Architecture BA (Hons) student Stephen Krumins shares his experience of a placement year with Thrive Architecture
What motivated you to pursue an optional placement year?
To get a running head start in the industry as well as create a network of friends and connections that would help me once I graduated.
Can you describe the process of applying for placement roles?
I originally struggled to find a placement, I attended a few open events at the university where some employers showed interest but it was mostly unsuccessful. I then started emailing and calling prospective employers within a commutable distance, with my CV and Portfolio, luckily one lead responded with an interest in my technical design work, I then adapted my CV+PF to show the best of my technical detailing, along with a confident smile + can-do attitude, I interviewed and was successfully chosen to join the team!
What were your main concerns or uncertainties about taking a placement year, and how did you address them?
It's scary starting anywhere for the first time, but that doesn’t change with age or experience. That was the first hurdle to overcome, I used techniques such as Box Breathing in my first few days whenever I found myself overwhelmed, nervous or scared.
My biggest struggle/fear was being able to support my family whilst on a placement year, although the placement is paid, It meant leaving my previous job where I had security/Friends/Rapport and diving into an unknown, new environment. The mantra I would repeat to myself whenever faced with this decision was “Nothing worth having comes easy”
My other struggles/concerns were based around the commute to and from work, due to this, one of the first things I did before accepting my job offer was to carefully plan the logistics of getting to and from the office. Once this was figured out it all became a lot easier and a lot of my worries subsided, all I had to do was follow the plan.
For this I implement the mnemonic of “the 6P’s”: Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.
What tips would you give to students about balancing placement applications with university studies?
Personally, I found it quite hard to keep myself motivated to keep searching for a placement during my studies. When there isn’t a deadline or someone pushing you or reminding you to do something, it's easy to let these things fall by the wayside until they are too late, especially if you have an ongoing project that takes priority. To combat this, I would set an alarm on my phone for 2100 each night. Then when the alarm would go off, I would force myself to invest 30-60 minutes searching online, emailing prospective employers or finding employment events to attend.
How did you adjust to a new workplace environment, and what resources or support helped you during this transition?
I am a very active person. At my previous jobs, I worked on building sites where I was constantly busy or moving. For this reason, I really struggled at first adapting to an office environment where I was expected to sit at a desk all day.
To help with this I implemented little strategies or techniques such as getting up and moving around every hour or so, listening to a podcast in one headphone, taking myself on small walks during my lunch etc.
What challenges have you faced during your placement, and how have you overcome them?
I am the sole provider for my family, (my father, my partner and my daughter, who is about to turn 3.) Finding a balance between work/family time has been a huge struggle. I often miss putting my daughter to bed in the evenings due to commute times. For this reason, I ensure that my weekends remain open and free so that I can spend quality time with my family.
Fortunately, the company I work for has been very helpful in accommodating when I need to take a day off for a preschool visit or work from home when my daughter has been ill.
What has been the most rewarding part of your placement so far, and why?
Being at the forefront of the design/technical team for a huge development project in Hampshire, it has been in planning for years and has become a well-known project within the South Coast construction industry. I found myself technically detailing/modelling some of the key features for this project before the designs were handed over to the construction teams, within a couple of years I will be able to take my family through this grand development and point to certain features and say “I designed that” or “I suggested that change” which is the most rewarding experience to date.
Has your placement experience influenced your perspective on your chosen career path or field of study?
It has opened my eyes to the reality of industry and standard operating procedures within an architecture practice, it has cleared up a lot of the naivety I had when first coming into the industry, originally I wanted to rush off and start my own practice, the placement has given me a respect for how much overhead work goes into such a venture. It hasn’t deterred me, but given me a realistic understanding of what is required and the years of experience that go into it before taking the leap.
Would you recommend the placement program to other students? If so, what advice would you give them?
Yes, absolutely. Whilst university is great and they will do everything they can to prepare you for life in industry, sometimes you just have to take the leap and experience the real thing.
It's a very different experience from the regular uni term semester, having to get up early in the mornings and consistently show up and perform at the best of your abilities, but in return, you receive on-the-job experience and training, new friends and colleagues to help network yourself in future.
My skills/knowledge within architecture shot way up and improved 10x when I first started, yes there is a bit of a learning curve but nobody expects you to know it all on a placement, having an open mind and readiness to learn helps a lot though!
The main advice I'd give is: PROFESSIONALISM + CONSISTENCY.
Whilst on a placement, you are not only representing the university but also your future self. This industry is very close-knit. Your reputation follows you around, so be sure to shake off any bad habits you may have and show up with a smile on your face and an enthusiastic attitude to each workday. In 10 years when your CV comes across a prospective employer's desk that you may have worked with in the past, would you rather they remember the -can do anything, cheerful, enthusiastic- version of you or the unenthusiastic, negative, half asleep version of you?
Consistency, is a huge one for me, as it's easy to perform at a good level and slowly let it slip as you become comfortable, Your potential employer is much more likely to trust the person who is consistently professional, on-time, enthusiastic and engaged rather than the person who interviewed well and put on a good show for a few weeks before hitting the handbrake on their professionalism, timekeeping and attitude.
My last bit of advice would be confidence; it's hard to say “Just be Confident” but reflect on all the things you have achieved and use this as Fuel, understand that you have earned your place to be there, nobody expects you to know everything, so also have the confidence to be wrong/make mistakes. It’s a learning process, not a race. Have confidence in yourself and your current abilities and try your best! Self-confidence will appear with time and experience.