All around the country, new architecture school graduates are rolling up their sleeves to start their professional journey with their first “this time it counts” job. Some will be excited for this moment, some will be optimistically cautious, and then there are those who realize that this is the beginning of the end and the longest holiday they will take for the next 30 years is two weeks maximum. Andrew and I thought we could help these people ease into this phase of their lives with insightful and relevant information that could profoundly impact the trajectory of their entire lives. Welcome to EP 152: Tips for Starting a New Job.
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Today we are talking about first jobs and some tips that might make this transition a bit easier and potentially, more fruitful. With each year, new graduates have all sorts of weird variables that make their launch point experience unique, or at the very least, not as predictable as the previous year’s graduates.
Our First Days jump to 1:52
Bob – My first day on the job, or at least some combination of the first few days involved moving my new employer out of the closet in his house where he had been working into a new temporary office. Buying slab doors to use as drafting boards and shadowing him to a handful of in-person meetings that were taking place. I was 24 years old and he was 34 years old. After one meeting – it was maybe 4:00 in the afternoon and he looks at me (as he is pulling into the parking lot of a liquor store) and asks me if I would like a beer. I thought to myself … “Is this a test?” Maybe he saw the bit of confusion on my face and said “I’m getting one” so I just said, “I’ll have whatever you’re having” He came back a few minutes later with two 40 ounce beers in brown paper bags. We were coming out of a recession and jobs weren’t that readily available and I’m 100% confident that the timing of all this went out to shape my opinions on work/life balance.
Andrew – The first week or so of my first job in an architecture firm was overwhelming in some ways. Since I had just graduated with my Master’s Degree, I felt I had a solid grasp of the profession. It would become clear to me in that first week that I was not as educated as I believed. While I do not remember the specific timeline, I know in the first few days my boss came to me and basically handed me a project. It was a small renovation to a commercial project where the client needed to provide a new code-compliant stair to the second floor of their business. I was handed this task and then left to complete it. I was almost dumbfounded because I did not know the technical aspects of this task. Of course, I could design the stair to work, be the correct required width, have proper rise/run, and all of those basic elements, but I was also tasked with creating the construction drawings, assemblies, and details required to construct and bid out this work. Essentially it was a small set of construction documents. That was a definite eye-opening experience within my first few weeks on the job. In the end, I was able to complete the task and produce the drawings, but it was a steep learning curve and I definitely felt as if I had been thrown into the deep end. Of course looking back now it was a pretty shallow end of the architectural knowledge pool, but at the time it was like an ocean.
Instagram Poll jump to 9:26
I find it an interesting process to turn to Instagram whenever I would like to find out if my opinion or experience varies from that of other people (you would expect there to be a bit of variance as well as similarities …) . The question above were posted, with the goal to see what advice people found of value, what sort of advice would they offer up if there were to provide it, and a few questions regarding firm size tossed in to see if people had a strong opinion about where you should start your new job journey. The result were a little surprising because on the poll suggested that small and medium size firms were ideal for starting a new job, but they also suggested that a firm that worked on many different typologies was preferred. My experience is that the smaller the firm, the fewer the typologies – but clearly there is a disconnect here.
Best Tip for People starting their first job
The answer listed above represent about 50% of the respondents, but I didn’t want to keep adding comments that seemed to already be represented in the answers above. I found it interesting that there are answers in here that are in direct conflict with other answers – this might require some additional digging to find out what experiences shaped the sort of responses we received.
Best Advice You Ever Received when Starting out?
As far as best advice goes, there are some good nuggets of wisdom in here. I wrote a piece titled “The Best advice I ever Received” back in March 2011 and I still think my contribution to this collection of advice still works.
