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out of school out of work

mugged

As you can tell I am a recent graduate. I graduated this past may with a b.s. in architecture. I had a few internships during school and I was fortunate enough to graduate with a full time job at a small architecture firm.

Unfortunately I was laid off after 3 1/2 months as some jobs fell through and the firm pretty much went under. I think now its just 2 people. I have been unemployed since august, and have been applying to pretty much any architecture job I can find.

Since then, with having only one interview, I have decided that I am just going to go back to graduate school. I wanted to wait another year, but now seems to be the best time to be in school.

My issue is that Im finding it hard to stay motivated. Im motivated to go to grad school and in putting my portfolio together (although not always). Without the demanding school deadlines, or office deadlines I find it hard to just sit and work without being distracted and disconnected from what Im working on, such as my portfolio or projects that need to be edited for my portfolio. It can be frustrating at times when I cant stay concentrated.

Im curious as to how other people are dealing with lack of motivation and concentration, assuming this is an issue with others, or just what people who are out of school and work are doing with their time? I need to find a way to keep my concentration and not let every little thing distract me.

thanks every, and sorry for the length.

 
Nov 6, 09 10:18 pm
z.g.a.

I set daily goals, get up and stretch every couple of hours, take breaks, and listen to good music.

Where are you applying?

Nov 6, 09 10:41 pm  · 
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mugged

Im applying to umich, uc, rice, syracuse, possibly upenn because I really like philly, and maybe some other schools. Those first four are definite and I will probably apply to 2 more, just haven't narrowed down my list yet.

Yeah I have no problem doing things around the house, I wake up at normal times, Im able to workout and lift weights daily, I just have trouble focusing on the architecture work I need to get done for some reason, which has never really happened before.

Normally I have been a very focused and driven person, and in school I was typically up till all hours of the night working on the many ideas I had, and worked efficiently.

I always love good music maybe I'll trying working with that in the background.

Thanks for your input zga

Nov 6, 09 11:59 pm  · 
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hey zeus

i sent out 400 resumes in 3 days, yes it was NYC but 400 in 3 days, job, boom done....

look man this profession is a profession, you don't become a lawyer or doctor by just being smart and getting by, you have to bust your ass to get there...

with that said, you could bail and change careers or do grad school, etc... but if you just happened to land a job now, which is a stretch i know, when the market turned around you would dominate as long as you were aware of the market turning around (don't stay same pay rate, quite and move)

now if you go grad school work an angle - law, technical, designy (don't do that everyone thinks they are designy)....

then move back into the market.

on the bus out of NYC on a LED billboard (trying to get one of those thru now, more complicated than a building) it said

"Recession 101:

Bill Gates started Microsoft in a recession."

buy low, sale high.

Nov 7, 09 1:09 am  · 
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rethinkit

and SOM started in the great depression - like metababbe says, you gotta bust your ass - every week is finals week if you want to get a job. Architecture is like the Navy Seals - you just have to take the pain or drown.

Nov 7, 09 5:51 pm  · 
 · 
archinous

metababble

400 resumes are great to hear!!

Did you land a JOB yet?
Did you send them by email or snail mail?
They would cost coupole of handreads $ if you print out and post.
I am really interested in hearing your successful story if you want to share. Thanks.

Nov 9, 09 11:20 pm  · 
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Larchinect

I finally landed a job after graduating in May as well.

I like to think I was the top of my class, if not top 10 percentile or so of new graduates nationwide. Not trying to toot my own horn much, but I busted my ass in school and as you did, worked in design offices along the way for experience.

I left/was laid off from my last job at a small office around April last spring.

My third wave of 50 or so emails just this past month finally earned me a job. Ironically, I found the posting on craigslist. Tomorrow is day two.

Nov 10, 09 12:05 am  · 
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Larchinect

By the way, 400 emails or post cards or whatever sounds absurd to me, regardless of the city.

Nov 10, 09 12:06 am  · 
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Cherith Cutestory

I'm wondering if people are getting any success with just sending resumes to offices that are not advertising for positions but that you might just be interested in working for? I've sent out my fair share to both announced jobs and to random offices and so far a few interviews for posted jobs but nothing from the random office.

Nov 10, 09 12:31 am  · 
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Distant Unicorn

I sent hella resumes out in NM. I didn't get even a "you're a loser... go play with yourself while sobbing into a 40oz."

Other than that, I don't even bother with the unsolicited emails, letters or job applications.

But I have had zero success getting a "real" job... so my advice is worth roses that smell like poo-poo.

Nov 10, 09 12:46 am  · 
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sgnielsen

Get rid of your couch and TV. It's worked wonders for me.

Nov 15, 09 7:47 pm  · 
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binary

i sold my tv 5 years ago and probably the best thing i have done to NOT GET LAZY....

Nov 15, 09 8:06 pm  · 
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Larchinect

whats a tv?

Nov 15, 09 11:52 pm  · 
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Distant Unicorn

It's that thing that Hulu does but with more advertisements about cars, car accident attorneys, auto insurance and booze ads.

Nov 16, 09 12:15 am  · 
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niro

i can't concentrate w/o tv, music & media center web tv all on at the same time!

Nov 16, 09 12:30 am  · 
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niro

oh and playing hold'em online

Nov 16, 09 12:31 am  · 
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2scale

mugged, some things I did while I was trying to get my portfolio together were
1) wake up, get ready, leave the house and go work at a cafe with free wi-fi.
2) set a deadline for yourself. ask to meet up with a former supervisor or professor to review your portfolio on that day - do this in advance. this makes you accountable to stick with your set deadline.
3) disable any social networking accounts for a while. you don't have time to procrastinate on facebook. in general, limit computer time to doing actual work or you will easily waste hours clicking link after link.
4) take up a physical activity like yoga or running to help manage the stress; it makes you focus better when you actually get down to work.

Nov 16, 09 12:28 pm  · 
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NWA

This threas is great, I am in a similar situation to mugged and have found these posts useful for motivation. Dont stop now! Motivate!

Nov 18, 09 3:32 am  · 
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