Maybe you’re not able to find a full time job. Or maybe you’re looking for a change. Whatever your reason, you might want to consider a new role as a Consultant. You can become a valuable asset to several firms at one time and add more variety to your workload.

It could be an alternative career path or a way to find some work and pay the bills in between full time jobs. Becoming a Consultant can be a rewarding move but it isn’t for everyone. In this episode, we discuss who might fit the consultant mold as well as discuss the advantages and disadvantages. If you’ve ever considered the consultant path, this is the episode for you!

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Show Notes:

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At some point in our young architecture careers, we will be faced with an opportunity to moonlight. It may come from mom or dad, a cousin, or long lost relative. When you’re in architecture, word travels among your family and you’ll soon hear from Uncle Al who needs a new deck designed. But the question is, should you do it?

The decision to moonlight has several ramifications. You could find yourself in deep trouble or in the beginnings of a great start to opening your own firm. It is not to be taken lightly and can have serious consequences, especially if you’re doing it without your firm’s permission. Before taking on any moonlighting work, be sure to listen to this episode. It could prevent you from making several fatal mistakes.

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Show Notes:

MOONLIGHTING (aka working on the side)

Sounds too good to be true, right?

Run the risk of exhausting yourself and getting your firm and co-workers in trouble

Everyone thinks about it but you need to know the full story

CONSIDERATIONS

Most firms that have policies in place against moonlighting

MAY allow exceptions for projects that benefit family members

WHAT TO CHARGE

You will have taxes to pay, so it should be about 3x your current hourly rate (varies)

LEGAL ISSUES

Work may be construed by the client (and the client’s attorney) as being produced under the supervision of the firm, thereby exposing your firm to liability by association for any of your negligent acts

If you use firm resources, like copiers, Fax’s, cad equipment, and advice from office peers.

Firm policies could get you fired (no-moonlighting policies—but that never stopped anyone)

Attorney looks for the bigger fish

WHY YOU?

Do they love you or your work

What will doing this do do for you (know your reasons why)

NO NO’s

Don’t practice unlicensed or hold yourself out as licensed if you’re not

Don’t use your company’s equipment (liability)

Don’t exhaust yourself

Don’t involve your co-workers or trust them to keep it a secret

But never lie if caught

Don’t do this work without a contract (just cause you’re doing it on the side, doesn’t change the requirements)

Liability insurance (especially if its your first jobs) – errors and omissions (E&O)

PROS to MOONLIGHTING

Launch your own practice

Make more money

No startup (code books, plotters, and more)

Will help you discover why you’re looking (you should have been fulfilled by your job, right?)

Gets you experience you might not get otherwise

Confidence building

More creativity

Portfolio builder

ALTERNATIVES

Bring the work into the firm (rainmaker approach)

Talk to your boss before accepting to share your future career goals

Boss could pass along work they don’t want to do to you

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For some of us, becoming an Architect is something we have envisioned since we were beginning to walk. For others, we don’t realize it until later in life. Becoming an Architect can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life.

No matter when you decide when you want to be come an Architect, we lay the path for you (albeit a long and sometimes windy one). We discuss the 4 main steps of licensure, from Education to Licensure.

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Show Notes:

4 Steps to Licensure

1. Education

1. Education

Accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Students should visit the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture website (ACSA) to access A Student’s Guide to Education including information on architectural education, becoming an architect, and selecting a school.

Each state’s architectural registration board sets it’s own standards, so graduating from a non-accredited program may meet educational requirement.

Three types of professional degrees in architecture are available (from NCARB’s website):

Education Evaluation Services for Architects – EESA

The NAAB’s Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA) program enables you to have your non-accredited degree assessed to determine if it meets the NCARB Education Standard for licensure and identify what, if any, deficiencies remain to be satisfied.

NOTE: The Bachelor of Science in Architecture is not a NAAB accredited degree. (just B. Arch and M. Arch).

2. Internship

Intern Development Program – current program is 3,740 hours, dropped from about 5600 hours.

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

3. Examination

Architect Registration Exam: 4.0. – 7 exams.

Architect Registration Exam: 5.0 coming late 2016 – 6 exams.

California Supplemental Exam – Supplemental required by California after completing the ARE.

4. Licensure

Check with State that license will be obtained for requirements.

Granted by the State where candidate is seeking licensure.

54 Jurisdictions: 50 states plus D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands.

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It can be quite daunting when we start our first job in a real architecture firm. There’s people running around and we’re not quite sure what they do. But we don’t have to remain in the dark any longer.

In this episode, we discuss an overview of roles and responsibilities in an architecture firm. This is a must listen to episode if your curious about all the people above you and what exactly they do.

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Show Notes:

The positions in an architecture firm can be grouped into three main categories: Entry Level, Middle Years, and Full-Fledged. We discuss them per the outline below:

Middle Years: 5 – 10 Years

Full-Fledged: 10+ Years

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Passing the California Supplemental Exam is a major accomplishment. Us mere mortals require years of studying and practice before we even begin to conjure up the confidence to “sit” for the exam. But Rosannah did it at 23 years old. Wow.

I am so proud to interview the youngest licensed architect in California, Rosannah, who recently passed the California Supplemental Exam at only 23 years old.

It was even her second attempt, so she was able to squeeze in two attempts and pass at 23, simply incredible. Her story is so inspiring and motivating that this has to be one of my favorite all time podcasts I have ever recorded. I hope this episode will give you greater confidence and inspire you to schedule your exam today!

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If you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a review. It would really help us spread the word about the ARE Podcast. Thanks!