My Advice to Young Architects

Recently a young architect from Chicago reached out to me for a possible position at Plana Architects in our LA offices. Even though his skillset didn’t align with what we were looking for at the moment, I took an interest in his story and got to know more about him. It gave me a glimpse into what I feel a lot of younger architects might be going through in their early careers. Here are my top 5 insights.

1. Get (the right) Experience. Architecture is so much more than drawing lines on a piece of paper or on a computer screen. Getting the right experience is paramount. Sometimes getting a job isn't enough. You might need to try a few different ones, expose yourself to as many different but relevant situations, people and environments as you can so that you can learn. Remember school is important but nothing beats life experience. It is also important to network to broaden your horizons— find a local AIA, ULI or USGBC and go to some events and meet some people. LinkedIn is also a great place to interact with others in the industry. So find them, send them a message and engage yourself in your community. It will help you see the profession more broadly and help with your interpersonal skills. 
2. Get Your License. To advance your career as an architect you need to do this one - get your license. To call yourself an architect, and present yourself as an architect to others, advertise your services as an architect, you must be licensed. To advance your career in an already established firm and to gain the respect and recognition of your peers and employers, you need your license. The road to architectural licensure is hard and full of challenges. You will need to study on the weekends ad at night after putting in a lot of hours at the office to begin with. But in the end it will all be worth it. NCARB in the US is a great resource to start your journey and some local boards and associations might help too. 
3. Find a Mentor. This can be a senior architect in your current firm. Someone you met while networking on LinkedIn. Someone in a completely different role like a developer or a project manager. Even a friend who’s opinion you value. You can also have several mentors for different aspects of your career or personal and professional development. Try to check in with them regularly. Discuss your goals and aspirations. Discuss challenges and skills you’d like to improve. Ask for help when you need it. 
4. Develop a Niche. When I started out I knew that licensure would take a long time so I look the LEED AP test straight out of school just to do something extra-curricular. I got so interested in what I learned about sustainability that I got involved with the local USGBC chapter and got myself on the board of directors. I then taught others in my firm on sustainability and helped create a sustainability center for the entire community. Whether it is sustainability or urban planning or interior design it is helpful to have specific knowledge in a field of interest which will guide your career in the future. You might be interested in designing schools or hospitals and the more you know about these different project types or areas of practice you will become more valuable as a team member.
5. Work Hard, Find Balance. Although this is true for any profession if you take it seriously and are looking to advance, architecture in particular takes a lot of those long hours, ‘brain damage’ if you will, persistency and grit. It is so important to allow yourself to take a break and rest when you can so you don’t burn out. To do the things you enjoy and to continuously be inspired and energized for more.