Imagine a career where no two days are the same. You get to work with your hands and bring big dreams to life. Best of all, the impact of your work will be enjoyed by an entire community. Sound intriguing? You might be surprised to learn a landscaping job can give you all this and more. Here’s what to expect when you choose a career in the green industry: 

1. Your Office is the Outdoors

If the thought of being stuck inside behind a desk all day makes you shudder, then a landscape career may be a good fit. One of the perks of working in the green industry is that enjoying the great outdoors is part of the job. You’re never stuck in one place, as you’ll serve different clients. Plus, it’s a hands-on job, engaging both mind and body.

2. Duties Will Change with the Seasons

Just like the weather changes with the seasons, so too will your daily duties. Spring and summer are among the busiest for the landscape industry, as the active growing season means plants need extra attention. In the fall and winter, the focus shifts to preparing landscapes for the colder months, and in some regions, performing snow removal.

3. A No One-Size-Fits-All Career

The landscape industry encompasses a wide range of capabilities, which means your career path can take a variety of shapes. From design to construction, maintenance to enhancements, there are many specialties within each stage of landscape care. For example, landscape construction requires craftsmen like masons and carpenters. Landscape maintenance teams need irrigation specialists, tree care specialists and spray technicians. These are just a few examples. Whatever your interests, chances are the landscape industry has an opportunity that suits them.

4. Room to Grow

You don’t need a formal horticulture education to join the landscape industry. For many positions, on-the-job training is provided. Plus, it’s an industry where hard work and dedication are rewarded with advancement. Crew members who excel can move up to crew leader or foreman, and on to branch management and beyond.

5. New Challenges Everyday

Plants are living beings, so landscapes constantly change—meaning every day brings a new set of challenges. Whether troubleshooting a plant healthcare issue, or seeking new ways to optimize a property’s irrigation, clients will rely on you to think critically to help them solve problems and maximize their landscape. You’ll also be challenged creatively when you help bring to life your clients’ visions, whether in a full-scale renovation or a seasonal color installation.

Working in the landscape industry can be a fulfilling and rewarding career, especially for those who love the outdoors and working with their hands. As an essential service with no geographic constraints, it’s an industry that provides job security and a wealth of opportunities. If you’re ready to explore the possibilities, check out our open positions now.

If the thought of a job interview has you shaking in your boots, you’re not alone. For many people, a job interview is as nerve-wracking as public speaking. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re considering a career in the landscape industry, here are some tips that will make the interview process painless.  

1. Research the Company

You don’t have to know everything there is to know about landscape, but you should know some of the basics. Before your interview, be sure to browse the company website, paying attention to the services they provide and the industries they serve. If the company has a blog or social media, read through their recent posts. If you have the names of your interviewers in advance, be sure to also look up their LinkedIn profiles. Doing so will help you identify where your experience or interests align with the team’s goals and capabilities. This will give you talking points for your interview that will make it easier it to illustrate how you can benefit the company. 

2. Choose What You’ll Wear Wisely

Waiting until the morning of your interview to select what to wear is inviting trouble. You don’t want to find out at the last minute that the shirt you had in mind has a stain, or the pants no longer fit. As soon as your interview is scheduled, try on the clothes you intend to wear, so you have ample time to handle any laundering or shopping needed. 

As for what to wear, consider the position you’re applying for. Due to the nature of the work, the landscape industry tends to be more casual.  However, you should still dress to impress. If you’re interviewing for an office job, a suit or collared shirt with nice slacks is appropriate. If you’re interviewing for a job that’s not behind a desk, stick with the collared shirt and slacks; a suit is not necessary.

3. Know How to Get to the Interview Location

The day before your interview (or sooner), map your route to the interview location. If you’ll need to travel during rush hour, make sure you plan extra time for traffic. If you’re not sure how much time to allot, plug the address into a feature like Google Maps, which allows you to specify what time you’ll be hitting the road to provide a more accurate estimate.  Remember, being on-time for an interview generally means arriving a little early. You don’t want to cut it too close.

Finally, if it’s not clear where to park, or where to check-in when you arrive, reach out to your contact at the company ahead of time to confirm. It’s a simple step that will help ensure you stay cool, calm and collected before your interview.

4. Practice with a Friend

If you’re feeling nervous, enlist a friend or family member to practice interview questions with you. For help anticipating what you might be asked, search online for interview questions. Many sites offer a long list of examples. Or, if you’d rather prepare on your own, some people find it helpful to practice in the mirror or car, or write out potential responses. While you shouldn’t go to the interview with note cards, writing down your thoughts in advance can make it easier to formulate what you want to say.

However you choose to prepare, remember you should present a genuine version of yourself in the interview. Don’t worry about trying to memorize answers; it can make you look rehearsed. Recruiters want to see the real you. So, don’t sweat it if you say “um,” or take an occasional pause to collect your thoughts. Those things are only human.

