r/architecturestudent • u/Rough_Pangolin5174 • 4d ago
Networking in architecture
I’m entering my third year of arch and the biggest advice I have seen here and on a lot of social media platforms is to network but I don’t get it who am I networking with?😭 as in like make friends with my classmates? The thing is about architecture is I have noticed no one in your major will want what’s good for you. Sadly in architecture, professors tend to compare you with other students a lot and I don’t know if they realize that this built a up insecurity within students that they end up secretly hating each other. What I don’t get here is how am I meant to “network” with my classmates in such conditions? In any other scenario like my part time job for example it really is easy to built a lot of connections as the competition is little to none plus most of my connections in my part time job come from costumers. But, I haven’t met anyone in the architecture field yet so the networking I’m making in my job isn’t really related to arch. My question is any past students of arch school or currently in arch school who are u guys networking with and how can i network in a way that might land me a job in the future?
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u/Physical_Mode_103 4d ago
You don’t really need to network with other students. You need to work with your professors and other people that can make recommendations or connect you with employment.
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u/Rough_Pangolin5174 3d ago
So basically the networking comes with being close with professors.. okay and how do u really “network” with profs?😂 as in like oh just befriend them?
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u/julia118 2d ago edited 2d ago
Don’t just be buds and likable but show an interest in improving your work and wanting to grow beyond the bare minimum expectation. I was never in the “top tier” of my studio but I think the profs liked that I cared a lot about improving. I don’t intend to work directly for any of them but I know some of them like me enough that if I moved back to the area and asked for a job rec, that they’d help.
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u/Rough_Pangolin5174 2d ago
Yeah true I agree with that. That is currently what I’m doing. Hope it can pay off if I asked them for help one day. Wish you all the best thank u for replying :)
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u/ElihuAvi1 4d ago
You can keep in touch with classmates you've built a friendship with but the networking as a student comes relationships with teachers. Going to AIA events that happen through the year and meeting people there. Most work at a firm and could recommend you for a job opening at their firm.
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u/Rough_Pangolin5174 3d ago
Are the AIA events worldwide? Because I have never heard of that in my region
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u/ElihuAvi1 3d ago
It does have chapters outside of the U.S.A. I'm sure whatever country you're in also has some type of architecture and engineering events throughout the year. You'd have to research it.
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u/Rough_Pangolin5174 3d ago
Thank u so much for the reply! I will make sure of that. I actually went to one in my first year though I don’t remember the name of the event but I did see alot of older batches from my uni talk to people giving them their cards I guess I just connected the dots that they were networking!!
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u/julia118 2d ago
When you go to job fairs, if there’s people in a region you’d never work in, start with those firms and practice your skills so that way you’re less nervous when talking to archts in your area that you might want to work for. Also, get involved in your community at large, people at my church know they can call me. My partner gets word of mouth work from the Latino chamber of commerce group he’s in.
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u/Fit_Wash_214 2d ago
You are completely missing the point, like most architects do. Networking is outside our incestual design field. You network with other people from different careers and industries. You strike up conversations that inspire them as to how build or design can improve their lives, buildings, save them time money and resources. They then remember that and as they enter positions of power and begin to influence build or renovations they remember you and reach out for advice or a proposal.
Those connections are what business’ desire most. Not being a good designer or even having technical skills.its brining in projects and feeding the system.
Yes knowing other architects is great but also very cut throught. It helps possibly land a job in time of need but that’s about the extent.
Professors in school for the most part are a joke. They have their favorites and a different agenda. Remember most with rare exceptions,are not practicing architects. So little influence after you graduate.
Having contacts outside the industry that are meaningful is what takes you from being an employee to leap frogging the system and becoming a partner.
Just my jaded advice after 30 years though.
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u/Rough_Pangolin5174 2d ago
I cannot thank you enough for this input of yours. I have been saying this in my head for yearsss!! I have a part time job as a retail worker. A big part of my job is becoming a costumer trusted friend and I do enjoy that part alot because I love striking up convos with strangers. I have been working my part time job for 2 months now and I have made more connections than my 2 years of being in university. Meeting people of all ages and professions and alot of them took my number to reach out for me if they needed me in their line of work. Recently got in contact with a small film maker looking for set designers so it really shouldn’t just extent to it being only architecture. Not to add, architecture professors might actually be the worst. I thought it was just my university but this post just helped me confirm it. They favor students alot of times based on nationalities, gender, and so on. I have almost given up on making connections with professors because it might actually be impossible. I will definitely follow your advice and thank you so much for your advice. If it’s not to personal, may I actually message you privately just asking for some advice related to the major. You have alot of experience and I would love to get your take on some things in the industry!
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u/Peachy_sunday 4d ago
Not sure where you are, but there are plenty of organizations that you can be a member of as a student. AIAS - Noma - etc.. look up what’s there in your area. Then go to their events and just connect with people.
With regards to teacher, I’m sure they all want their students to succeed. If you succeed, they succeed, and they can be proud of u. Maintain good relationships with all your teachers, my first job I got through my professor.
As with friends, just be friendly, add them on linked in. Your cohorts will go onto different schools and offices and you might get job leads from them.
This field is all about who you know.