“Do what you say you’re going to do, when you say you’re going to do it”
Get the Mindset Right jump to 19:03
Part of starting any new job has to do with your attitude – which can sometimes reflect any number of things that are unique to you. Maybe you are moving to a new city, maybe this is the first real job you’ve had, what kind of bills do you need to pay, maybe there is a recession going on, jobs are scarce … or maybe they’re plentiful. All of these things will play a role as well as help set your state of mind heading into the office on that first day. I went looking for some inspirational quotes that might be specific to someone starting out at a new job and came up with a few worth consideration.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” – Plato
“Don’t follow your passion, follow your talent. Determine what you are good at (early), and commit to becoming great at it.” – Scott Galloway
“Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.” – George S. Patton
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.” – Steve Jobs
So we have two posts on the website that are peripherally associated with this topic. 2 years ago, Andrew wrote “15 Tips for Young Architecture Professionals” and not only is it a good list, there are some items from that post that are in some way or another represented on the list we are about to dive into. Andrew broke his into topics like “Speaking & Listening”, “Expectations are Critical”, “Learning on the Job”, and Persistence is Valuable”. The items covered in that post are not centric to you starting off your career but are worthwhile to revisit from time to time and you migrate through your career.
I wrote a post 11 years ago titled “Tips for being an Architect and a Regular Person” and there are 43 golden nuggets of, let’s be honest, Fatherly wisdom like “Never park directly in front of the bar”, “Always use the word “we” when talking about your work” and “Reasons and Excuses sound a lot alike”. It’s totally worth reading, I reread it before I recorded today’s podcast and enjoyed reading even though I’m the one who wrote it.
Actual Tips jump to 22:44
Part of starting any new job has to do with your attitude – which can sometimes reflect any number of things that are unique to you. Maybe you are moving to a new city, maybe this is the first real job you’ve had, what kind of bills do you need to pay, maybe there is a recession going on, jobs are scarce … or maybe they’re plentiful. All of these things will play a role as well as help set your state of mind heading into the office on that first day
Tip: Understand the Firm’s Culture jump to 22:58
WDTM (why does this matter)? I decided to lead off with this one because this is actually a huge one. Understanding a firm’s culture means getting a grasp of the underlying values, behaviors, and social norms that characterize the working environment. It can range from something as minor as dress code and as serious as the decision-making process. The ones I feel are most important are:
Leadership Style:
Pay attention to how leaders and managers behave. Are they approachable and supportive, or more distant and authoritative? How do they handle conflicts and challenges?
Values and Ethics:
Identify the core values that the firm promotes. This could be sustainability, innovation, client satisfaction, or teamwork. How are these values reflected in day-to-day operations?
Feedback and Recognition:
Notice how feedback is given and how achievements are recognized. Is there a formal performance review process? Are accomplishments celebrated publicly?
Learning and Development:
Understand the opportunities for professional growth. Does the firm invest in employee development through training, workshops, or mentorship programs?
Tip: Be Proactive jump to 28:17
WDTM? Show enthusiasm and a willingness to take on new tasks. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek clarification when needed.
Seek Out New Responsibilities:
Volunteer for tasks or projects, even if they are outside your immediate job description. Show your willingness to take on challenges and learn from them.
Ask Questions:
Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you’re unsure about something. This shows that you are engaged and want to understand your tasks thoroughly.
Show Initiative:
Identify areas for improvement within your tasks or the firm’s processes and suggest solutions. This demonstrates that you are thinking ahead and looking for ways to add value.
Be Curious:
Take an interest in different aspects of the firm and the projects you’re working on. Understand the broader context of your role and how it fits into the company’s goals.
Ask for Feedback:
Regularly seek feedback from your supervisors and colleagues. Use this feedback to improve your performance and understand what you’re doing well and where you can grow.
Take Ownership:
Be responsible for your work and its outcomes. If you encounter problems, try to find solutions rather than waiting for someone else to address them.
Tip: Manage Your Time Effectively jump to 35:04
WDTM? Managing your time effectively means organizing and planning how to divide your time among various tasks to maximize productivity and ensure that you meet deadlines. There are a lot of different ways to go about this and depending on your own strengths and weaknesses, some make more sense than others.