5. Pack Your Interview “Go Bag”

This tip is simple. Bring extra copies of your resume and a pen and paper. It’s likely your interviewer will have your resume in advance, but it’s good to be prepared. Plus, you’ll want to have them in case there’s an additional interviewer you weren’t planning for. The pen and paper are good for note-taking, in case you need to jot down someone’s name and contact information, especially for thank you notes. We’ll talk more about that in a moment. 

6. Pay Attention to Your Body Language

Your mind might be racing, but don’t let your leg do it, too. Specifically, watch out for nervous ticks like bouncing legs, shifting in your seat, or tapping your pencil. Incessant movements like these can make you look anxious and distract from what you’re saying. And most importantly, be sure to maintain good eye contact with the interviewer—not just when answering their questions, but also while they’re asking them.

7. Build Rapport with the Interviewer

Interviews can be exhausting—for both the interviewer and the interviewee. But, when an interview feels like a good conversation, it can be energizing for everyone. Pay careful attention when interviewers introduce themselves and be sure to call them by name. Find opportunities for common ground. Ask your interviewer about themselves—such as how long they’ve worked for the company or what made them interested in joining the company. When appropriate, you can share information about your own interests or personal background. These exchanges help put everyone at ease. 

8. Buy Yourself Time to Think

Inevitably, you’ll be asked a question you didn’t anticipate, or suddenly lose your train of thought. It happens to everyone. When it does, don’t panic. Instead buy yourself time to think. For example, you can ask a clarifying question that will help you better understand what the interviewer is asking. Or, tell the interviewer, “That’s a great question. Let me think on that for a moment” and take a brief pause to collect your thoughts.

9. Show Curiosity

At the end of the interview, it’s likely you’ll be asked if you have any questions. Before the interview, consider what you might like to ask. Use this opportunity to demonstrate your interest in becoming part of the team or better understanding how you can contribute to the team’s success. For example, you might want to ask about the team’s goals for the year, the biggest challenges they’re trying to solve, or what the team culture is like.

10. Write Thank You Notes

Thank you notes go a long way, yet many people still don’t write them. Put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes and imagine if the decision for who to hire came down to you and one other person with similar qualifications. Now imagine only one of you sent a thank you note. It’s easy to see how that influence their impressions. Don’t let the other candidate have the last word. Always write a thank you note to each person you interview with.

Your note does not need to be long or elaborate. Thank the interviewer for their time, reinforce why you want to be part of the team and how you could benefit the company. Sticking a handwritten thank you note in the mail is best, but writing an email instead is acceptable if the hiring process is moving quickly and time is of the essence. 

 Follow these tips and you’ll exude confidence and reduce the stress of the interview process. And remember—there’s a reason it’s called a process. Every interview you do makes the next one that much easier. So even if you don’t land the job the first time, know that every interview after makes you that much stronger.

If you’re looking for a career with a wealth of opportunities, look no further than the landscape industry. As an essential service, landscape professionals are in constant demand, translating to an abundance of steady work and good income. Get your foot in the door with these tips:

1. Follow Your Passion

The landscape industry contains many specialties; chances are, one will align with your experience or interests. More than just landscape maintenance, there are also opportunities in landscape construction, water management, and supervisory roles. Consider your strengths and what you enjoy most, then focus your search in those areas.

For example, if you have masonry or carpentry experience, or are qualified to operate heavy machinery, consider broadening your search to include landscape construction jobs as well. Do you have a spray technician or irrigation certification? Or do you have experience as a crew leader? Some jobs request these qualifications specifically, often in the job title itself. When you have specialized experience, be sure to include those keywords in your search so you don’t miss out.

2. Use Keywords to Sell Yourself

When applying online, it’s likely your application will first pass through a software application that screens for keywords and phrases relevant to the role for which you’ve applied. For this reason, it’s important to be thorough about your experience. Make it obvious why you are the one for the job. Scan the job listing’s requirements and call out all the areas in which you match up. And, if you’re submitting a resume, be sure to adjust it so those skills are featured in a way that makes them hard to miss.

3. Follow-Up

Remember the saying, “If you really want something, you have to work for it?” The same can be said for job hunting. Don’t limit yourself to online applications only. If a position really interests you, let the company know. Pick-up the phone and follow-up. Or, visit the local branch so you can make a face-to-face connection with the team. Not only does it demonstrate initiative, it shows you’re passionate about the job.

4. Network Your Way In

There’s arguably nothing more powerful in a job search than the almighty referral. Getting a recommendation from an existing employee is a highly effective way to ensure your application is seen by the right set of eyes. Even if you don’t currently know someone who works for the company you’re interested in, you can still make networking work for you. As mentioned in the tip above, drop-by and introduce yourself. Apply in-person. Or, use online networks like LinkedIn to connect with decisionmakers or peers. Even if there’s not a role available for you at the moment, establishing a relationship will keep you on the radar.

5. Be Yourself

Recruiters receive hundreds of applications and it can be easy to get lost in the crowd. Yes, it’s important to be professional; but it’s also just as important to be yourself. For example, don’t be afraid to share a personal anecdote during the interview that illustrates why you’re passionate about being part of the company. These genuine moments are far more memorable than a rehearsed answer.

