What are the best ways for an Information Architecture professional to gain experience?

In my experience, a great start in Information Architecture (IA) is volunteering for non-profits. One time at work, a colleague shared how this approach kick-started her IA career, applying her skills to a charity's website. Platforms like Catchafire, Taproot, or Idealist offer these opportunities. This method not only hones your IA expertise but also provides real-world insights. One thing I've found helpful is the direct feedback and learning in such roles, leading to a deeper understanding of user-centric design while positively impacting communities.

Ter uma experiência de voluntariado em organizações sociais pode enriquecer o currículo, não apenas pela questão humanitária, social, mas que serviços em IA e qualquer tecnologia são necessários nessas instituições, muitas operam com poucos recursos financeiros e adaptar processos gerenciais com tecnologia e inovação muitas vezes são deixados de lado. Inserir uma tecnologia ou automação em uma organização social pode levar a maximização do impacto gerado e essa experiência é valiosa em um currículo atualmente.

Existem 3 formas de devolvermos ao mundo o que construímos com nosso trabalho e ajudar ao próximo, oferece seus 3T: Doe seu Tesouro; Doe seu Talento; Doe seu Tempo. Certamente um destes 3T você pode devolver a qualquer momento de sua vida pessoal e profissional para ajudar Organizações sem fins lucrativos. Muitas delas já possuem recursos financeiros e estrutural, porem falta mão de obra para gerenciar e fazer a diferença nos serviços ofertados.

For Information Architecture (IA) professionals seeking to enhance their experience, a multifaceted approach is key. Engaging in diverse projects, whether through current employment opportunities, provides practical exposure to various IA challenges. Participating in global online communities and forums dedicated to IA allows for knowledge exchange and networking with peers worldwide. Additionally, attending international conferences and webinars keeps professionals abreast of evolving trends and methodologies. Pursuing certifications from recognized institutions. These strategies collectively enable IA professionals to build a robust portfolio, showcasing their expertise to a global audience.

My suggestion is that before starting an internship or volunteer in a non-profit activity, first make sure that you are interested in the field of information architecture. Of course, volunteering in this field at the beginning can help to have a good understanding, but it is not complete, because you need more than one period of volunteering in a project to gain great experience.

To gain experience in Information Architecture (IA), joining an online community is key. Platforms like Slack, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Reddit host vibrant IA groups where professionals share insights and experiences. Engaging in these communities keeps you abreast of the latest trends, facilitates interactions with mentors, enables collaborations on projects, and provides opportunities to showcase your work. This interaction is crucial for understanding effective practices, addressing queries, and building a valuable professional network in the IA field.

A troca de experiências e indicações para novas oportunidades é fundamental. As comunidades online são importantes redes para fomentar conexões e oportunidades.

Today, many professionals are present in many specialized online communities. This is an opportunity for experienced people to come together with interested people so that they can expand science in the relevant field. If you find such a right online community in the field of information architecture, try to expand your connections as much as possible and ask a lot of questions.

Building skills while working on one of my favourite topics has not only enabled me to learn with interest but also build my portfolio through it. I learnt the required theory through a workshop and a course. 3 ways it helped me: -showcased my learnings as a case study -connected with people with proof of execution -developed my skills of critical analysis for a project, creativity and combined it with storytelling.

A personal project is a great way to learn, BUT you are unlikely to get to work with complex projects this way. My recommendation would be to work with public governmental data sets and document your ideas and progress on your blog and on Linkedin. Then see whether you can work with a nonprofit on a real world project that you can follow through to implementation

As an IA professional, embarking on a personal project is a valuable experience. It allows you to apply your skills to a topic you're passionate about. Whether it’s creating a new website, app, digital product, or redesigning an existing one, these projects challenge your creativity and problem-solving skills. Documenting your process in a case study or blog showcases your IA approach and methodology. Personal projects not only enhance your technical abilities but also improve your storytelling and presentation skills.

Adquirir experiência e desenvolver habilidades através de algo prático e tácito é fundamental para comprovar experiência e implementar seu currículo.

Find a small niche that inspires you and build something. Don’t be afraid to start small. What starts simply can evolve into something else over time. As long as that internal muse is talking, keep listening and follow that.

Before participating in training courses, I suggest that you compare several different training courses and the resumes of the course instructors. Also, if possible, talk to the previous participants of these training courses and ask their opinion about the training course and its instructor. Scientific information architecture is not new, but the correct transfer of knowledge in this field requires a lot of experience, which many teachers do not have and only transfer their theoretical knowledge.

Gaining experience in Information Architecture can be significantly enhanced by enrolling in courses or workshops. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare, and General Assembly offer a variety of learning options, both online and offline. These courses, taught by experts, cover new and advanced IA concepts and techniques in a structured, interactive environment. Not only do they expand your knowledge and sharpen your skills, but they also provide certifications or badges, serving as a testament to your learning and commitment.

Além de buscar novos cursos e workshop na área, essas formações permitem conhecer outros profissionais, empresas, organizações, além de ter acesso a redes e comunidades virtuais que podem auxiliar na aquisição de novos negócios, trabalho e oportunidades.

To advance in Information Architecture, seeking feedback and mentorship is crucial. Platforms like MentorCruise, GrowthMentor, and Plato are excellent for connecting with experienced IA professionals. A mentor provides guidance, advice, and support, helping you refine your work, circumvent common pitfalls, and bolster your confidence and career trajectory. Engaging with a mentor not only improves your current projects but also imparts valuable insights for long-term professional growth in IA.

Construí um projeto pessoal ou fazer um voluntariado para uma organização social pode ser uma oportunidade para buscar Feedback e mentoria de outros especialistas e profissionais, pois é a oportunidade de estabelecer contato e orientações através de um projeto prático.

IA is not an isolated profession, so especially when starting out and trying to progress you need to expand your horizon beyond what you learned in school. Because of that my recommendation would be to seek mentors in other professions: data architects, engineers, product managers and content designers. Learn how they like to work and how they look at information and structure and how they like working with IA professionals.

To gain experience in Information Architecture, start with self-learning through online courses and books. Engage in personal projects or volunteer for non-profits to apply your skills. Networking is key; join online communities and attend workshops to connect with professionals. Seek internships or entry-level positions for practical exposure. Regularly seek feedback and iterate your work. Practical application and continuous learning are crucial in this evolving field.

Do not stop self-study at any stage and level of information architecture expertise. Tools and solutions in this field are always being updated.

IA is first for me what problem is there to be solved ??? The problem to be solved must be for the final users 😯 What solutions do we need, to solve the problem ? What are the technical and human processes involved ? Then only what technical architecture do we put in place ? How do we we build the data, security, mail, streaming, Real Time integration or whatever is needed for the solution ? And always check if our solutions are solving the users problems 😊

Um arquiteto da informação pode se voluntariar ou buscar oportunidades de estágio em projetos que envolvam a criação ou aprimoramento de websites ou aplicativos. Nesse contexto, ele pode se envolver na organização de conteúdo, na estruturação de menus e na definição de fluxos de navegação, trabalhando em estreita colaboração com designers de UX/UI. Essa experiência prática permite ao arquiteto da informação aplicar teorias e métodos de arquitetura da informação em cenários reais, ao mesmo tempo em que desenvolve habilidades de comunicação e trabalho em equipe, fundamentais para o sucesso na área.