Hi! I'm a fresh graduate who started job hunting a few weeks ago. I currently have two offers on the table, one from a mid-sized (20-30 people) corporate firm with relatively large projects (mostly institutional), and one from a small firm (6 people) with smaller projects in commercial interiors and residential design (which is more interesting for me personally compared to the first firm's usual projects). I'm really torn between the two firms because after meeting with both bosses of each firm they seem like great mentors. However, I do have reservations for both sides. The corporate firm definitely has more structure but the projects don't interest me as much. The small firm offers a lot of hands-on experience in all the stages of design and construction but I'm afraid it might be too much too soon for a fresh grad like me.
I'm just trying to figure out which firm/experience would be better as a first stepping stone in the architectural field, knowing that in the long run I'd like to have my own practice. Should I go for structure, repute and stability or hands-on experience in a relatively young firm?
Hope I can hear your experiences with your first forays into the field! Thanks
Do you want to be an architect or a specialist? Do you want to work on many different aspects of a project, or do you want to wear multiple hats? What scale of a project do you want to work on? Do you need structure or are you more comfortable in more relaxed environment? Keep in mind that that there are exceptions to each rule, but these are some of the questions you must ask yourself before making such a decision.
First job, go for the small place. You will learn much more of what an "architect" does across the board. Big place as a young person you are likely to get stuck in either Concept or Production land and not cross over to the other nearly enough to become well-rounded.
You'll more than likely end up doing both. 6 of one and half dozen of the other as to where you start. Just make sure you fit the firm culture and that it is a good learning environment. There are pros and cons to either, but most of the red flags to look for are weird hours, difficult personalities, lack of organization and overall body of work (the longer the pipeline of projects the more stable the work).
There is a lot to learn at first anywhere and you'll begin to figure out what each firm is good at and poor at along the way. Once you stop seeing the benefits of being at one (stop learning) you can jump ship. Running an office is a lot of business side things that you'll see but that may come later on as you'll have to learn more of the day-to-day things at the beginning.
Just go for one that pays more money. A $10k difference at start of career can balloon to a point where you wonder why everyone is making twice as much as you 15 years from now.
If they can't pay you a living wage now, they never will be able to.
Both paths will lead to becoming a competent professional down the road.
Nov 7, 18 4:41 pm ·
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Small firm or corporate firm for the first job out of architecture school
Hi! I'm a fresh graduate who started job hunting a few weeks ago. I currently have two offers on the table, one from a mid-sized (20-30 people) corporate firm with relatively large projects (mostly institutional), and one from a small firm (6 people) with smaller projects in commercial interiors and residential design (which is more interesting for me personally compared to the first firm's usual projects). I'm really torn between the two firms because after meeting with both bosses of each firm they seem like great mentors. However, I do have reservations for both sides. The corporate firm definitely has more structure but the projects don't interest me as much. The small firm offers a lot of hands-on experience in all the stages of design and construction but I'm afraid it might be too much too soon for a fresh grad like me.
I'm just trying to figure out which firm/experience would be better as a first stepping stone in the architectural field, knowing that in the long run I'd like to have my own practice. Should I go for structure, repute and stability or hands-on experience in a relatively young firm?
Hope I can hear your experiences with your first forays into the field! Thanks
Do you want to be an architect or a specialist? Do you want to work on many different aspects of a project, or do you want to wear multiple hats? What scale of a project do you want to work on? Do you need structure or are you more comfortable in more relaxed environment? Keep in mind that that there are exceptions to each rule, but these are some of the questions you must ask yourself before making such a decision.
First job, go for the small place. You will learn much more of what an "architect" does across the board. Big place as a young person you are likely to get stuck in either Concept or Production land and not cross over to the other nearly enough to become well-rounded.
It's the first job, what is this talk of stability? You don't think you'd be the first to go when layoffs come?
You answered your own question already. Make a decision and live by it.
Go to a small firm with about 2 to 6 people. Get your license then move to big firm if you want.
You'll more than likely end up doing both. 6 of one and half dozen of the other as to where you start. Just make sure you fit the firm culture and that it is a good learning environment. There are pros and cons to either, but most of the red flags to look for are weird hours, difficult personalities, lack of organization and overall body of work (the longer the pipeline of projects the more stable the work).
There is a lot to learn at first anywhere and you'll begin to figure out what each firm is good at and poor at along the way. Once you stop seeing the benefits of being at one (stop learning) you can jump ship. Running an office is a lot of business side things that you'll see but that may come later on as you'll have to learn more of the day-to-day things at the beginning.
Just go for one that pays more money. A $10k difference at start of career can balloon to a point where you wonder why everyone is making twice as much as you 15 years from now.
If they can't pay you a living wage now, they never will be able to.
Both paths will lead to becoming a competent professional down the road.
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