There are bits of advice that one collects over a 30 year career and when given the chance, some are worth passing on to those who care to listen. While this could have been a lessons from my father sort of episode, we decided to keep things focused on those of us who either are, or want to be, architects, and we are going to pass along a handful of things that we wish we had known at the start of our careers. Welcome to Episode 174: Dear Future Architects.
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Partial Results from an Instagram Poll asking the question what "Future Architects" should know ... click to enlarge
Today we are going to be talking about those interesting considerations and bits of advice that have been shared with us during our career. While they might not be applicable to everyone, I feel pretty confident that all the items we will be discussing today are of value. This will be the first “Dear Future Architects post as there are too many items to work through in a single episode. These are in the order than they came to mind and I didn’t want to presume a specific priority to them and set them in order of value. I also want to throw in there that a few of these are pretty hot and I fully expect people to think I am full of s%!t … but I am here to bring the pain.
01 Dear Future Architects ... jump to 04:55
Choose your firm based on the skills you want to build.
Residential firms often hone your soft skills—communication, empathy, and negotiation—while commercial firms emphasize technical depth, systems coordination, and documentation.
Source:
https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/big-or-small-whats-the-right-sized-firm-for-you/
In reflecting on my career, I’ve come to realize that the size of the firm you work for can shape the skills you develop, especially early in your career. If you’re just starting out, a small firm offers the opportunity to develop soft skills like communication, empathy, and negotiation because you're often thrown into situations where you're the point of contact with clients, contractors, and team members. You're more involved with every aspect of a project, and that experience helps you build your confidence. On the other hand, in larger firms, you get more exposure to complex projects that require technical proficiency, systems management, and understanding of legalities. While big firms can make you a better architect in that sense, they may not provide as many opportunities to hone those soft skills until you reach a higher level in the company.
Personally, I’ve found that small firms, while sometimes lacking in technical depth, gave me the chance to sharpen my communication skills and gain a more intimate understanding of how a project works from start to finish. This has served me well as I’ve moved up in my career. But the reality is, each environment teaches you something different, and depending on what you want to learn, one might be a better fit for you than the other.
02 Dear Future Architects ... jump to 11:58
Start small if you plan to go solo.
Working in a small firm exposes you to every aspect of running a practice—from contracts and client meetings to redlines and billing—which is invaluable if owning your own firm is in your future.
Source:
https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/architectural-job-starter-kit/
Looking at the question of whether to start in a small firm if you plan to eventually go solo, I believe it’s the best way to prepare. In a small firm, you’re exposed to everything: you write proposals, manage clients, and get a feel for what it really takes to run an office. When I switched from a small firm to a larger one, I found that my skills didn’t always align with what was expected. In a larger firm, tasks like proposal writing are handled by specialists, not generalists like I had been in a small firm. That experience made me realize that if you want to open your own office one day, you’ll be far ahead if you start in a small firm where you’re more likely to gain that well-rounded exposure.
However, there’s also value in gaining experience at the size of firm you want to eventually own. If your goal is to have a larger firm, you should work at one first to understand the management dynamics involved. It’s critical to know how to manage a team and the business side of things before you step out on your own. Ultimately, a small firm gives you the foundational skills to run your own business, but exposure to larger firms can offer valuable insights into scaling up and managing larger teams and projects.
03 Dear Future Architects ... jump to 14:44
Learn to speak the language of money.
Understanding financial modeling, forecasting, and project profitability is just as critical as knowing how to draft or design. Go beyond basic accounting—your career and your future firm will benefit.
Source:
https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/then-and-now-architectural-design-or-accounting/
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