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Job interviews can feel like a task in themselves—especially in specialised fields like landscape architecture. If you’re gearing up for your interview, you’ve likely prepped your portfolio and brushed up on your technical knowledge. But how do you respond to those open-ended questions that assess your personality, work ethic, and problem-solving skills?

Here, we’ll break down five common landscape architect interview questions, share tips on how to approach them, and even provide polished example answers to get you started.

What Does Success Mean to You?

This question reveals your work ethic, priorities, and how you define personal and professional satisfaction. Employers value candidates who are motivated, focused on team success, and committed to professional growth—rather than just personal rewards.

When answering, avoid mentioning financial rewards. Instead, focus on aspects like meeting deadlines, learning new skills, or contributing to a shared vision.

Example Answer:
“Success is meeting my daily, weekly, monthly, and annual goals while being seen as a reliable professional. For me, success also means ending each day satisfied that I’ve achieved something meaningful, learned something new, or contributed to the team’s progress. Ultimately, the company’s success is directly tied to my own.”

Can You Describe a Time You Went Above and Beyond for a Project?

This question helps employers understand your initiative, problem-solving skills, and willingness to go the extra mile. While you don’t need a groundbreaking story, it’s important to choose an example that highlights your dedication and ability to exceed expectations.

Use examples of past professional circumstances, or if you’re newer to the field, academic or volunteer experiences that showcase transferable skills. Be specific about what you did and how it benefited the project or organisation.

Example Answer:
“I once led the design concepts for a series of small community parks for a local parks and recreation department. The budget was tight, so I took initiative to meet with local neighbourhood leaders, schools, and park staff to understand their concerns and gather input. These extra efforts not only improved the project but helped our firm secure additional contracts with the department due to their satisfaction with the outcome.”

What’s Your Favourite Landscape Design Project Outside of Work?

By asking this, interviewers want to gauge your passion for the field and your ability to reflect on your experiences. Your response should focus on a project where you played an active role and learned valuable lessons. Highlight collaboration, creativity, and how the project inspired your future work.

Example Answer:
“My favourite landscape design project was redesigning the university’s botanical gardens during my time as a student. It was special because it brought together a variety of groups, including students, design professors, maintenance staff, and local historians. Everyone contributed to each phase of the process, from design to maintenance. Working on this gave me hands-on experience in teamwork and showed me the true value of collaboration in creating exceptional spaces.”

How Would Your Colleagues Describe You and Your Work?

Employers ask this to get a sense of your self-awareness and how well you fit into team dynamics. How you relate to coworkers reveals your ability to work as part of a team, adapt to a workplace’s culture, and maintain positive working relationships. Be honest, but tie your answer to strengths relevant to the role.

Example Answer:
“My team would describe me as a supportive and team-oriented leader. One of my proudest moments was when a coworker wrote me a recommendation recognising my empathy and leadership during high-pressure projects with tight deadlines. She told me she valued my ability to mentor others, celebrate their successes, and stay personally invested in the team’s goals—traits that I strive to bring to every role.”

Why Did You Choose a Career in Landscape Architecture?

This question gives you the chance to showcase your passion and motivations for choosing this career path. Share personal stories, academic moments, or professional experiences that drew you to landscape architecture. Employers appreciate candidates who show genuine enthusiasm.

Example Answer:
“Back in high school, I didn’t even know what a landscape architect was. I had a love for the outdoors and spent a lot of time gardening with my mum. During a road trip across Michigan, my uncle, who works in environmental consulting, introduced me to the idea of landscape architecture as a career. It seemed like the perfect blend of my interests in plants, outdoor spaces, and creativity. That passion led me to apply to Michigan State’s landscape architecture programme, and it’s been an exciting journey ever since.”

Final Thoughts

Preparing for a landscape architecture interview doesn’t just mean knowing your portfolio—it’s about showing who you are as a professional and a team player. By preparing thoughtful, honest responses to questions like the ones above, you’ll be able to present yourself with confidence and clarity.

Now it’s your turn: Which of these questions do you feel most ready to answer? Focus on authentic stories from your experience, and you’ll make a memorable impression. Good luck!