What Architecture Firms Are Looking For in Young Employees

Millions of careers will start in the United States this summer. With one of the tightest labor markets in history though, it can be tough just to get a foot in the door with attractive companies.

The AEC industry is no different. With the economy doing well, opportunities are everywhere, but so is the competition.

“It’s a great time actually to come out of school. Everyone is still really, really busy. Finding a job isn’t as hard today as seven, eight, nine years ago,” Bob Borson, Principal Architect at Malone, Maxwell & Borson said. “The thing that makes me a little worried is it’s been really good for awhile now and the AEC industry as a whole goes through these cyclical kind of moments and we’re waiting for it to kind of turn down.”

Borson, who created the popular architecture-themed blog, Life of an Architect, has been in the architecture industry for decades now, but knows how important young architects’ first job is today.

“It’s important because it can dictate how your entire career might go,” he said.

This is not to say young architects should lock themselves into situations if they are not receiving the right opportunities though.

One way Borson advises those breaking into the industry to do is find a mentor in a role they envision themselves in one day.

“The thing that makes mentorship work, and this is important, is you have to reevaluate the decisions you’ve made. So, it suggests that that partnership has to be in place for a period of time,” he said.

Ultimately, sometimes landing that first job can come down to executing on the simplest of expectations, according to Borson.

“There are certain things we talk about that are kind of problem solving 101. If someone sends me a resume and they want a job and they address it to ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, you already failed the very first test which is to find out who you should address this to” he said. “It’s not a hard problem to solve.

When beginning a career, Borson also advises to measure the nature of the company and the relationships with senior teammates and clients. This can be unnerving for young workers but at some point, employers will expect genuine opinion and contribution when the time is right.

“If you’re in the room, if your employers have brought you into the space and put you at the table, they probably want you to feel comfortable to at least opening your mouth and saying something. Or they wouldn’t bring you,” he said.

To watch Borson’s entire interview on MarketScale Mornings, click here! For the latest in AEC news, head to our industry page! You can also follow us on Twitter at @AECMKSL. Join the conversation in our Market Leaders LinkedIn group!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

authentic connections
True Religion Sets the Bar for Legacy Brands Seeking Cultural Relevance and Authentic Connections
November 1, 2024

A striking 86% of consumers now prioritize authenticity when choosing which brands to support, emphasizing the value of transparency, authentic connections, and relevance in today’s market. True Religion, remains true to its roots in culture, sports, and music, through authentic partnerships and a modern approach to style. Leading this transformation, Chief Marketing Officer Kristen…

Read More
sustainable transformation
The Path to Sustainable Transformation Is Rooted in Strategy, Execution and Reflection
November 1, 2024

Many strive for change, yet achieving and sustaining it is a complex journey. As people chase higher goals, often in career, personal growth, or relationships, the need to reevaluate approaches to sustainable transformation becomes apparent. Research suggests that nearly 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by mid-February, indicating a need for sustainable systems, not…

Read More
cloud-based solutions
C3 Cloud-Based Solutions Delivers Real-Time Transparency, Driver Coordination, and Simulation Tools for a Resilient Supply Chain
October 31, 2024

The logistics industry faces constant challenges as the need for efficient, cloud-based solutions intensifies. Many warehouses continue to operate manually; up to 53% of employee time is spent on non-value-adding tasks like walking and searching for items, according to industry studies. This manual approach not only hampers efficiency but leads to significant delays, errors,…

Read More
personalized solutions
Personalized Solutions Through Data Are the Future of Aligning Healthcare Staff Needs with Patient Outcomes
October 31, 2024

The healthcare industry faces unprecedented challenges, with workforce shortages pushing hospital labor costs to over 60% of total expenses. This strain is compounded by rising burnout rates among healthcare providers, particularly nurses. A recent AMN Healthcare survey revealed that nurses are prioritizing well-being and flexibility in 2024, underscoring the urgent need for personalized solutions…

Read More