New season, new job!

Hi Internet!

My university broke up for summer 3 weeks ago, my brother finishes his GCSEs on Monday, and this can only mean that summer has officially arrived! For some people, summer is the opportunity to relax, and for others, it's a time to experience something new - in my case, a new job.

Doing architecture at uni, experience is emphasized greatly. Seeing how the business works and getting to know people is invaluable when finishing a degree. I had never done work experience before, unlike some other people on my course, and was really eager to get some before finishing my degree. In the current 'employment market' there are a lot of jobs out there, but not as many jobs as there are people, and this scared me a lot when putting myself out there in front of companies for possible rejection.

Since I wasn't sure how to go about applying for a job in the field, I'm hoping that by reading my story, it will reassure people who are in the same situation!

Employment background...

My first job was at my local pub almost 4 years ago, where I still do the occasional shift. I wasn't totally immersed in looking for a job at the time, but we drove past, and they had a sign outside, so my parents pushed me to take the opportunity. If I hadn't done that, I don't know how I would've began working. For 2 summers, whilst working at the pub, I also worked at the college I went to, so it was familiar territory. Starting work at 16 gave me the opportunity to build up references on my CV, and also gave me so much confidence!  

How did I go about applying?

I started applying to LOADS of architect firms around my area by emailing a normal CV, and found this wasn't working. I wanted to know why, so whilst loosing hope, I tried the employment and CV help at uni. This is where I found the power of a cover letter and an 'architecture CV'. I also got access to jobs advertised on the uni website, which seemed a lot less daunting than applying to those not advertised and e-mailing them out of the blue. 

The interview...

Bearing in mind I must have sent out my CV to 20 companies, I heard back from 1, with the chance to go to an interview at their office. I rang them straight away to accept this offer, despite having an operation a week earlier where my face was still a bit swollen! 

When I arrived at the interview, there were 6 other people to be interviewed at the same time, 5 of them graduating this summer with their Part 1 from Portsmouth, and one being a 5th year. Being the youngest made it slightly more daunting, but I think it's the confidence, and just being chatty that somehow worked. 

The questions they asked were picked out from my CV, where they picked out things to 'grill' me on, and I also showed them a collection of my work, like a 'mini portfolio' I brought in on an iPad. I made this up of 1st and 2nd year work, the narrative being how my skills have developed and how willing I am to try out new software (the company used Vectorworks, and I'd always worked on Revit). I got the chance to see the 3rd years' portfolios, and it was basically a smaller version of what we hand in at the end of the year, lacking a narrative. Even if nothing came out of the interview though, I got the chance to experience an interview at a firm, and also see portfolios from other students, so I could develop myself.

First day...

They let me know whether I was successful or not the morning after the interview, receiving an email, and then an official letter the day later.

Prior to my first day, I didn't feel like I needed to prepare myself, but just come with a notepad and pen ready to learn! I didn't however receive an email stating a time I had to show up on Monday, so I e-mailed and got a very swift response, showing I was eager to start!

I was introduced to everyone as soon as I arrived on Monday morning, and was sat in the middle of the office, where everyone was really friendly. I had the chance to talk to everyone as well, making it easier to integrate myself into the office, finding out I wasn't the only new one, 2 people having joined in the 2 weeks before me. 

2 weeks in...

I feel like I'm learning so much already. I've got the hang of Vectorworks by using Youtube tutorials and asking people questions in the office, and have worked on two residential projects doing fire strategies, finishes and bathroom tiling layouts. Even though it doesn't sound interesting, if I'm going to learn all of these things, I might as well learn them at the beginning of my career!

I'm working at this firm until the end of summer, getting in a solid 12 weeks of experience whilst getting paid. Though I was in a sea of doubt 6 months ago, waiting and persistence paid off, and finally I'm beginning my career.

If I can find a job a year away from graduating from my Part 1, there really is hope for anyone. Any opportunity that rises is worth something, it may take you half way around the world, or you may meet a person who plays an important part in your life. 

and this is mine!

Thanks for reading :)

Reading Resolution

READING RESOLUTION

Hi Internet!

Going into 2014, I felt as if I needed to improve myself. How? I didn't know how to answer that question a couple of weeks ago.

Now, I think I realize it's about avoiding free time, free time allowing my mind to wander into a negative place. I have tried to limit my wandering mind through reading, and having started with a good book, my experience is so far positive.

