Architecture jobs are quite different from what they were in the past. The idea is the same, but the work is incomparable because of the technology that is available now. Computer technology has taken over many areas and architecture has consequently become more sophisticated. With the software of today the architect can do a lot more work much faster. The software that is used is ArchiCAD. This is a virtual program that makes mistakes a lot less likely. Two- or three-story buildings are no longer built without staircases, which happened sometimes in the past. Connections to the sewer system are also no longer missing on the blueprints of today. There is just no way for the computer program to tolerate or ignore these kinds of mistakes. The architect who uses this sophisticated software, and many of them do, is a virtual artist who uses pre-made building blocks to put a complicated structure together. Features in 2-D and 3-D make the endeavor very realistic looking.
Architects receive a lot of schooling before they show their skills to the world. They need a professional architecture degree. Nobody is going to give them an assignment for any structure simply upon graduation from an architecture program, however. Therefore it is important that a graduated architect finds a good internship position first. Following an internship in an existing architecture office architects have to pass an exam which is called the Architect Registration Exam. A bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in architecture is an absolute must to be able to pass the Architecture Registration program, but many architects choose to also pursue a post-professional degree. This is not a requirement to enter the profession, but it looks very good on a resume. It shows that there are candidates for the job who are more competent than others. Architects who pursue such a post-professional degree will overall land the better jobs in the architecture business. This is the case with freelance architectural jobs and also with jobs in architectural firms. Architects are never able to practice their profession straight after school. They have to become licensed to do so.
Architects have always belonged to the group of best-paid professionals, and that is not likely to change. Six-figure incomes are quite normal in this field. Architecture jobs are very much regulated, and that is a good thing. If there were no such regulations in place buildings would not stand as long as they do now. Improper materials and techniques would be used for sure, and those buildings would just not be of a high enough quality. Accidents due to improper techniques and materials can be fatal. Fairly recent history has proven several times that the consequences of the use of improper techniques and materials can be disastrous. A few years ago a sports stadium collapsed in the Belgian capital of Brussels and many people were killed. That stadium was of course built before architects had access to the computer technology of today.
