<p>As fascinating as it may sound, a career in architecture is an experience of a lifetime. But it is not for the impatient or the fickle minded. It wouldn't be incorrect to say that architects are a bit crazy. All creative people are in fact. It is a field of study that combines the sciences and the arts. But very few people are actually aware of what this profession is actually capable of. It opens up a wide spectrum of opportunities leading to diverse forms of career choices. That being said, a little bit of extra hard work is bound to be put in.</p>
<img src="https://planndesign.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/article/users/user83849/1_0.jpg" alt="How to Build a Career in Architecture" style="height: undefined;width: undefined">
<p>Photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/eager/8595695666" target="_blank">Flickr</a></p>
<h2><strong>DO YOUR RESEARCH</strong></h2>
<p>If you feel you have the flair for design within you and would want to take it to the next level and study architecture, you might just have the tool that takes it to be one. But that doesn't mean you're done. Find out about what it takes to be an architect prior to your decision making. The criteria of being able to go through it after joining an architecture college are very essential. Many students cannot handle the burden of it and give it up after spending a considerable amount of time and money. So do your research to find out if it is actually what you mean to do. Don't just join the course because it sounds cool or has been popularized by movies. It requires a rather fulfilling commitment to be able to go through it. Also, be notified that it is going to take you five years’ worth time, countless sleepless nights and a shitload of money to be out as a graduate architect.</p>
<p>Here, we share an insight on <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2757-life-architectures-student" target="_blank">The Life Of An Architecture's Student</a></p>
<img src="https://planndesign.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/article/users/user83849/2.jpg" alt="How to Build a Career in Architecture" style="height: undefined;width: undefined">
<p>Photo credit: <a href="https://pixabay.com/p-1562824/?no_redirect" target="_blank">Pixabay</a></p>
<h2><strong>CRACK THE ENTRANCE EXAM</strong></h2>
<p>Architecture has a totally different entrance exam assigned for it by the CoA, called the NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture). It is the basic step towards scoring an admission in any university recognized under CoA. Additionally one can also appear for the JEE Mains which is a national level competitive entrance exam conducted by CBSE. Students can secure admission to any of the IITs or NITs or other government organizations based on the JEE counseling. NATA remains a compulsory exam though which has to be cleared for an architecture education.</p>
<h2><strong>CHOOSE YOUR COLLEGE</strong></h2>
<p>Honestly, it does not matter what college you graduate from. What matters is that you are motivated throughout the five years. But it is essential to be smart while choosing a college where you are going to spend the next 5 years of your life. It is during these five years that you'll learn the ‘basic infrastructure’ of the profession. Exactly. Although you may come out to be known as an architect once you graduate whatever you learn during this phase is just a basic part towards the actual profession.</p>
<p>Architecture education is diverse. I repeat diverse. It encompasses almost every facet of learning you could name- History, Psychology, Science, Maths, Arts, Sociology, Disaster Management, Civics, Economics, Communication, Photography, apart from Design. A little too much? Well, besides the fact that it is a lengthy course, it is also a very happening course. One actually does enjoy the break from monotony. Thank gosh for that.</p>
<p>Also, read <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2753-top-things-know-starting-architecture-programme" target="_blank">Top Things To Know Before Starting Architecture Programme</a></p>
<img src="https://planndesign.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/article/users/user83849/3.jpg" alt="How to Build a Career in Architecture" style="height: undefined;width: undefined">
<p>Photo credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CEPT_Campus,_entrance_area_near_sagra_basement.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></p>
<h2><strong>THE CORRECT INTERNSHIP</strong></h2>
<p>Probably the first step towards professional, the internship really matters for an architecture student. It is a phase where you learn to trade theory with practicality. You learn professionalism, patience, responsibility and value of time. Most architectural internships are paid but that's not what is important. The important thing is to utilize someone else's experience to your learning. You see what it is like to work as an architect in reality. Many students prefer to do summer internships since the first year of college but it is a mandatory module and a part of the curriculum in the final years. Now, interning under a big name isn't always necessary but interning under the right guide and mentor is.</p>
<p>Do read this to know more about <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2937-brilliant-ways-get-recruited-trainee-architect-reputed-firm" target="_blank">Brilliant Ways to Get Recruited As A Trainee Architect In A Reputed Firm</a></p>
<img src="https://planndesign.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/article/users/user83849/4.jpg" alt="How to Build a Career in Architecture" style="height: undefined;width: undefined">
<p>Photo credit: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arch_classroom.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></p>
<p>Do not confuse an internship with employment. It is not. Most professions do not pay their interns. So do not run after money while deciding your internship. It is a phase to learn without inhibitions.</p>
<h2><strong>GET YOUR LICENSE</strong></h2>
<p>This is the stage where you apply for registration under COA once you have graduated with your certificates and degree. Getting registered under COA is mandatory to start your own practice, which most of the people eventually do. However, even if you want to remain associated with service after you graduate, getting registered is a professional formality. Once you are registered, it becomes official.</p>
<h2><strong>PRACTICE YOUR PROFESSION</strong></h2>
<p>Leaving all the previous stages behind, this is actually the hardest part of building a career in architecture. Yes, you are graduated. Yes, you are registered. But to get employed is a really tricky part. Networking is a strong tool when it comes to getting employed. Create contacts with people in the profession. Get references. Try freelancing. Spread your value by word of mouth. You might be initially hired for a lower compensation than you expect but hold on. It is just the start to the glorious future you have envisaged upon.</p>
<p>Professional experience plays a vital role in anyone's career. Read here to know about more <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2794-importance-professional-experience-architect" target="_blank">Importance Of Professional Experience For An Architect!!</a></p>
<img src="https://planndesign.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/article/users/user83849/5.jpg" alt="How to Build a Career in Architecture" style="height: undefined;width: undefined">
<p>Photo credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Columbia_GSAPP_Avery_Hall_Studio.JPG" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></p>
<p>Architecture doesn't just stop at design practices. It creates a lot of different opportunities as well. Once you start working in the professional field, it becomes clearer as to which way you would want to keep going. Urban design, interior design, sustainability, green design, project management are just some of the mainstream and highly paid job profiles. Masters in any specialty just increases your chances of growing bigger and better. But there are some upcoming advances of this profession as well for the ones who may not want to remain in the core profession but use it for the greater good. Architectural journalism, travel, and photography are a few to name.</p>
<p>It takes a time to be successful in this profession but once you reach there, you are celebrated, because architecture as a profession is ACTUALLY very cool. Heads up!</p>
<p>Lastly, take a read to <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2755-architecture-students-encounter-reality" target="_blank">Architecture Student's Encounter with Reality</a></p>


