Posted June 8, 2020 | by Lora Teagarden | in architecture, blog

Advice for Architecture Graduates

The 2020 Architecture graduates, and many others finishing their school years, graduated into a weird time. The architecture profession, and the AIA, has been working on resources and encouragements, including videos with Advice for Architecture Graduates. Check below for my video and some lessons learned through my journey. Good luck with your next chapter!

Note: For other advice as you navigate your career, check out the #ArchiTalks series. A past post that might specifically be helpful is “Dear Future Architects”.

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A post shared by Lora Teagarden (@l2designllc) on May 22, 2020 at 6:38am PDT

Hi everyone – Lora Teagarden here. I just wanted to take a minute to say congrats to the 2020 Architecture grads! It may feel lackluster graduating into a pandemic, but I want to remind you how important this milestone in your career is. We’re proud of you.

As you’ve seen notes from others, you may have noticed a trend: recessions. Changing economies, changing priorities, and yes – even pandemics – have an effect on our profession, just as they do many others. But I personally believe in each of you and your ability to find your path in this time because you are some of the most resilient young minds entering the working world. Use your understanding of technology, your mastery of different virtual social networks, and your desire to change the world to help us do just that.

Hostess, contractor admin, designer, business owner. Those were all of the jobs I took before actually landing within the architecture field when I graduated into a recession. Whether you’re going directly from school to a job, are still on the search, or taking time to figure out where you want to be – soak in the lessons of world around you. If you take a job that’s in an adjacent field, or even if it’s in a café, pay attention and use the lessons you learn and the connections you make to help you design your next move. After all, design is what we do.

So stay strong, reach out to us, find a mentor, keep in touch with friends, and go for it. The AIA, and I personally, am eager to welcome you to the profession and work alongside you. Good luck.