Where it's AT | the Architectural Technology Podcast from CIAT

Life After Uni: Bridging the Gap Between Architectural Technology Education and Industry

Host Chartered Architectural Technologist Róisín Ní Chatháin FCIAT welcomes Charlotte Omo-Edoh ACIAT Architectural Technologist and founder of Life After Uni: Architecture, to discuss the difficult transition from university to industry. Charlotte explains that despite graduating with a first-class degree, she felt qualified but unprepared for the workplace; citing gaps in technical knowledge (building regulations, standards), confidence (using her voice), and understanding career pathways like Chartership. She describes how gatekeeping often stems from limited access, visibility, and transparency, especially around others’ journeys and struggles. Through her LinkedIn presence, webinars, and events like architecture walking tours, Charlotte talks of building a community helping early-career professionals move from confusion to clarity, confidence, direction.

We're here too! Come and chat with us at CIAT. Our aspiration networks have been established to aid you make all those career transitions easier, through guidance and support.

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Róisín Ní Chatháin FCIAT

Róisín Ní Chatháin is a Partner at BPTW, where she oversees the delivery of large-scale residential, mixed-use and regeneration projects. With a strong technical grounding through her Architectural Technology background and a collaborative approach, she leads design and consultant teams across both pre- and post-planning stages. Róisín is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and was named Chartered Architectural Technologist of the Year at the AT Awards in 2020. She was also awarded Alumni of the Year by Edinburgh Napier University in 2021, recognising her dedication to the profession and her ongoing support for the next generation through mentoring and advocacy. Alongside her professional work, Róisín is passionate about giving back, undertaking many voluntary roles in the CIAT, such as industry representative on accreditation boards, position of judge at the AT Awards and guest lecturing across a number of universities to help advance the next generation, as well as including her role as an ambassador for the Diaspora and Emigrants Centre in her hometown of Galway, Ireland.

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Charlotte Omo-Edoh ACIAT

Charlotte Omo-Edoh is an Architectural Technologist, Founder of LAU:ARCH, Associate Member of Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), and a member of the Next Generation Board at Berkeley Group. A First Class Birmingham City University graduate with 7+ years of experience across engineering, architecture, construction and project management. She uses her platform through LAU:ARCH to support the next generation and is passionate about helping emerging professionals build confidence, gain practical skills, navigate clear pathways and aid them to become valuable and competent professionals within the built environment industry.

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00:00 Introduction

01:44 Why Life After Uni

04:31 Bridging the Gap Between Education & Practice

05:43 Confidence and Career Paths

07:27 Breaking Gatekeeping

09:42 Building Community

11:14 Questions and Fears

13:14 From Confusion to Clarity

15:40 What Unis and Employers Can Do

20:40 Vision and Next Steps

25:14 Final Takeaways

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A degree prepares you to pass - not to practise.

You might graduate with a first-class degree and still feel lost on day one in industry. University teaches you to meet academic criteria, but it doesn't equip you with all the practical knowledge you'll need — building regulations, design standards, working with real clients and budgets, or navigating the workplace itself. Recognising that gap early means you can actively seek out the knowledge and support you need rather than assuming your qualification is enough.

Confidence and community are just as important as technical skills.

One of the biggest obstacles you'll face in early career isn't what you know — it's finding your voice. Feeling too inexperienced to speak up in meetings, too afraid to ask "obvious" questions, or unsure whether you belong — these are near-universal experiences. Surrounding yourself with a community of peers who share the same struggles helps you realise you're not alone, builds your confidence, and gives you a safe space to ask the questions you'd otherwise keep to yourself.

The first one to three years after graduation are the most critical.

That transition period from education to practice is where direction, clarity, and confidence are either built or lost. Rather than waiting until you're in the thick of it, you should start preparing whilst still at university — engage with professional bodies like CIAT, attend workshops, work on your CV and portfolio, and explore the wider industry. The earlier you build those foundations, the smoother your path into practice will be.

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Want to learn more about Architectural Technology, how to progress your career, or how to work with a Chartered AT? Head to architecturaltechnology.com to find out more

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Podcast recorded and edited by: Jon Clayton [Podcasting]

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Disclaimer

The contents and views expressed by individuals in the Where it's AT podcast are their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of the companies they work for or the Host. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as advice.