Switching from Architecture to Tech Career - I Quit My Dream Job

Have you ever considered switching from architecture to tech career? I recently quit my dream job and made a big leap in my career transition from being a licensed architect at Gensler to joining a tech startup.

In today’s video, I share with you how I explored different architecture career options, the 3 main reasons I chose an alternative career, and the internal struggles I went through to change jobs. This video also guides you through 3 questions you should ask yourself before you make a career change in your architecture career path to transition into tech.

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CHAPTERS:
0:00​ I quit my dream job
1:05 Leaving Your Dream Job
2:25 Reason #1: Right Time to Take Risk
5:39 Reason #2: I Trust My Instinct
8:48 Reason #3: I’m More Than an Architect
11:32 3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Quitting
12:12 Question #1 - Are you frustrated with your job or architecture?
14:43 Question #2 - Are you able to take risks?
16:30 Question #3 - What are your priorities?
17:49 Do the Right Thing at the Right Time
19:26 Making the Leap into Alternative Careers

CONNECT WITH ME:

WHO AM I:
🙋🏻‍♀️ I'm Joann, a licensed architect turned marketer in tech. I talk about architecture, career, and personal branding.

[JoannLui]

Have you ever considered switching from architecture to tech?

[Mover-n-Shaker]

I switched to a tech job after 6 years of architectural work with a master degree in architecture. My second master was CIS. However, 10 years working up to a senior system engineer's title, I hit the bottle neck. There were younger newcomers with CS degrees who could do better and faster than I do. I had a midlife crises. I quit my tech job and went back to architecture. I had a chance to lead a design studio in Shanghai when the building boom was going on many years ago. When that job dried out in 2016, I was back in the States. Now I am self-employed working in the design field doing residential only and making much more than I used to make. My advise to everyone out there is that architecture values experience. The older you get, the more reward you receive. The tech field is the opposite. You get outdated very quickly.

[luisacavalcanti]

I'm an architect and I was very unhappy in my career. so I did the same as you. Moved to tech career. Good Luck 🤞

[Iamexalted]

Architecture is very very demanding field. Working 80hrs/week becomes the new normal. This can not be living.

[richardsstuff]

you are inspiring, thanks for the amazing video, currently I'm transitioning from architecture into becoming UX/UI designer, thanks for the inspiring words!

[davidpachecogarcia]

Architecture is extremley prone to cult like mentality and def thrives on being a "lifestyle."
That is not what i want out of a career.
Architecture is a "safe" choice and good backup plan because the industry is extremely slow.

If things don't work out nothing will have changed in the field.
Good on your for taking the risk.
My biggest hurdle was getting past "i wasted 6 years getting 2 degrees in something i don't want to do anymore." The education you get in architecture is one of the most flexible and has deg opened so many doors vs other degrees.

[valeriacerpasalas]

Hi Joann, I can relate to your story. I pivoted from Architecture to Software engineering in Peru. Here, career changes and pivots are still not so common and the advice I received from some college advisors was that I had to study again college if I want a software engineering career. Hopefully, the pandemic had changed many people's opinions regarding that and now we have virtual study options as well as self-taught. Now, I am a trainee in a swe role which makes me so happy every day. My conclusion and I loved you mentioned this, is important to always believe in our instincts. We have that instincts and opinions because we have done research on that, we have listened to testimonies and we have seen the pathway regarding that decision to pivot. In that case, we have valid arguments to pivot and make a career change. I would like to advise people to not fear that. Life is way more beautiful and better when you find passion and joy in your work, you have lots of projects and ideas to do and you find balance in life. I would call that.. you are in one of your best versions. Thanks for sharing your experience. I followed you on Insta, and wish you many successes in your career.

[andeidan]

I have given up my 3D Archviz job in order to switch to start my jewellery business, I felt that this the best choice for me, since I still wanted to use my 3D software skills, enjoy much more freedom than a 9 to 5 job and still be able to pull a good income.
Sadly, I think many of us will have to make this choice before architects will be valued once more.

[harshgangwani]

I am so glad I just searched for videos on this transition and I was nervous that I might not find much, but then I saw your video and omg this is so much relatable to each line.. that is what has been going inside my head. I don't know how and where I might land but this video is definitely helpful. Also, I would really like to connect with more such people and talk this out more. Thank you 😊

[hekikoka]

By the time you quit you realised it it wasn’t really a dream job. It was once a dream job. An architecture degree won’t make you rich. An architecture “business” will though. Like any business you might have the personality and talent for business or you might not.

[alanohashi]

I am in my 70's and recently retired from a firm I started forty years ago. Very successful designing primarily high end custom single family homes. Using a combination of mostly paid online advertising and inexpensive social media projects came to us. Created a succession plan where key employees are now taking the firm over. Now I am hoping to coach others about how to achieve these results. The big takeaways for me are to learn how to delegate, and what to look for when hiring employees. It is very important that you know when to step aside and give work you would normally do, to someone talented in the firm, and that whomever you hire has good design sense and taste. Architecture is the meeting of art and business, and you can't do art if you don't get paid.

[jiajunliu]

Great video! I'm at the moment now where I feel like I'm not growing at all, doing the same repetitive thing over and over. Having many thoughts besides architecture... About to quit my job in 2 week and follow my instinct to see where it land.

[StevenJMillerOfficial]

Well done! There is nothing better than doing what you really, really want to do.

[essaalmahmoud]

Bruh why as soon as I started my Architecture degree these videos started popping up :(

[Firebulous]

i just moved to another country again and I'm really thinking of shifting to a new career.. I've been an architect for years and I'm not happy with this field but I know I'm good at it, and seeing this video is like a sign for me.

[gs]

Im a Junior Architect....yet i'm not happy in my career...thinking of switching the career in tech/IT.

[mehnaz]

Thank you for making this video. I am thinking to change my career to Cyber Security. Done with architecture. One/two year more, then I will leave architecture for good 🙏

[abhilashpanda]

I am an architecture student i now feel like quitting architecture right now. And switch to tech career right away and also ux UI design, and block chain

[jamiestephens]

So much great and helpful advice here—even for those not considering transitioning! Looking forward to seeing all you are able to do with Monograph! Excited to follow your journey. Best of luck! ☀️

[mariabeatrize]

I'm a graduate of Architecture and I am on the verge of transitioning to tech hopefully I will be better this time next year.