What followed my college graduation was a straightforward answer: Get a job and focus on obtaining your license. I completed my degree in 2017, wrapping up a six-year journey with a master’s in architecture from the University of Idaho. During my final year, I worked at CSHQA in Boise, where the idea of obtaining my license was always on my mind. Thankfully, my work encouraged me to pursue licensure, making it possible for me to truly call myself an architect.
In October 2020, I completed my last exam — feeling a wave of relief, excitement and happiness after reading the “likely to pass” sentence. I had achieved my goal. The day was spent celebrating and relaxing. However, similar to the day after graduation, the next morning brought the recurring thought: Now what? This time, everything seemed like an endless list of potential paths. Should I stay here? What kind of architecture should I focus on? Do I have the necessary knowledge? If not, what else should I educate myself in?
Having held my license for about four years, I still feel I’m not where I want to be. Yet, I continue educating myself, growing my network, and asking questions.
I hope this article resonates with others facing similar questions. I am grateful to have interviewed Ian Hoffman, Laura Davidson and Jonathan Gallup — architects who generously shared their experiences, career paths and advice with me. Here are the top takeaways I found helpful.
Find a Mentor
It’s easy to make this number one; Jonathan, Ian and Laura all touched on the importance of having a mentor. In Jonathan’s case, his mentor came in the form of a family friend who wasn’t an architect but a structural engineer. Having someone in his corner to bounce ideas off and learn from has been valuable to Jonathan, specifically regarding the formation of his own company.
I have been able to gain a lot of knowledge from those around me, like the principals I work with and my colleagues. Being willing to ask questions and bounce design problems off others has not only made a large impact on my skills but also helped in growing my network and relationships with my mentors.
I don’t believe finding a mentor is something that needs to be forced. Be open to constructive criticism, ask questions and most importantly, listen, because whether it’s a mentor to help you grow your business acumen like in Jonathan’s case or simply finding a mentor that can be there to answer those pesky code questions, having someone you can lean on is important.
Be Genuine and Learn Continuously
It’s hard not to pretend like you know everything, especially when everyone sees you as the expert. If going through the path to licensure has taught me anything, it is that I don’t know everything, and school didn’t give me the answer to every question. Ian noted that you don’t have to be or act as the smartest in the room, but you can try to be the smartest person in the room. As architects, we are tasked with knowing a little about a lot. We must be knowledgeable and comfortable enough to talk to all our consultants and get our point across. Push yourself, ask the seemingly dumb question, because chances are not everyone in the room knows everything.
Be Open-Minded and Find What You Are Passionate About
Easier said than done, but aligning your work with what you are passionate about within or outside of architecture will further help you enjoy the work you do. Laura has always had a passion for sustainable design; after getting her license, her next step was to go after her LEED certification. She now brings her knowledge of sustainable design to all her projects. However, she did have some advice for those who do not know what type of projects they want to do or don’t have a passion that directly aligns with any typology: “Be open to different project types. The quickest way to determine if you like something or not is to do it.”
Showing Up Is Important
What you put in is what you get out. Ian mentioned that he would recommend anyone, newly licensed or not, to put yourself out there and join a larger network. Ian joined the AIA; however, he didn’t see himself getting much out of his membership without being engaged. As he puts it, “The AIA is the voice of our profession, and I wanted to be heard.” Not only has Ian been able to get the most out of his time with AIA, but he has been able to surround himself with individuals he admires.
Like Ian, I didn’t feel comfortable being on the sidelines, so I took a leap and put my name in to be the Young Architect Representative for the state of Idaho. Since then, I have been able to make connections across the country with some amazing architects. It has given me the opportunity to participate in seminars and discussions that have further motivated me to keep pushing my knowledge and skill as an architect.
Enjoy the Journey
An extra takeaway for all those who may not be done with the path to licensure is: Enjoy the long journey. At the end of the day, it will be worth it. Jonathan shared with me that he would tell his younger self not to rush getting to the finish line. It seems odd to think you don’t need to be at the finish line quickly, but he is right. Use this time as an opportunity to learn as much as possible. To those outside of our profession, we are seen as “experts” no matter how early in our career we are. Push yourself, learn as much as possible and most importantly, enjoy the process as with college or any other milestone. You will look back and see your growth.
We may all have the “what’s next” question, but I have learned after speaking with my colleagues that we are all after the same thing; to continue to learn, explore our interests and find the balance between our careers and our lives.
Jorge Basluto is the Young Architects representative for the state of Idaho, and he works as an Architect at CSHQA. He contributes his expertise on a diverse portfolio of projects across different market sectors. Applying his knowledge of design and expressing his creativity in visual graphics daily is what is most exciting to him.
