Today’s volume of PGTA[L]K is something that’s going to be important for many families and students of architecture alike for the foreseeable future. We all know what has happened in our world and how hard it is to find any job – not even talking about architecture for the purpose of the point. I myself didn’t find a position for six months after I had graduated with a MARCH and some (roughly a year) experience. It started to become a competition between my architecture friends and myself as to how many ‘Packages’ – cover letter, resume and worksamples – we sent out to prospective employers. My last tally of packages sent was approximately 185 and that’s not even included the non-architecture positions. And the funny thing about it is that I never got a position from those ‘packages’. I imagine when I got that ill-fated ‘we will file your resume’ spiel in an e-mail or letter, my ‘package’ just got thrown in the garbage.
I gave you a little of my back-story, parents, because to be quite honest with you, this is going to probably be one of the hardest times for you and your Architecture Kid (affectionately called ‘AK’ from here on out). It’s just you and him/her now out here trying to find a job. And I include you because it takes a heart and soul-less parent to leave their kid in peril when they can help. Whether they are 3 or 30, they’re your kid. #justsaying. But A&B, what can I do to help?! I don’t know any architecture firms, architects, or even an engineer. Well dumb dumb, you’ve taken a pretty good step in the right direction by reading this. Kudos. But Kudos aren’t good enough in a world Snickers and Kit-Kats. You have to step it up.
With this volume, I’m going to paint the most likely scenario as if I were Bob Ross and this was The Joy of Painting (sidenote: If you haven’t watched this show early on a Saturday or Sunday morning, you didn’t have a childhood/life worth living. Get on that.) and then give you a couple bullet points to focus on while helping paint your AK’s life.
Scenario: You AK will not/doesn’t have an architecture position coming out of school:
1. Suggest a professional degree (if applicable) aka Take your butt back to School
So your AK just graduated (finally) from undergrad and they don’t know what to do. My response as a parent would be ‘Go back to school dumb dumb’. In all honesty, this is the best time to get all your schooling out of the way. If you’re AK doesn’t have a professional degree (B. Arch ß Undergrad or M. Arch ß Graduate), they mind as well do it while they are still in the school mindset. You will probably come across the response of ‘I’m tired of school’ or some derivative of this and the best counter for this is ‘find a job in __X__ days/weeks/moths’ and fine. If not, take your butt back to school.’
2. NCARB & GBCI
Don’t know what that is? Shame on you! What are you doing right now? Get on Google and find out what that is. That’s right. This is interactive. Do it. I’ll wait ……
Getting licensed is the hardest part of architecture but the good news is that NCARB is making the process a little bit easier for those who do not have employment. It used to be the rule that you had to have your ‘experience units’ completed, roughly 3 yrs, before you could take the test(s). Luckily that is not the case anymore. Your AK most likely study and take the tests before they finish their experience. I’m not exact on the requirements for every state because they vary but go here and figure it out.
We also know how important Green Design has become in this day and age and guess what? Your AK has the keys to another way into a position. Granted, they cannot become a LEED AP so easily anymore but they can become a LEED Green Associate. If they don’t have a job, they need to get this. There’s some studying and a test that comes with it but to be totally honest, it sets you apart from other candidates. It shows an investment into one’s self without incentive. Make them do it.
3. Support them
I’m not going to say much here because most of it was outlined in Vol.1. But what I will say is ‘It’s a recession baby!” I’m sure your AK doesn’t want to sleep in the same bed in the same room in the same house they were in when they were 13. Believe me, if your AK has any ambition in his/her body, they want out of your house and your weird rules, annoyances and requirements because we love you. We just can’t love you as much when we live together. So I say stay on ‘em about finding work but cut ‘em some slack every once in a while. You probably have no idea ALL the stresses that are going on with them – and you never will.
4. Get out there for them
This should probably be number one because this post is about YOU parents. YOU need to be your AK’s biggest cheerleader – constantly touting your AK’s talents, capabilities and uniqueness. Everyone is looking for the next big thing and you need to talk someone into thinking that’s your kid. Let’s be real here – you’re generation (babyboomers, golden agers, Donald Trumpp and the like) still runs the world and aren’t very willing to hand over the reins to anyone else. The younger generation has a very hard time breaking into your circles. It would be a lot easier if we had a guide to guide us and let us know how to act, who to talk to, what to say and ultimately the way your generation works. What does that do? It allows us to be more comfortable with what will probably be our work environment – babyboomers and golden agers.
You also need to be sure that you don’t over-exaggerate your AK’s capabilities. Know exactly what they can do and what they are working on because as you already know. It’s a bad look if you’re AK gets the position and cannot do the work. It’s an even worse reflection of you and your honesty. But anywho, put that cheerleader outfit on (real or imagined) and tell people how awesome your AK is.
5. Five month break
This isn’t for everyone because of the monetary part attached to it but my family did this for me and I really appreciated it. After roughly 5 months of looking for a job and not finding anything, my family just gave me some money to take a short and cheap getaway. I only went a couple hours away for a weekend but the fact that they wanted me to have a break and realized all the blood, sweat and literal tears I put into getting a job really meant something. If your AK is putting in the work, whether they are successful or not, let them know that hard work of any kind deserves a reward. Maybe it’s not a getaway but something would be much better than nothing. Take ‘em to dinner and just tell them that you see how hard they are working and want them to know that something will come. That made me smile just typing that.
So loyal followers, any other suggestions for PGTA[L]K or did I cover everything?
Thomas Bowman Out.
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