-la","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architect-us.com\/blog\/2025\/01\/my-experience-at-dcm-designs-in-la\/","title":{"rendered":"My experience at DCM Designs in LA!"},"content":{"rendered":"

My name is Carolina. I\u2019m 31 years old, and I\u2019m an Argentinian architect with a Master\u2019s in BIM Management<\/strong> from Spain. I\u2019m participating in the Architect US Trainee Program<\/strong> in Los Angeles, California<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

I lived in the US<\/strong> during an exchange program when I was younger, and I fell in love with this country. I met amazing people, traveled to many places, and found great opportunities. I had to leave then, but not before promising myself to come back as an architect. I interviewed American and immigrant architects, and they encouraged me to find a specialization and grow my work experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

After finishing my Master\u2019s<\/strong> and internship<\/strong> in Madrid<\/strong>, I improved my resume and portfolio (the latter with the help of Architect-US). I felt confident enough to start applying for jobs. I applied for 60 to 90 job offers and, honestly, I just got 2 interviews in 5 months. Luckily, my profile fit with DCM Designs<\/strong>, my current host company.<\/span><\/p>\n

Working in the US is a different experience. I think that the Construction Building Code<\/strong> plays a more important role than in the other countries where I worked before. The interaction between the architecture firm and the County Planning Department<\/strong> is intense. Also, the roles of the project participants are very clear; project management<\/strong> is the key.<\/span><\/p>\n

Construction is faster in the US, which is why we need to follow progress very closely. There are many phases, many permits, and many disciplines involved; it\u2019s not easy to stay on board. Only time helps to catch the rhythm.<\/span><\/p>\n

DCM develops its projects in Revit<\/strong>, where we work with other disciplines such as engineering, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing through BIM 360<\/strong>. We use different CDEs to share information with clients, have sessions in Bluebeam to follow markups closely, and sometimes need to work with AutoCAD. Finally, Teams and Slack are the platforms to communicate with my teammates and attend meetings. DCM has a hybrid work schedule, so meetings and chats are essential to keep the project going.<\/span><\/p>\n

All my coworkers are from different countries; some even work remotely from other states in the US. In LA, I found them very friendly. I built a nice friendship, especially with two of them from France and Spain. We have gone to architecture events, lunches, and shared weekends with their families.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have also traveled with my boss and project manager to other cities to visit construction sites or precast plants for quality checks. Most of the other companies involved in the project are from different places, so it\u2019s nice to get to know the team members in person.<\/span><\/p>\n

My process to come was easier than I expected. After getting all the information to apply for the program, everything was almost ready. The interview at the US Embassy<\/strong> was clear, easy, and fast; it took around 3 minutes. The whole process lasted no more than 50 days. The fact that DCM sent their part promptly helped me a lot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Living in LA is a love-hate relationship. I was used to living in walkable cities; LA is not. It\u2019s also very expensive, but I think that is related to all that California offers. I have everything here: the ocean, mountains, lakes, and desert, plus all the activities like festivals, concerts, museums, and parades. It\u2019s very easy to travel, and I have been visiting places I would\u2019ve never imagined going to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Homesickness is very personal. I have lived abroad for a while, and when you have a supportive family that encourages your growth, it\u2019s easier. Important dates make you feel the distance, mostly when you just moved and know nobody. Luckily, visiting is an option, so I handle it with peace and patience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, I received the result for the equivalency of my studies, and I started the process to get my architecture license. So far, I\u2019m not sure if I want to stay in the US, but I know I want to keep working for an American firm, and this experience is giving me invaluable tools to achieve that.<\/span><\/p>\n

After 6 months, I can say I\u2019m over the moon. It hasn\u2019t always been like this because the adaptation process<\/strong> is harsh. Once I settled down, finding a nice place to live, friends that feel like family, and activities outside work, it\u2019s been amazing. Leaving my comfort zone was hard, but it was worth it. I feel everything has changed, even my goals. I recommend this experience even if your desire is to work in Spain or another country. The US has something that makes you feel full of energy to keep improving yourself. Being away opens your eyes to value those day-to-day things that become invisible. It also helps you grow not only in your professional career but also as an individual.<\/span><\/p>\n

THE BEST & THE WORST<\/span><\/p>\n

Three good things:<\/span><\/p>\n