I thought I would share these books; if anyone's going through a moment of doubt with how to use their time to a more beneficial cause, this could be one way to do it! (and a good excuse to huddle under a blanket with hot chocolate...)

The first book I picked up was Divergent by Veronica Roth. I had heard about the movie coming out ( April 4th) and wanted to get my hands on the book before I start imagining the actors instead of the character descriptions! Though I'm only a fifth of the way through, I think this is far enough to determine how much I like the book. The first couple of chapters definitely set the scene, and as the reader, we are made to understand the situation the protagonist. 

I have a friend who really doesn't like this book series, but she read it to the end to find out what happens to the characters. Unsure what all the hype was about if she didn't enjoy it, I figured I would like the make my own opinion of it. I like easy reading, books that get me hooked quick. This is definitely one of them.

(And it was on buy one get one half price in WHSmiths!)

The second book I bought was the first in the Game of Thrones series, by George R.R. Martin. Both this book and Divergent were on the buy-one-get-one-half-price offer, and thought I'd give it a try. I've been captured by the TV Series, and am highly anticipating the new season in April! I thought this book might help subside my excitement, but it wasn't until I got it home when I realized how long the book is (and how TINY the text is too) ... it might take me a while to get through this one.

Now a really easy read, Lauren Conrad's Sugar & Spice, the third in her 5-part L.A. Candy series. I bought the other two preceding books around the time when they first came out 5 years ago, however I put off buying this because it was originally £13, and though I'm sure this wasn't the price on Amazon, I could never justify it. However, after seeing this in Poundland (it will be featured in my Poundland Haul with lots of other good finds), I snapped it up.

I feel like the age it's aimed at is probably similar to The Hills TV Series, although the style of writing is very basic. Therefore nearing 20 years old, I feel like I will grow out of the series soon, and want to read it before I become disinterested.

I'm no avid reader, but I thought buying some books might get me excited about reading again. Also when the covers are nice, they act as decoration on my bed-side table, which is an added bonus. Hopefully it won't take me too long to read all of these books, but I'm sure I will enjoy them. I started on a positive note, making me even more enthusiastic to accomplish this goal.

Happy Wednesday!

Roll In The New Year!

2014 HAS ARRIVED

Everyone seems so surprised as to where 2013 went, but to be honest, I'm just shocked at how fast Christmas flew by. We've had 3 weeks off of university for a 'break', and the last weekend has come too quickly. Not that I needed the break, but for the fact that I had so much work to do (and pub work to go to), that today has been the first day where I have stayed in and actually started to feel relaxed... and maybe a bit bored, but there's always something to do!

My Christmas was spent at the pub working, but everyone's festive and having a good time, so it doesn't really feel like work. Our family don't really celebrate on Christmas day, but instead of Christmas eve. Having lived in Norway for 8 years, we discovered this tradition and have carried it on the past 4 Christmases we have been back in the UK. I have more recently found out that this tradition is common in a lot more countries than I thought, but I assume this is due to different religions around the world. 

Then New Years Eve hit, and I spent it with my family, not having spent much time with them over Christmas. We watched Now You See Me, a really interesting movie which I managed to stay awake through the whole film (very rare!!), played some Wii, watched the fireworks and ate lots! 

As we said goodbye to 2013, I was looking back over the past year, and then into the future, and thinking 'I'm only going to be a teenager for another 6 months!'. The teenage years really seem to me, the best time of anyone's life. 

They're where you figure out who you want (or don't want) to be. 

They either build you up or tear you down. 

If anything I feel like I will come out with a strong sense of being. 

One of my friends posted online the other day, 'I feel like I'm finally in control of my decisions,' and if anything, that's not only what I want to get out of 2014, but also out of being a teenager. I'm not much of a resolution maker, but that seems like the next step!

Making decisions isn't difficult for me, I just like to know what decisions I'm going to be brought up against, so I can prepare for them. So in a way I don't like decisions... contradicting myself completely!

So much for profound rambling, I just want to make more of an effort in certain parts of my life, like keeping in contact with people, or knowing what I want, or even restraining myself sometimes. 

AND keeping up with this blog.

Using it as an out-let though, (both creative, educational and personal) might be the best way to decide what 2014 will bring!

Thanks for listening to my life!