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As fascinating as it may sound, a career in architecture is an experience of a lifetime. But it is not for the impatient or the fickle minded. It wouldn't

How to Build a Career in Architecture

<p>The ongoing <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2913-how-covid-19-affecting-architecture-business" target="_blank">pandemic has not only affected architecture as an industry</a> but has affected architecture education as well. The pandemic affected the way that architecture discourses were delivered. The virus led universities and educational institutes to shut down all over the world, taking in-person classes to online platforms. Though the system helps deliver lectures and maintain academic schedules, the long-term effects are unknown. Post pandemic <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2754-challenges-faced-architectural-education-affecting-profession" target="_blank">architecture education</a> is certainly going to be a different realm in the context of the syllabus, discourse delivery, workshops, exposure, etc. The virus has altered architecture education in ways unimagined. The situation has impacted the students and teachers alike. Following are few observations as to how the COVID 19 is affecting architecture education –</p>
<h2><strong>Transition and Adaptation to Interface Switch</strong></h2>
<p>The pandemic led to a transition from physical classes to online classes. Imagining the architecture discourse being delivered efficiently and benefiting the students through the online mode is a little unscrupulous. Architecture is a practical field of diverse nature, based on interactions and explorations at various levels – peer to peer, student and faculty, industry interactions, etc. The level of interactions and explorations that can happen in a physical studio is way more than those that happen over an online mode.</p>
<img src="https://planndesign.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Covid-19-Affecting-Architecture-Education-3_0.jpg" alt="Covid-19 Affecting Architecture Education" style="height: undefined;width: undefined">
<p>Image Courtesy - <a href="https://pixabay.com/illustrations/video-conference-online-home-office-5167472/" target="_blank">Pixabay</a></p>
<p>While every one of us has tried to welcome and adapt to the online modes of working in life, with architecture education, 100% online mode cannot be the answer.</p>
<p>Looking for laptops or tablets, read <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/product_buying_guide/2522-10-best-laptops-architects-and-designers" target="_blank">10 Best Laptops for Architects and Designers</a> and <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/product_buying_guide/2521-7-best-tablets-architects-and-designers" target="_blank">7 Best Tablets for Architects and Designers</a>.</p>
<h2><strong>Peer Learning</strong></h2>
<p>Architecture is and has never been about lectures and classroom studies solely, it is more about practical and on the ground exposure, peer-to-peer interaction, brainstorming sessions, deliberations, so on and so forth. Architecture as a course is more about experiential learning than listening to monologues. With the online mode of education, this aspect of architecture has taken a blow. In my view, students might have missed on valuable experiences and insights owing to being locked up in the comfort of their homes and increased screen time. The clarity of concepts and design development comes from deliberations at various levels, online mediums pose a barrier in this context.</p>
<p>You must check out <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2804-how-architectural-student-deal-case-studies" target="_blank">How An Architectural Student Deal With Case Studies</a></p>
<p>and <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2795-things-consider-while-choosing-architectural-thesis-topic" target="_blank">Things To Consider While Choosing Architectural Thesis Topic...</a></p>
<h2><strong>Limited! – Discussions, Deliberations, Brainstorming, …</strong></h2>
<p>Online platforms were certainly able to facilitate lectures, however, the much-required discussions, deliberations and/or brainstorming sessions in groups were limited. This in turn limited the exchange of ideas resulting in limited development of concepts and ideologies. Many architecture schools encourage the trend of open studios to strike conversations and deliberations amongst the students and faculty. This can happen seamlessly on campus in most of the institutes, however, the online mode of education poses a great barrier in this regard.</p>
<img src="https://planndesign.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Covid-19-Affecting-Architecture-Education-2_3.jpg" alt="Covid-19 Affecting Architecture Education" style="height: undefined;width: undefined">
<p>Image Courtesy: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-people-using-laptop-s-3182759/" target="_blank">Pexels</a></p>
<h2><strong>Skill Development</strong></h2>
