Truths about big name companies

Working at a famous company does not always entail bells and whistles.

• long hours
• working on weekends
• you’ll lose some competitions
• smaller pay cheque

For those who have already settled, have a family and all, we don’t recommend this path. Rather, we need you to understand the considerations that go into this decision. We recommend this path to students and fresh graduates. If you still have the energy and have minimal expenses, consider taking this path.

You might be unsure about whether this is the right thing to do. To give you a full picture of what it actually looks like, here are some things you can safely expect from working at a famous company:

Internal

• Discover your potential
• You can work so much more than you have ever imagined
• Confidence to keep pushing at the face of bleak odds

External

• Instant validation that you have high level of design prowess and unique character -> Build credibility
• Instantly become influential
• People will listen to you more
• Ideas will become more convincing

I’m still the same person, advocating for same ideas, but they are more interesting once I have big names on my resume. I think there are good reasons why. Unlike STEM subjects where there are clear right answers and scores to evaluate people, architecture lacks much of the clear metrics. For non-professionals, good design is extremely subjective. Many would agree that there is no wrong answers in design too. So certificates and licenses act as proxies for one’s skill level. However, most of these licences can be obtained through time and a little bit of effort. Industry is overflowing with licensed and certified professionals. Once it became a common path that everyone takes, those metrics become virtually useless in distinguishing yourself as a designer.

Experience on the other hand, stays unique. There is a set number of people who can work at a renowned offices. And those offices, of course, has a world of candidate applying, and exercises highest of standards in selecting their candidates. As a result, having such experience becomes much stronger indicator of one’s success.