Being an Architect - Test 1

B2 First · Multiple Matching · Cambridge B2 First 4, Cambridge University Press

You are going to read an article written by an architect about his work. For questions 1–10, choose from the sections (A-D). The sections may be chosen more than once.

After I graduated, I took the first job I was offered. I felt torn at the time because although I was really happy to have found a job right out of school when so many others could not, I hated retail design and this was a firm specialising in retail stores. It was a small company (I was the first employee hired) and because it did work around the country, my boss travelled quite a bit. Almost from day one, I was left on my own for several days a week and through necessity, I was taking meetings with local clients and giving presentations without help. It wasn't too much later that I started helping with the billing and managing some of the proposal writing duties. I got to do it all. When I left the job, I remember going into an interview with a larger firm and telling them that I had all this experience. The person interviewing me chuckled and said, 'You won't be doing that here straightaway – that's what the senior employees do.'

I now run my own small company. Because we're not so big, we really need everyone in the office to be superstars. It can be a difficult environment for some types of people to work in because we expect everyone to work on their own initiative. We need our employees to make the most of the resources available to them, including asking questions of others on their team, looking at past projects and using the lessons learned to find possible ways forward. We give our staff plenty of time and space to do their own thing. They need to be clever enough to arrange and make use of this time and space wisely.

Everybody in our office is part of a team. Normally, we have two or three people working on a project, and everybody has access to the same people and information. Individuals tend to roll on and off projects as and when needed. There is always a senior level person who remains on a project throughout the entire process and is the point of contact, but we let people find their own roles on projects and pursue the things that interest them. We all get along pretty well and any issues with behaviour get dealt with as they arise between the individuals concerned. The people who work for me really are the company's most important asset. Sure, we could replace them with others, but it would be very hard to find the right balance of skills that we currently have.

I often get asked if architecture is a field for everyone. It's a difficult question to answer. What I look for in potential new employees is their ability to speak articulately. This is essential. Since we require all employees to meet with clients, they need to be able to construct a narrative that can engage our clients and which they can relate to. I look for the same characteristics in all employees, regardless of gender, nationality, age, whatever. I think it takes a certain type of brain to practise architecture but that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone can't find a place. While most people don't go into architectural school thinking that they are going to be anything other than the world's next great designer, the truth of the matter is that it takes a small army of people from diverse backgrounds to take on some of the buildings being constructed these days.

Being an architect

employees being trusted to organise themselves in the way they think is best?

how problems among employees are resolved?

the range of people needed for some architectural projects?

being told that he would have fewer responsibilities in a new position?

the limited control higher-ranking people have over what employees do?

seeking help from colleagues?

having mixed feelings about his work?

a requirement for the performance of all employees to be exceptional?

the value of employees to his business?

having to demonstrate independence straightaway in a new post?

In which section does the architect mention

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