would being an architect actually make a good career?
i’ve stuck to the thought of my career job being an architect, but i can’t seem to find much about the job. i’ve watched maybe two videos on youtube about finding offers, and how it’s kind of difficult to get customers sometimes, so mostly you’re just waiting for a call. also, i’ve found that you would have to attend college for around four years but i got that from google and not an actual person. that’s all that i’ve really found so far, like i said, i couldn’t find much for some reason. i really enjoy the thought of building/designing my own house one day instead of buying, i find it more fun to be able to build the house that i’d live in for many years. i’m also a great artist based off a few teachers and my family members, since my 9th grade year was online and my 10th grade year hasn’t started, i haven’t had any art class experience, my school in middle school didn’t have any art classes to offer so i do most of my drawing at home either on paper or on a device. i also have a decent amount of experience in interior and exterior decorating . building is one of the things i believe i would love and enjoy doing for years on years. . #career #architecture #architect #college #designing #building #goals #art
3 answers
Traci’s Answer
I can't help but notice from your question that it sounds like you are very artistic and a talented designer. You may want to also consider becoming an Interior Designer. An amazing school you may have heard of called SCAD, or The Savannah College of Art and Design, would be an excellent school to check out for this major. I hope this helps you and I wish you all the best!
Brianna’s Answer
To legally call yourself an architect, you must obtain the accredited degree, complete 3,740+ hours of experience, and pass 6 licensing exams (that cost $235 each as of now). For more information see the NCARB website: https://www.ncarb.org/get-licensed/licensure-basics
Like any career path, it is crucial to find internships and jobs where you will have a good mentor. Firms can either be heavy on design or on technical details or both. Also, architecture can be very rewarding because you have a direct hand in creating the physical spaces and environments that people inhabit. I always loved going to the restaurants or shops that I had designed once they opened.
Thankfully, getting an architecture degree provides you will great creative problem solving skills that relate to many other jobs. Although, my degree is in Architecture I have also worked in Real Estate and currently in Tech at a software company (Autodesk). You can also work in Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Art Curating, Furniture Rep, Carpet/Tile Rep, Construction, Engineering, City Government, Web Design, Graphic Design, Product Management, Sales, and the list goes on.
Lastly, if you decide to go down this route I would encourage to get comfortable with Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs such as SketchUp, FormIt, AutoCAD, Rhino, and Revit.
Anna’s Answer
An architect can be a great or a horrible career - it depends on the person. Based on what you are sharing, it seems to be it can be a great career for you. As you noted that you are having a hard time finding information about architecture as a career path, I am happy to refer you to some resources.
Zippia - Career exploration by major - https://www.zippia.com/explore/
Occupational Outlook Handbook from the US Bureau of Labor- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
http://www.howtobecome.com/ - here is a link directly to their info on how to become an architect - https://www.howtobecome.com/how-to-become-an-architect-2
Hope these help you out. Best wishes for your personal and professional life,
Anna