How to become An Architect

• Architectural Designer
• Architectural Project Manager
• Architectural Superintendent
• Building Architect
• Building Consultant
• Commercial Green Building Designer

What do Architects do?

An Architect would typically need to:

• Plan and design contextual and sustainable buildings and play a key role in their construction
• Develop the concepts for structures, such as homes, schools, libraries, stadiums, malls, and commercial buildings
• Meet with clients to discuss the ideas, objectives, requirements, and budget of a project and in some cases help to select a site
• Provide various pre-design services, such as feasibility and environmental impact studies, site selection, cost analysis, and design requirements
• Prepare structure specifications per state and local building codes, zoning laws, fire regulations, and other government ordinances
• Prepare scaled drawings with computer software and by hand in addition to designing the surrounding landscape and spaces
• Direct workers who prepare drawings and documents and prepare contract documents for building contractors
• Manage construction contracts and visit worksites to ensure construction adheres to architectural plans while remaining safe, functional and economical
• Assess the impact on the local environment and deal with challenges that might arise while working on the project
• Configure spaces so they have a strong inside/outside connection, if design of outdoor space is part of the job description
• Collaborate with civil engineers, urban and regional planners, interior designers, and landscape architects
• Design new buildings, extensions, and alterations to existing structures while offering advice on the restoration and conservation of old properties
• Help clients get construction bids, select contractors, and negotiate construction contracts
• Seek new work by marketing and giving presentations

Most of the work is office-based, although some time is spent visiting clients and sites. Overnight absence from home is rare.

Architects usually work from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. You may have to work late evenings or over weekends when necessary. Overtime may not always be paid. There are a few opportunities for part-time work.

Research suggests that flexible hours and generous telework policies appeal more than salary to the younger generation. There has been an incremental increase in the number of employers willing to give promising employees the chance to adjust their schedules as per the demands of the job.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Architects can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. You may also choose to freelance or be self-employed.

Architects are generally employed by:

• Private Architect Practices
• Large Construction Companies
• Consultancies
• Public Sector Bodies
• Large Organizations with Substantial Property Portfolios
• Teaching & Research Institutions

Professional associations and organisations such as The International Union of Architects (UIA), are crucial for an Architect interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Finding and winning over new clients while keeping the firm financially sustainable
• Being heard in an industry that often values high speed and low cost over design quality
• Battling the negative stereotypes of elitism, ego, and creative martyrdom
• Spending time to find the perfect material to match the design while also taking the time to rest, relax and recuperate
• Bridging the generation gap in Architecture by keeping up with ever-changing hardware and software
• Grappling with contemporary political issues that affect the economy and architectural trends
• Appropriate safety equipment, such as protective boots, and headgear to be worn on site

Summer internships, part-time work at an entry-level position, or short-term paid/voluntary work offer you a taste of the career, give you valuable insight into how a company or institution operates, help build useful contacts, and improve your prospects of getting a permanent job. 

The experience may also help you determine whether the public, private, or voluntary sector is best suited to realise your ambitions. Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable opportunities for work placements, internships and voluntary work in diverse sectors.

In some locations, registration boards require graduates to complete a lengthy paid internship over a minimum period of three years before they can take the registration exam.

Some locations offer Architectural Experience Programmes (AXP) through architectural firms or the offices of engineers and general contractors. Interns may help prepare architectural documents and drawings, build models, prepare construction drawings on CADD, research building codes and write specifications for building materials, installation criteria, and the quality of finishes.

Students who complete internships in school may count some of that time toward the three-year internship period. Some other locations provide degree apprenticeships for architectural assistants or architects. 

You will gain optimal benefit from your tasks outside of the classroom when they line up perfectly with your lessons inside it. You may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

Prospective Architects should regularly practice drawing and model-making to enhance their skills. Follow publications or TV programs about buildings to keep up to date with the current trends in architecture and design. Pre-entry work experience in an architectural, design or construction environment is desirable and highly regarded by recruiters. 

Many firms offer internship opportunities over the summer break, which can provide invaluable experience to aspiring Architects. Joining one of the professional bodies, which usually offers free student membership, also provides access to professional journals and networking opportunities. 

Read about the profession and interview/job shadow expert Architects, engineers, and general contractors to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Most schools of architecture offer three-, four- or five-year bachelor’s programmes to potential Architects who can produce a portfolio of freehand drawings and sketches at the time of the interview. A foundation year at an accredited institution is an acceptable alternative.

An ideal programme includes courses in architectural history and theory, building design focused on computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) structures, construction methods, professional practices, math, physical sciences and liberal arts.

Many employers prefer candidates with a master’s degree in architecture, which can take one to five additional years to complete. A liberal arts degree is the usual prerequisite.

Focus on arts, art education, art & design, business management, fine arts, environmental management, history, math, and English in high school.

Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee your entry into the profession. Be that as it may, professional qualifications and transferable skills gained may open up more than one door.

Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field.

In locations where Architects need a licence to practice, they must complete a degree programme in architecture, gain relevant experience through a paid internship, and pass an Architect Registration Examination or its equivalent.

Licensed Architects are likely to find better opportunities. A license also helps generate more income and a higher level of authority in the field.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. 

A newly-qualified Architect who joins a practice as a salaried employee may become an Associate after gaining considerable experience and eventually advance to the position of Partner.

Private practice offers more scope for career development; you may be offered work on international projects. Public sector employees may progress to Senior or Principal Architect positions before moving into management roles.

It is also possible to become an Architectural and Engineering Manager, set up your own practice, or move into project management, drafting, planning, model making, landscape architecture, interior design, illustration, and graphic design.

The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation, and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.

Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees in search of a positive culture and interesting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable, transferable skills along the way.

Candidates who complete an accredited master’s programme in architecture and internship have the best job prospects once they acquire a licence to practice. 

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Architect build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning.

Most large architectural firms offer structured training and encourage professional status. Internal and external training courses, relevant seminars and conferences help Architects stay up-to-date with current issues and refresh their knowledge.

Architects who gain chartered membership and undertake prescribed levels of CPD are more likely to progress into more senior posts. Chartered Architects usually complete a minimum of 35 hours of CPD every year to maintain their competence.

In addition, you may need to undergo additional training through workshops, university classes, conferences, or self-study courses to keep your licence to practice.

To plug into trends and conversations at different levels, develop contacts in the industry through work experience, academic departments, personal contacts, and local representatives of professional bodies and associations.

Find Your Niche

The creative sensibility of an Architect adds value and beauty to the spaces we live in every day. Under the broad creative umbrella of Architecture fall niche capabilities such as urban design and exhibition curation. 

The World is Your Oyster

An Architect is not tied down to building systems. They are not restricted to working locally. Architects have the flexibility to practice design anywhere that the design takes them.

Dress for Success

Black, neat, clean, and expensive is the dress code most Architects follow when attending meetings. Protective clothing, such as a hard hat and boots, must be worn on building sites.

The Current Scenario

The employment outlook of a particular profession may be impacted by diverse factors, such as the time of year (for seasonal jobs), location, employment turnover (when people leave current positions), occupational growth (when new roles are created), size of the occupation, and industry-specific trends and events that affect overall employment.

Intense competition for internships and jobs is anticipated. Architects may experience periods of unemployment when there is a slowdown in requests for new projects or overall construction falls.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Architects have more flexible work schedules and locations. They own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Architect has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing and being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

The Bridge of Eggs built in Lima, Peru, around 1610 was made of mortar, mixed not with water but with the whites of 10,000 eggs.

Accomplished Architects strive to merge nature, buildings, and human beings into sustainable works of art that embody serenity.

As an Architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a virtually unknown future.