Increasing numbers of architects say that personal connections are the best way to secure a job when starting out, a new survey from Reynaers at Home has found.
This year’s survey of architects saw 41% of respondents citing attending university as most useful for their first architectural job, compared to 48% of respondents in the previous Reynaers at Home survey in 2013.
However personal connections were cited by 28% of architects this year, opposed to just 14% in 2013. Work experience appears to have dropped slightly in importance, with only 23% of architects citing this as the most useful in securing their first architectural position, compared with 29% in 2013.
In Reynaers at Home’s latest national survey of industry trends, architects also cited eagerness, determination, design skills and talent as useful attributes to get their first job.
While an impressive 61% claim that they knew they wanted to be an architect from birth, the career choices for many initially started down entirely different paths.
Pilot and footballer were the most commonly shared dream by architects when they were children, followed by artist. Other professions that captured the imagination of UK architects included rock stars, park wardens, bin men, spies, professional surfers and even a knight.
Marketing Manager of Reynaers Rebecca Cope said: “The best way to get a job in architecture is from a university education, but our research shows that there are other key personality traits that may be required to get into architecture as a profession, such as a determination and strong self-belief.
“This year marks the 25th anniversary of Reynaers in the UK and we have a long history of education and training. We invest our time in a programme of university lectures throughout the year to help future architects and give them a taste of how we might be able to help with practical experience. The students we talk to can see how the theory works in practice and the programme helps to develop their understanding of contemporary window and door technology as they embark on their career in architecture.”
Reynaers at Home is a premium brand dedicated to offering the very best architectural glazing products and service to the discerning householder.