Prioritize Tasks:
Identify the most important and urgent tasks. Use a prioritization method like the Eisenhower Matrix, which categorizes tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important.
Create a Schedule:
Develop a daily or weekly schedule that outlines your tasks and allocates specific time slots for each. Use digital calendars or planners to keep track of deadlines and meetings.
Set Goals and Milestones:
Break down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks. Set clear, achievable goals and milestones to track your progress and stay motivated.
Avoid Multitasking:
Focus on one task at a time to ensure quality work and avoid errors. Multitasking can lead to decreased productivity and increased stress.
Limit Distractions:
Identify and minimize distractions in your workspace. This could mean turning off notifications, setting specific times to check emails, or creating a quiet work environment.
Tip: Seek Feedback and Act on It jump to 42:34
WDTM? Regularly seek feedback from your supervisors and peers. Use constructive criticism to improve your skills and performance.
Ask for Feedback Regularly:
Don’t wait for formal performance reviews. Seek feedback from your supervisor and colleagues on a regular basis. This can be after completing a project, during one-on-one meetings, or informally through casual conversations.
Be Specific:
When asking for feedback, be specific about the areas you want feedback on. For example, you might ask, “Can you provide feedback on my recent presentation?” or “How can I improve my project management skills?”
Listen Actively:
Pay close attention to the feedback you receive. Avoid interrupting or becoming defensive. Show that you value the feedback by acknowledging the points made.
Ask Clarifying Questions:
If you don’t understand the feedback or need more details, ask clarifying questions. For example, “Can you give me an example of what you mean?” or “How would you suggest I approach this differently?”
Take Notes:
Write down the feedback to help you remember and reflect on it later. This also shows that you are taking the feedback seriously.
Reflect on the Feedback:
Take time to reflect on the feedback you receive. Consider how it aligns with your own perceptions of your performance and identify specific areas for improvement.
Implement Changes:
Put your action plan into practice. Make a conscious effort to incorporate the feedback into your daily work. This might involve changing your approach to certain tasks, seeking additional training, or adjusting your communication style.
Seek Ongoing Support:
If needed, ask for additional support or resources to help you improve. This could include training sessions, mentorship, or access to new tools and technologies.
Follow Up:
After some time has passed, follow up with the person who gave you feedback to discuss your progress. Ask for further feedback to see if they’ve noticed improvement and if there are additional areas to work on.
What’s the Rank jump to 52:37
Andrew and I have not done a “What’s the Rank” question for awhile and today’s might not be that difficult to answer, but I know that I had a good time working through the reasons why someone either made my list or not.
Not including your face or crotch, what are the three worst places to get punched? The person punching you is an athletic teenager of your same gender.
| #3 | #2 | #1 | |
| Andrew’s Worst Places to Get Punched | Kidney’s | Gut | Throat |
| Bob’s Worst Places to Get Punched | Ear | Kidney’s | Throat |
You might be part of the population that believes that ears are a part of the face – and obviously I disagree (which is why it made my list …). My argument for including it here is if I said “You have some food on your face”, 1,000 times out of 1,000 times you would NOT touch your ears.
Ep 152: Starting a New Job
Among the few things we did not talk about, but I always consider, is that people fall into two distinct camps when starting a new job. Some are genuinely excited for this process and then some experience some anxiety or unease at the idea of starting something new and unknown. I have typically fallen into the group of “excited”, mostly because I am a genuinely positive person and think things will go better than anticipated. While I know this is not always the case, I think your mental attitude goes a long way to establishing the results you hope to achieve. With any new job, there are some things that by simply paying attention, you can position yourself to experience success. I always advocate that you are better served by playing an active role in shaping your career rather then hoping that things work out. Opportunities are presented to you on a silver platter (although this does happen).
Listen, pay attention, and be active – amazing things are more likely to happen.
Cheers,
