Insider tips and practical strategies for architectural graduates
As a recent Part III graduate and fully registered architect with the ARB, I wanted to share some practical insights and strategies that have helped me navigate the early stages of my career and help set you up with tools to succeed in this dynamic field.
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Take notes
Whether it be in a lecture, a meeting, or a conversation between colleagues, you never know when you may need to refer to previous discussions.
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Break down the task
If there’s a deadline looming, break down all your pending tasks and plan an achievable amount of work for each day. Whether that be setting up a set number of pages in a portfolio or gathering information to complete a specification, estimate the time it will take you and double it – and if you can, give yourself at least a week’s contingency for checking and review.
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Ask questions
If you don’t know something or if you need help, ask. It’s as straightforward as that.If you’re unsure about anything and pretending you know could cost time and money. Ask the question, write it down, and know for next time. If, like me, you’re in the early years of your career, your colleagues will have years of experience and knowledge to hand – use them and learn from them as best you can.
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Learn to identify when enough is enough
Nothing good happens after midnight. Studies have shown that the human brain does not function well after dark, with a noticeable effect on behaviour, decision making and job performance.
While churning out a high quantity of work in a short space of time might be well received, the reality in practice is that these increased hours can skew timesheets and fee proposals and could set a precedent for future projects.
On a rare occasion, a late night of work might be required, but we shouldn’t allow them to become commonplace, and if they are, make sure there is a hard stop in place before midnight – your mental and physical health should always be more important.
These strategies are not new, but when used effectively, they can help reduce stress and disorganisation, both of which can be commonplace in educational and workplace settings.
