Architecture - A LearningPath.org Guide

Architecture

The Career Wizard

• As an architect, what would my working conditions be like?

• Most architects work 40-hour weeks, although the BLS reports that, of every five architects, one worked at least 50 hours a week in 2008. There are times you might have to work nights or weekends. Although you'll mostly work in your office, sometimes you could have to go on site visits to project locations. In addition to designing projects and following through on their completion, part of your work might include meeting with clients or collaborating with related professionals.

• How does working at a firm compare to being a self-employed architect?

• If you become an architect at a large firm, you could work on projects as part of a team, although you might specialize in a particular aspect of the process. At a smaller firm, you might instead have to handle multiple tasks. Although there are benefits to being a self-employed architect, such as making your own hours, you could have many more responsibilities. In addition to your architect duties, you'll have management responsibilities like creating a business plan, hiring other employees, overseeing expenses and billing or obtaining insurance.

• What kind of skills will help me as an architect?

• Architects need to be effective visual communicators. You should be able to switch between working alone and independently throughout different phases of a project. Computer skills are essential because architects rely on computer aided design software to create most of their drawings. You'll also need math skills to help manage costs, address structural engineering concerns and determine what amount of force a building will need to withstand.