6. Gratitude Goes a Long Way

When you interview, you’re aiming to make a lasting impression. Thank you notes help achieve that goal. Write one to every person you interview with. Handwritten are best, but email is fine too if time is of the essence. The notes don’t have to be long, but they should feel personal and unique to each person. Thank you notes can also be a valuable opportunity to clarify or reinforce something you said in your interview.

7. Focus on What You Can Offer

Finally, stay focused on communicating what you can bring to the table. As mentioned in our first tip, if you have special certifications or experience, those can be a huge benefit to the company. Sure, there are probably many things you hope to gain from joining their team, but remember—they want to know that they can gain from hiring you. Sell your strengths, and it’ll be a win-win for everyone.

There you have it: our 7 tips for acing your job search. If you’re feeling inspired, put them to use now. Browse our open positions. Your next great opportunity in the landscape industry could be just a click away.

You’re probably quite familiar with our crew members; in fact, you may even be on a first name basis. Day in and day out, we count on them to deliver dependable, proactive service and consistent quality to help you meet your goals. In appreciation of all they do to grow your success, we want to grow theirs too. With that in mind, we’ve developed BrightPath.

BrightPath is a landscaper development program designed to give our team members opportunities for advancement in their career at BrightView. The program, which is being deployed in a phased approach, provides comprehensive training, coaching, and support, beginning with orientation and onboarding and continuing through promotion to successive levels. The first level of the BrightPath program, Level 1, is currently available to all our new team members. BrightPath’s Level 4 training for Crew Leaders will roll out this winter, with the additional levels to follow.

More than just a career development tool, BrightPath is also an important retention tool — both for our crews and for our relationship with you, the client. Part of providing the best possible service is cultivating the best possible team to serve you. BrightPath recruits top talent and enhances team satisfaction by investing in training our teams and demonstrating that this is more than an hourly job — this is a career. 

Among the key program focus areas are:

• Safety: BrightPath demonstrates proper technique, safety best practices, and the importance of personal protective equipment to keep our crews, your property, and everyone who enjoys it safe.


• Client Focus: BrightPath training teaches each team member our quality standards and the importance of delivering consistently excellent service.


• Critical Skills: BrightPath teaches and reinforces key horticultural skills so you can be confident the crew that serves you is knowledgeable in their craft and trained to a consistent standard.


• Productivity: Team members are introduced to our industry-leading production planning principles, ensuring every minute on your property is used with the utmost efficiency.

We consider BrightPath to be an investment that benefits everyone. Engaged team members with a clear path for advancement deliver top notch service and operate conscientiously, which in turn, results in greater satisfaction for you. When you and our team members feel happy and cared for, it makes us happy, too. That’s what we call a win-win-win.

The entire landscape services industry has felt pressure for months after the annual cap for H-2B visas was reached in record time. A significant number of employers across multiple industries fell far short of the requested complement of H-2B workers needed to help them through the height of the landscape season. The H-2B cap, set back in 1990, is insufficient to meet the staffing needs of current American businesses. Unemployment is at an all-time low, and GDP has nearly tripled since the H-2B cap was set.

For years, BrightView has dedicated resources to lobbying for H-2B visa reform, but little seems to change. So it was no surprise to us this year that the number of available H-2B visas again failed to meet demand. Luckily, BrightView received a number of H-2B visas through the lottery and was able to bring many workers from Mexico, most of whom have been returning to work for us year after year. This is an effective and much-needed complement to our domestic workforce through the busy season.

We also have continued our extensive and ongoing efforts to recruit for and hire local talent, including the very costly step of including “Now Hiring” messages on every newly rebranded BrightView truck. We have engaged in creative and broad efforts to recruit and hire domestic employees. Finally, as a national company with local operations, we have been able to shift our employee base and relocate individuals to various markets where we face staffing challenges.

In sum, BrightView has taken all steps possible to prepare for and address the now expected annual shortage of H-2B workers. We feel confident that our valued clients will not notice any change in the quality of service they have come to expect from BrightView. Of course, if ever you experience anything less than exceptional service, we hope you will let us know immediately so we can promptly address and correct. We value your business and thank you for the partnership.

BrightView Chief Human Resources Officer Dan Dohar recently shared some of our recruiting methods, including technology and referrals, with Total Landscape Care.

Technology has played a big role in BrightView's success in recruiting with more than 100 branches now housing a kiosk, allowing applicants to walk into the branch and apply for positions right then and there. However, even more successful than the new technology are employee referrals. Dohar saw more current employees having their family and friends apply for jobs within the company.

"BrightView focuses on various types of recruitment, ranging from technology, community-based organizational relationships, what we call 'boots on the ground,' and employee referrals," Dohar said. "Employee referrals are actually the most successful; we find that our team members enjoy being here and like to recruit friends and even family to join them."

BrightView's regions each have their own college recruitment strategy and the company maintains its focus in recruiting students in horticulture and landscape architecture, as well as other landscape disciplines and vocational concentrations.

Dohar also shared how BrightView works to keep employees content and how its recruiting team partners with communications to utilize social media and www.brightview.com to attract new team members.

Read the full story from Total Landscape Care.