What Next For Architecture Graduates

Written by Marcus Fearon MSc - Director at View Architecture - October 2010Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/VueArchitectureMy Experience: With nearly half of the the country's architects either out of a job or underemployed, now might not seem the ideal time to be in the industry, however the chief executive of the RIBA, Harry Rich, has warned the next generation of practitioners to be creative during the recession or suffer the consequences:"The profession as a whole needs to learn to do things differently. I believe architecture is an industry in transition at the moment.The less imaginative people are standing around moaning about how unfair the situation is, how hard it is to get a job or make a profit on work – which is true and very sad – but the creative people are somehow still successful in getting out there, finding ways to add value for their clients and taking architecture into new and different places."Admittedly its a tough stance and there will be many that say Harrys comments are abit Rich (No pun intended!) but I think he has a point, do something or do nothing you have a choice.I'm from a working class background and I did not have the financial support to go to university,  and I was lucky enough to gain a scholarship from the Stephen Lawrence Trust who were instrumental in providing support, financial and otherwise which allowed me to complete my undergraduate degree and I'll always be grateful that they invested in me. During this time I was extremely passionate about becoming an architect and I believed that architecture was a dynamic tool for pulling people together to create environments for performance. It's the job of the architect to design social spaces where we encounter one another as we journey through the moments of life, good architecture allows people to experience what it is to be human and during this time it was my future desire to design dynamic social spaces that enhanced the performance of us as human beings.Unfortunately the differences between working in university studios and the world of work were poles apart and it made me question my decision to study architecture and I spent too much time on the negatives and I forgot why I started the process of becoming an architect in the first place. So fast forward a few years, a Masters Degree, and several years of working in Architectural and Building Surveying firms leading upto the recession and to the current day, it was a long learning experience of doing different roles but when I was honest with myself I had forgotten my initial passion of why I enrolled for the architecture course, and it was to make a positive difference in the built environment, I acknowledge that its a difficult goal in the current environment, but I'd rather work to achieve something I'm passionate about rather than accept the second and third choice jobs which I have done and can see now it was an unhappy compromise.Like many of my peers the challenges facing us our huge, the industry isn't ideal and there are less jobs for a growing amount of us being churned out architecture schools across the country but I made a decision to focus on what I have and what I can control instead of worrying about what I haven't got and what I can't control.Moving Forward:Maintaining activities which prompt development inside and outside of architecture is key, for example on behalf of Cancer Research UK I produced a free environmental audit which analysed the CO2 use in the HQ in London and suggested methods of saving money and reducing overall CO2 emissions and energy costs which have been successfully implemented. This year in the face of the recession I wanted to achieve a big goal to develop my confidence so I ran the Barcelona, London and Berlin Marathons this was a huge commitment time wise but the discipline I've gained has been priceless. I think its important to work in creative areas adjacent to architecture for example I've had my art work displayed in several galleries such as the Bernie Grant Centre and sold numerous paintings.So I'm still on a journey but I've had to be a little creative and inventive with my current and developing skill set which lead me to setup my own company View-Architecture www.view-architecture.co.uk specialising in residential work. I don't go into this venture lightly but I'm determined to achieve my initial goal, based on the theory if the opportunity may be difficult to come by create it yourself.For more advice about what architect students are doing next follow the link for the architecture centre: http://architecturecentre.net/docs/debate/projects/?What+Next+For+Architecture+Graduates?/0:1392:0Advice from the Royal Institute of British Architects:Part 1 student still studying• in agreement with your school, consider changing from full time to part time mode; although deferring the point at which you qualify, this will offer a chance to subsidise your studies and gain professional experience (or other transferable skills)Part 1 student about to embark on first year out of practical experience• if work is scarce or slow to materialise, agree with your school to defer the first year out and carry straight on to part 2• consider working in another construction discipline (e.g. engineering); this may still count towards your practical experience, and offer insights not necessarily available in an architects' practice• look for site work with a contractor; the insights into the practical implementation of construction will be invaluable, and may also be logged on the PEDR• look into work based learning part 2 courses where employment in practice is integral to the academic pathway (e.g. Cambridge University, the University of Cardiff, Sheffield Hallam University, and pilot schemes at the universities of Kingston and Westminster)• consider a brief career sabbatical, and assemble some other, transferable skills in a different discipline or occupation; do not take for granted the really important abilities you develop as a result of studying architecturePart 2 student still studying• augment your income with part time teaching in local evening classes on architecture and design; there is demand for these subjects and where there isn't, make your local authority a proposal, and feed back what you have already learnt in university• if you have well developed skills in 3D visualisation, advertise your services; you can operate in all territories where work is happening, and develop a new network of practice contacts• if you can identify specialist skills that relate to the CPD core curriculum, contact your local provider's network and ask if you can make a paid contribution• working with friends, undertake open competitions to develop your design skills; do not underestimate your capacity to win - and publicise your talent1Part 2 student about to embark on second year out of practical experience• if work is scarce or slow to materialise, learn another world language (e.g. Spanish) to increase the number of countries you may be able to find work in• if work is scarce or slow to materialise, enrol on a specialist Masters' course both to upskill yourself for when the work returns, and distinguish your CV from other applicants to practices• consider working in another construction discipline (e.g. engineering); this may still count towards your practical experience, and offer insights not necessarily available in an architects' practice• look for site work with a contractor; the insights into the practical implementation of construction will be invaluable, and may also be logged on the PEDR• work overseas where payment may be in kind for accommodation and subsistence, but where the work experience may still be eligible for the PEDR• use alumni contacts from your university to increase your networking, and possible job opportunities• enlarge your network of contacts (and possible job opportunities) by getting involved in non-architectural activities• undertake funded research bids, and offer your successful tender bids to universities who may consider you for a paid research fellowship• defer taking part 3 until you are absolutely confident your practical experience has given you the breadth and depth of experience to succeed in the examination; it is demoralising to take the exam and not succeed because your case study is based either on inappropriate material - or insufficient evidence• consider a brief career sabbatical, and assemble some other, transferable skills in a different discipline or occupation; do not take for granted the really important abilities you develop as a result of studying architecture