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10 SUCCESS TIPS FOR YOUNG
ARCHITECTS
Editors note: This is a guest post by architect Stephen
Ramos.
For new graduates and young architects, getting your
foot in the door and moving up within an architecture
firm can be a daunting challenge. Im 9 years into my
career and have been a licensed architect for 5. It has
beena challenge every step of the way. When I evaluate
my successes and failures, I notice consistent themes.
I was inspired to write this post after listening to the
recent interview on Business of Architecture with
Architect Frank Harmon on 7 Success Lessons For
Young Architects. Based on my experience, here are 10
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success tips for young architects. These tips will help
you be a better architect or as Enoch would say, help
architects conquer the world!
Lets start with my number 10 tip and work our way
back up to number 1.
10. Make yourself indispensable.
Do you want to gain the respect of your peers?
Is your goal to elevate your status within your firm?
How about a raise?
If so, then it is imperative that you make yourself
indispensable.Find an area of interest and become a
champion in that area. One of my colleagues, Sarah
Corbitt, has a big interest in sustainable design. Sarah
immerses herself in all things sustainable, goes toconferences and sets up in-house seminars at the firm
where Im currently working, LS3P. Sarahs expertise
and willingness to share has made her indispensable
to our firm.
9. Seek mentors.
Your fellow architects are resources. Find people who
have skills and roles that you aspire to. These mentors
will foster your development and be instrumental to
your career advancement. Buy them a cup of coffee
and ask them for advice and questions about the
profession. Better yet, buy them a beer and youll get
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some real gems!
8. Spread the wealth.
Mentorship is a two-way street! Are you a photoshop
wiz? Then give your office tutorials. Are you a
sustainability guru like Sarah? Then organize a LEED
study group. Your goal should be to spread your
knowledge as far as possible. You will elevate your firm
and highlight yourself as a team player and leader.
7. Network, network, network.
Architecture is a service industry and your ability to
provide exceptional service is dependent on a strong
network. A strong network will make your job easier
and foster countless opportunities. And dont burn
bridges!
6. Seize the moment.
When I began my career, I was eager to unleash my
design talents on the world. However, like most interns,
I wasnt handed the most interesting design projects
right away. I had to first pay my dues to earn my dream
role.
I developed a strategy. Whenever I received any little
I had to pay my dues to earn my
dream role.CLICK TO TWEET
Get Your Firm MoreVisibility
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design task, I took it very seriously. Often I would work
on these assignments on my own time after work. I
would show up the next day with multiple design
options that I had thoroughly vetted. It did not take
long before my superiors noticed that I had a passion
for design and a hint of talent. I seized the moment.
Now I am in a role where I get to lead design efforts on
very significant projects.
5. Ask for it.
I have an embarrassing confession. I
have never received a pay raise without first having to
ask for it.
Even after I completed my architecture licensure in
2010, I still had to ask! I know right!WTF!
However, after I asked, I received. This is not just about
salary increases, it applies to everything in life.
Want to get more design tasks? Ask.
Ive never received a pay raise
without having to ask for it
CLICK TO TWEET
Want to get more design tasks? Ask.CLICK TO TWEET
Get more visibility for your
architecture firm. Find out more in
the free book Social Media for
Architects - 60 pages jam-packed
for strategies to leverage the
internet and social media.
GET THE BOOK FREE
http://www.architectasdeveloper.com/http://-/?-https://twitter.com/share?text=I%27ve+never%C2%A0received+a+pay+raise+without+having+to+ask+for+it&via=businessofarch&related=businessofarch&url=http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/professional-development/10-success-tips-young-architects/https://twitter.com/share?text=Want+to+get+more+design+tasks%3F+Ask.&via=businessofarch&related=businessofarch&url=http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/professional-development/10-success-tips-young-architects/http://architectsmarketing.com/webinar?utm_source=businessofarchitecture.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=petrie-method&utm_content=sidebar-adhttps://twitter.com/share?text=Want+to+get+more+design+tasks%3F+Ask.&via=businessofarch&related=businessofarch&url=http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/professional-development/10-success-tips-young-architects/http://-/?-https://twitter.com/share?text=I%27ve+never%C2%A0received+a+pay+raise+without+having+to+ask+for+it&via=businessofarch&related=businessofarch&url=http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/professional-development/10-success-tips-young-architects/ -
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Want more construction site experience? Ask.
