As some of you already know, I graduated from University in September 2015 with my Masters degree in Architecture. I had technically finished all my university modules by February 2015 but the University does not allow you to apply for the March 2015 Graduation. This meant that I had to wait till the September 2015 ceremony which was good. As it meant that on paper it looked as though I had gotten a job straight after I graduated. The one problem I faced in Perth (Western Australia) was that every architecture firm was looking to hire people with experience but no one was willing to give a fresh graduate a chance. My first jobs were not exactly architecture related. I worked as a model maker and a bartender for a brief period after finishing my units prior to landing my first architectural job.
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Model made whilst I was working as a model maker. |
During the middle of 2016, the architecture industry in Western Australia started slowing down and a lot of Architectural firms started making staff redundant. Naturally, graduates were the first to be made redundant. Unfortunately for me, I was one of those graduates.
As a Graduate Architect with only two years of experience going back to job hunting was not as bad as when I first started. Looking back in hindsight, I am kind of glad that it happened at the time that it did.A few weeks into being "funemployed", I had to put my dog down. It would have been a very difficult period. I like to believe that everything happens for a reason.
Three weeks after being made redundant, I landed my second Graduate Architect job. This current firm specialises in education and religious architecture which is something I had no experience with. They are also involved with a lot of government work so the drawing setup is different to what I was used too. I am currently on a three month probation period and the pay is slightly lower than my last job. So far it has been an interesting learning curve and I will update you on my progress over the next few months.
Below is my 5 year timeline from when I graduated. From my experience, everything that I've planned to do since I've graduated has not gone the way that I had wanted it to go. I have learnt to take things as they come and solve problems one step at a time and that it is okay to change your plans if you circumstances change.
Last but not least I leave you with a quote and an introduction to the other archi-bloggers posts below.
This post is part of the ArchiTalks series in which Bob Borson of Life of an Architect selects a theme and a group of architects from all over the world post on the same day and promote each other’s blogs. This month’s theme is Then & Now. I chose to talk about what I wanted to do after graduation versus what actually happened, the twists and turns my journey has taken and the plan for 2020.
Bob Borson - Life of An Architect (@bobborson)
http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/then-and-now-architectural-design-or-accounting/
Matthew Stanfield - FiELD9: architecture (@FiELD9arch)
Where It All Went Right
Marica McKeel - Studio MM (@ArchitectMM)
From Then to Now...Residential Architect
Jeff Echols - Architect Of The Internet (@Jeff_Echols)
Well, How Did I Get Here
Mark R. LePage - EntreArchitect (@EntreArchitect)
The Biggest Surprise of My Life as an Architect
Lora Teagarden - L² Design, LLC (@L2DesignLLC)
Then & Now...and the middle
Nicholas Renard - Renard Architecture (@dig-arch)
15 Years of Architecture
Jeremiah Russell, AIA - ROGUE Architecture (@rogue_architect)
then and now: #architalks
Eric T. Faulkner - Rock Talk (@wishingrockhome)
Then-Now: A Schematic Story
Stephen Ramos - BUILDINGS ARE COOL (@sramos_BAC)
Big Ass Buildings
brady ernst - Soapbox Architect (@bradyernstAIA)
Pens & Fizzy Drinks: Or How to Set Measurable Career Goals
Brian Paletz - The Emerging Architect (@bpaletz)
How did I get here?
Emily Grandstaff-Rice - Emily Grandstaff-Rice FAIA (@egrfaia)
Being the light in darkness
Jarod Hall - di'velept (@divelept)
The Joys of Being an Architect
Anthony Richardson - That Architecture Student (@thatarchstudent)
Then and Now
Kyu Young Kim - Palo Alto Design Studio (@sokokyu)
Career Path: Follow Your Heart
Jim Mehaffey - Yeoman Architect (@jamesmehaffey)
The Reluctant Code Guru
Tim Ung - Journey of an Architect (@timothy_ung)
10 Lessons Learned from a Young Architect
Mark Stephens - Mark Stephens Architects (@architectmark)
#Architalks 22 - Then and now
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