<p>Architecture is a skill-based course. Skills can be developed both online and offline, however, there are certain interpersonal skills and hard skills that develop better in a physical class. This becomes especially important for the students in the former years of the course. One can certainly watch and learn a lot of skills through the abundance of videos available over the web, however, to master a certain set of skills, constant interaction is essential. Skill development is an important part of architecture education. Certain skills can sure be developed through online platforms and MOOC courses, nonetheless, some skills can only be developed through constant instruction, institute infrastructure and face-to-face interaction.</p>
<h2><strong>No On-Field Exposure</strong></h2>
<p>Architecture education encompasses regular field visits, site visits and market surveys in addition to lectures and studios. Students suffered in this aspect of education due to the lockdown that was imposed in the nation. field visits or site visits were not an option during the ongoing pandemic, posing a setback to the students with regards to the practical exposure.</p>
<p>Read, <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2717-7-ways-improve-your-portfolio" target="_blank">7 ways to Improve your Portfolio! </a>for ideas regarding your portfolio.</p>
<img src="https://planndesign.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Covid-19-Affecting-Architecture-Education.jpg" alt="Covid-19 Affecting Architecture Education" style="height: undefined;width: undefined">
<p>Image Courtesy - <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/worker-subway-construction-site-2633918/" target="_blank">Pixabay</a></p>
<h2><strong>Extended Institutional Boundaries</strong></h2>
<p>While there are negatives that came bundled up with the situation, there are positives too. Though the students lacked field exposure over the pandemic hit a year, but in many institutions, they got a chance to interact and engage with designers nationally and internationally, enrolled in numerous workshops and insightful webinars. Even the most dreaded end Sem juries and critiques took place over online forums. This helped in widening the horizons of the students by engaging experts from diverse walks of life, thereby extending the typical institutional boundaries.</p>
<h2><strong>Exploratory Limitations and Exploratory Pedagogy</strong></h2>
<p>The lockdown resulted in a lack of resources and paraphernalia for many students and technical gear for faculties. But at the end of the day, we are architects and <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2757-life-architectures-student" target="_blank">architects in the making</a>, meant to come up with solutions for the issues at hand. And we did just that! All the faculties and students with their limitations explored and innovated ways to meet the requirements of the course. <br>The pandemic paved a way for faculties to explore collaborative opportunities for themselves and their students. The crisis gave way for explorations and innovations in the pedagogic methods. Some of which might even stay when things resume post-pandemic. The digital platforms and tools would certainly make their way post-pandemic as an integral part of design education.</p>
<img src="https://planndesign.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Covid-19-Affecting-Architecture-Education-1.jpg" alt="Covid-19 Affecting Architecture Education" style="height: undefined;width: undefined">
<p>Image Courtesy: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/clear-light-bulb-placed-on-chalkboard-355952/" target="_blank">Pexels</a></p>
<p>The battle is still on! However, we are learning to live with the virus. Taking one step at a time, adapting to the conditions, innovating and bringing about a change in all spheres of our lives. The tough times make us believe that – “the show must go on!” And so it did, after a couple of weeks of being stuck and at a loss of ways to go about the situation, contemplations, the education continued with certain modifications, adaptations and transitions. “Change is the only constant” and the world changed during the pandemic hit period. The realm of education saw unimaginable changes. The crisis is an opportunity to change and evolve, it is a perfect time to reflect upon and move ahead with the positives and transition into a new era. The Covid-19 pandemic has its goods and bad, but it is us who will evolve as a generation once the pandemic subsides. It has affected architecture education both positively and negatively, but the academicians strive to put their bests to convert the negatives to positives and help evolve the architecture education scenario.</p>
<p>In case of any suggestions or experiences, please feel free to post them in the comments below.</p>
<p>Also read, <a href="https://www.planndesign.com/articles/2912-ultimate-guide-architecture-students-remain-focused-online-study" target="_blank">The Ultimate Guide for a Architecture Students to Remain Focused on Online Study!</a></p>


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Contemplating the effects of Covid 19 on architecture education? Wondering if it affected architecture education positively or negatively? 
Read along for insights on the ways Covid 19 is affecting architecture education.  

How the Covid-19 Affecting Architecture Education

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How to Build a Career in Architecture

How the Covid-19 Affecting Architecture Education