Life After Graduating
During our architecture studies we are rarely exposed to what life is like after graduation. Recently, it has been brought to the spotlight how hard it is to find a job and even harder to find a job offer which meets the base standards of their employees. This week we are joined with a Westminster alumni who will be sharing what she has been doing now that she has graduated.
We would be open for other graduates to get in contact with us to share their experiences after graduating from their undergraduate degrees whether in the UK or abroad. This can be done through the details on our ‘Contact’ page.
My name is Saffron Lord, and I have just recently graduated from the University of Westminster, where I studied Architecture. I was also the President of the Westminster Architecture Society for the past academic year. You can find me on LinkedIn and my website is www.saffronlord.design
When you first start university, the end goal is to graduate, and it’s exciting thinking about the prospect of moving into the working world with your new skillset and deciding what path you want to take. However, it also can be extremely nerve-wracking, and it may seem like you don’t know what your next steps are. That is okay, and most people won’t. It’s important to remember that your mind can change, you can try new things, and you may not necessarily want to do what you thought you would when you first started university.
Graduating within a global pandemic made the process of graduating a bit more daunting. We had been on and off-campus for the last two years, but we and the world had mainly adjusted to the idea of remote working. Many hadn’t been able to obtain work experience to help secure a job, and many felt even more lost in what their next steps were. Without the process of actually graduating and celebrating together, it all felt like it came to a bit of an abrupt stop and felt for some like their university experience didn’t feel finished. This coupled with a difficult job market where it was harder than ever to land your first job. This did make me reconsider my options of what to do, maybe even more than usual.
I think it’s best to look for job applications throughout the year and not just wait until you finish university. Although it seems like another thing on the to-do list towards submissions and will seem like it's more time you don’t have, a lot more people will be searching once you finish. It’s great to build connections even when a job may not even be advertised. A genuine interest in the practice and what they do is a great start to landing your first job. Websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed and Reed are a great start, however, platforms such as The Architecture Social mean you can make meaningful connections with people and be the first to hear about jobs that may not be advertised on the big websites. It’s always worth contacting practices with your portfolio and cover letter even if a job isn’t advertised – you never know till you try!
I spent some time in my final year putting together a small prospective CV and portfolio so I had it ready to send out if anything came up and it wasn’t a mad rush when it did. It’s easy to put off thinking that your best work won’t be until the final hand in, however, this can always be updated once you finish. I highly recommend signing up for the RIBA mentioning programme, where I had a meeting with a practising architect at Sheppard Robson. He was happy to help review my portfolio and CV and give his advice, and it was insightful to get his point of view and what their practice would look for. If you do decide to apply, the next step may be an interview. The best thing you can do is be yourself! Research as much about the practice as you can, what their past and current projects are, what their core values are, and use this information when answering any questions. You will probably be nervous so try to practice answering questions from your friends and family. It’s also easy to be disheartened if you don’t hear back. Try and flip the perspective that they’re looking for the best fit for their practice, and if that’s not you, that’s okay, and the next opportunity may be even better!
I have worked throughout my time at university as a graphic and spatial designer and enjoyed it with some great opportunities coming up, so for me, I knew I wanted to go full time doing that whilst I decide my next steps. I felt pressure to jump into a Part 1 placement in preparation to study for my masters, but after three years of university and especially the intensity of studying architecture, it wasn’t what I wanted to do straight away. A lot of graduates feel burnt out after completing their degree, so sometimes it is nice to spend your time doing things you didn’t have time for throughout university, and to try some new things or learn some new skills. Sometimes you just need a brain refresh, and then you can go back in with a fresh mindset! I will still go on to continue my architectural studies, and I do believe the experience I’m gaining elsewhere at the moment will only help me.
If I could give any advice to anyone graduating, it would be that it’s very normal and okay to feel like you have no idea what you’re doing - it is a massive change! Don’t feel pressured to do what you think you should do just because you’re studying architecture. If you prepare your portfolio and CV throughout the year and stay involved with what connections and practices are up to you, you will be great at whatever you decide to do next. It is also a very early stage in your architectural career - you shouldn’t know everything and you’ll still have to try to figure things out.
Good luck to all the graduates for the upcoming year - your hard work will be so worth it!
We would like to thank Saffron for joining us on this blog post and sharing her journey so far after graduating. Her tips and recommendations have definitely opened a new door to the alternative of a Part 1 placement especially now that we are all currently 3rd year students ourselves.
Make sure to check out Saffron’s instagram page (@saffronlorddesign) and her LinkedIn to connect :)
See you guys next Friday where we will be speaking to another guest about her gap year before moving onto studying Architecture!