Youd be surprised on what will occur as a result. What
do you have to lose?
4. Get out of your comfort zone.
A few years ago, I decided to take improv comedy
classes. I kinda did it on a whim after seeing one of my
friends perform. Getting up on a stage, creating make-
believe scenes on the fly and acting like a maniac paid
amazing dividends for my architecture career. These
classes improved my speaking ability. I got better atthinking on my feet and I became comfortable being
uncomfortable. This wouldnt have happened if I didnt
take that whim and move outside my comfort zone.
3. Talk the talk.
Public speaking is an invaluable trait for an architect. I
dont have any secret tricks, just some basic advice. If
you have an important meeting, rehearse your
presentation. After the presentations, ask your peers
for a critique of your performance. And avoid
archispeak!Clients are not impressed by your ability to
incorporate words like bifurcate and articulation.
Move outside your comfort zoneCLICK TO TWEET
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2. Realize that you are lucky.
On a recent Uber trip, the driver asked if I had designed
any buildings that he would know. I responded, Have
you seen the new addition to the Guggenheim? He
laughed and said he had hoped that is what I would
say. For those that dont know, I was quoting a famousline by George Costanza from Seinfeld. George lies and
says he is an architect in order to impress people.
When you are an architect and you tell people what you
do, you will often get responses like Ohthats cool!
Or I wanted to be an architect when I was a kid but
wasnt good at math or drawing.
I feel extremely lucky to work in a profession that is my
passion and one that is highly respected.
1. Embrace failure.
I have one last confession. Throughout my career, Ive
Clients arent impressed by your
ability to use words like bifurcate
and articulationCLICK TO TWEET
Have you seen the new addition to
the Guggenheim?CLICK TO TWEET
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failed at every one of the items on this list. In fact, I
struggle with these things on a weekly basis. The secret
is to learn from these challenges and to acknowledge
failure as an important step to personal growth.
Thanks, Enoch
Big thanks to Enoch Sears for this tremendous
opportunity. The Business of Architecture is an
excellent resource and a major inspiration for my blog.
In fact, I was listening to the episode Social Media for
Architecture Firmswhen I made the leap of faith to
start the website where I blog, buildingsarecool.com.
Good Luck!
Steve Ramos, AIA, LEED AP is a project architect for
LS3P in Charleston, South Carolina. On his
blog BuildingsAreCool.com, Steve shares his
experiences as a young architect in Charleston, SC. You
Failure is important for personal
growthCLICK TO TWEET
http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/marketing-for-architects/social-media-for-architecture-firms/http://www.buildingsarecool.com/https://twitter.com/share?text=Failure+is+important+for+%C2%A0personal+growth&via=businessofarch&related=businessofarch&url=http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/professional-development/10-success-tips-young-architects/http://www.buildingsarecool.com/http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/professional-development/10-tips-young-architects/attachment/steve-signature-3/https://twitter.com/share?text=Failure+is+important+for+%C2%A0personal+growth&via=businessofarch&related=businessofarch&url=http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/professional-development/10-success-tips-young-architects/ -
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Bio Twitter Google+
can connect with Steve at:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: sramos_bac
Instagram: buildingsarecool
Facebook: Buildings Are Cool
Enoch Sears
Founder at BusinessofArchitecture.com
I am a licensed California architect who
loves researching and sharing about
running a great architecture business. I
founded Business of Architecture to help
solo architects and small firms run a better
business so they can have the peace of
mind to focus on creating great
architecture.
You may also enjoy reading:
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One Response to 10 Success Tips For Young Architects
Scott rnoldApril 22, 2015 at 3:10 am#
All you guys are awesome! Listening to your stuff I found Kimberly Sheldons
business of design books. They are answering the questions that have been burning in
my mind of how to set things up for consistent business practices from the beginning.
It seems each person starting a perm just a dream up their own way of doing things
but it essential framework was hard to come up with. Everyone of your articles
including this one is just filled with Great advice thanks again!
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