Finding Your Place in AEC: One Marketing & Proposals Specialist's Career Story

A case study on what changes when the recruiter representing you actually understands your industry.

When Enia Pheakos thought about her next move as a Marketing & Proposals Specialist in AEC, she wasn't chasing a better title or a bigger paycheck. She wanted a firm where she could help build the culture and the community around her.

She found it. Here's how.

How It Started

Enia's career in AEC marketing began with a leap. "When I first decided to move into this industry, it was because an opportunity came along that I simply couldn't pass up," she said. "I was at a point in my career where I was considering different paths, and one of them led to a role at a firm with an incredible reputation. I knew it was a chance worth taking."

That decision did more than fill a job. "It ultimately introduced me to an industry that I've grown incredibly passionate about, and it set the foundation for the career I'm building today."

It's a path a lot of people don't know exists. Marketing and proposals work sits at the center of how architecture, engineering, and construction firms win their projects, yet most marketing, design, and architecture graduates never hear about it as an option. Enia stumbled into it and stayed because the work mattered to her.

What She Was Looking For

When it came time for her next move, the things that mattered most weren't on the offer letter. "Beyond title or salary, I was looking for a role where I could contribute to the culture of the firm and help build a strong sense of community," she said.

She wanted a place in the parts of a firm that never make it into a job description. "I wanted to be somewhere I could get involved in company initiatives, support my colleagues, and play a role in strengthening the internal connections that make teams successful."

That's harder to screen for than technical fit. A posting can tell you the software and the years of experience it wants. It can't tell you whether a firm will make room for you to shape the place you work. That was the part Enia wanted to get right, and it's where having the right recruiter mattered.

What Made Working With Axis Different

Having someone represent her changed the process. "Having someone represent me made a huge difference," Enia said. "Axis has been incredibly thoughtful throughout the process and has had a meaningful impact on my career by acting as both an advocate and a bridge between myself and my employer."

What set Axis apart was an understanding of the work itself. "What really stood out is their deep understanding of the AEC industry. I've worked with recruiters in the past who didn't fully understand what marketing professionals in AEC actually do, but Axis does."

There's a gap between a recruiter who can match keywords on a resume and one who knows what the job involves day to day. "That insight made the process much smoother and helped ensure the opportunity was the right fit for me and my employer."

Why the Opportunity Felt Right

That same industry knowledge set the tone once a specific role came into view. "Axis's experience and understanding of the industry helped set the tone from the beginning," Enia said. "They were able to clearly communicate the role, the firm's expectations, and how my experience aligned with what they were looking for."

There was no guesswork. "This made it easy to trust the process and feel confident in my decision." When the role, the expectations, and the fit are laid out honestly from the start, the decision gets a lot simpler.

Since Joining

What she'd hoped for has shown up in the day-to-day. "One of the biggest highlights has been the level of ownership and autonomy I've been able to take on when working on proposals and marketing materials," Enia said. "The role has allowed me to manage multiple pursuits at once while staying organized and supporting my colleagues across the team."

It's the exact kind of work she'd described wanting. "It's been incredibly rewarding to contribute to several projects simultaneously while helping ensure everything runs smoothly."

Her Advice for AEC Professionals Considering a Move

Enia's encouragement is direct: explore it. "I would absolutely encourage people to explore it," she said. "If you're a recent graduate in a Marketing, Interior Design, or Architecture program, and you have skills in tools like InDesign, this is a career path worth considering."

The field rewards people who get into it. "The demand for marketing professionals in the AEC industry is strong, the compensation is competitive, and there are always new opportunities emerging."

And as she put it, it's a corner of the industry most people overlook. "I've always said it's a bit of a hidden gem of a career. Once you gain experience in this field, it opens the door to many opportunities."

Axis Recruitment is a specialist recruitment firm for the built environment, placing Marketing & Proposals Specialists, architects, architectural technologists, interior designers, engineers, urban planners, and construction professionals across Canada and the USA. If you're thinking about your next move, or looking to hire, explore open roles or get in touch.