10 Success Tips for Young Architects

7/25/2019 10 Success Tips for Young Architects

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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
http://www.ls3p.com/


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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
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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
https://twitter.com/share?text=Have+you+seen+the+new+addition+to+the+Guggenheim%3F&via=businessofarch&related=businessofarch&url=http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/professional-development/10-success-tips-young-architects/https://twitter.com/share?text=Clients+aren%27t+impressed+by+your+ability+to+use+words+like+bifurcate+and+articulation&via=businessofarch&related=businessofarch&url=http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/professional-development/10-success-tips-young-architects/https://twitter.com/share?text=Have+you+seen+the+new+addition+to+the+Guggenheim%3F&via=businessofarch&related=businessofarch&url=http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/professional-development/10-success-tips-young-architects/https://twitter.com/share?text=Clients+aren%27t+impressed+by+your+ability+to+use+words+like+bifurcate+and+articulation&via=businessofarch&related=businessofarch&url=http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/professional-development/10-success-tips-young-architects/


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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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