With career fair season around the corner, college students and soon-to-be graduates are working toward the next steps in their career path. As a fresh out of college graduate, there have been some adjustments as I have transitioned to the architecture and interior design industry. I wanted to share my perspective on key differences I have noticed between college and career and offer guidance in easing the transition between the two. Although my background focuses on the interior design field, there are takeaways that can be applied to any discipline in the A/E/C industry.

Theoretical Vs. Actual Projects

One of the biggest differences in my transition is the idea that our projects are designed with the end goal of a physical final product. Many times, throughout my college curriculum, we were given a program that our designs needed to fulfill, which is very similar to projects at Dewberry. However, we were never tasked with talking to clients to create this program. Establishing relationships with clients is a key factor in the success of our projects. By taking the time to understand the client’s needs, our designs can have a much higher impact on the end user.

Collaboration with Interdisciplinary Teams

During my final semester of college, we were tasked with working with an interdisciplinary team of designers. I wish that I had more opportunities for classes like this, as it is such an important aspect of our jobs. There isn’t a sole person who is working on a project, it’s a collaborative team of architects, interior designers, engineers, marketing, and other skilled professionals. By working together as an interdisciplinary team, projects can achieve a successful final product. There are opportunities for multiple perspectives to come to the table during meetings and explore the best solutions. Additionally, having the experiences from other disciplines can ease concerns when focusing on areas that may not be in your specific wheelhouse.

When I look back, I wish I would have taken the initiative to consider how some of my projects would have been built from a construction standpoint. This would have prepared me more for the work done in the industry.” Trevor Kliever

Technical Drawings

Another area that required more effort in honing my abilities was the completion of construction document sets. In my program, there was a large focus on the rendering and visual impact of our designs. While this may be important for communicating the intent of our designs, it does little when trying to build the design. Like previously mentioned, our end goal is to provide a physical product to our clients; and in order to do that, we need a well-developed set of construction documents that inform the contractor how our design is going to be constructed. When I look back, I wish I would have taken the initiative to consider how some of my projects would have been built from a construction standpoint. This would have prepared me more for the work done in the industry.

Connections within the Industry

In addition to connections within the office, it’s important to connect with other individuals within your industry. Particularly within the field of interior design, connecting with product representatives is a huge asset, as they can help point you in the right direction in the search for a product with specific qualities. Another opportunity to build connections is within professional organizations connected to your discipline area. By participating in these organizations, you can meet other individuals within your field who have the same interests. LinkedIn is a very good way to start building those connections with other individuals within the industry and school. Connect with your classmates and you’ll be amazed at the directions you each head in as you become part of the workforce.

Work-Life Balance

Another challenge was finding balance between my work and social life. As a college student, we are encouraged to focus a good portion of our time on our work. This often extended into the evenings in order to ensure that the item presented was completed to the best of my ability. However, that focus resulted in less personal time. It was a weird experience the first few times I came home from work and realized that I had the rest of the evening to myself. However, I’m now at the point where I enjoy having the balance between a work and a social life. I’ve been able to catch up on hobbies and events with friends that I had put to the side while working on my degrees. I strongly encourage setting good boundaries early on in order to commit to a healthy balance between work and personal time.