I'm done with architecture 9 to 5's (I quit my job)

I finally did it. I jumped out of the hamster wheel.

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[phyl]

If you go into architecture as a profession and don't expect hard work and long hours and pay below other professions please leave now. You can survive those negatives, but your life will not be your own. I was an architect for 45 years. The work never got easier and the hours never got fewer. The pay did get better, but I remained a lower paid professional. If I didn't love what I was doing, I would have exited early in my career. I have been retired now for about 17 years and live a much more enjoyable life then when I was working. If I hadn't made good decisions about how to invest the money that I made (without trying to "beat the market") I would be a bitter man. Computers were just making their entry to the production of working drawings when I graduated from college. I was one of the last "pencil pushing" architects around. I loved drawing on a drawing board with my pencil. I could, and did, work into the nights to get the jobs finished, bid and built. I loved doing it. I did take time off for vacations every year, but they were short and the work I left behind was still there to greet me when I returned. I enjoyed writing specifications that governed how the project that I designed would be built. Call me crazy, but it was what I enjoyed doing. I regret the toll it took on my family, but the family survived. Would I do it again. Yes and no. I would do it differently if I were to repeat the task. I would be a sole practitioner rather than a corporate slave. I would satisfy myself with fewer projects and less money but I would have a life outside of the office. I would spend more time with my wife and child and I would not chase the work while answering to a "superior" (who often times could not and would not have done what I did to enrich him) for the amount of work it took to keep the corporate ship afloat. The practice of architecture has changed greatly from when I started to what it is today. Knowing what I know from my experience I probably would choose another line of work.

[grandmasterplank]

On top of everything Mooch has said, I'd add these in too as some of the worst things about being in architectural practice more generally (sorry, I'm now battle scared and worn down):

1. being massively underpaid for a role that requires an (inexplicable) amount of academic training to qualify for.
2. having to deal with and sort out the issues of the bone idle/incompetent/careless idiots in your office.
3. your health suffering from sitting in the same physical position for days/weeks/months at a time to get work out (see point 2).
4. the stress of the (inexplicable) Friday deadline - when no one looks at your drawings until the following week and your weekend is then ruined by the recovery from the stress of the last week.
5. your relationships suffering from the amount of (unpaid) extra time required to finish projects and thus being stuck in the office (think seeing your wife/husband/kids after they've eaten in an evening, or often after they have gone to bed). And often working weekends (see point 2).
6. the amount of unpaid extra time you're required to donate to the practice solely to complete the work to a high standard (see point 2). Worse still, this happening because that extra time wasn't factored into the original fee quote, on EVERY project, so you won't get any financial benefit from that extra work. Remember, you're gifting this time to your boss and his profits, no one else, the client still pays the same agreed amount.
7. having to tolerate other Architects (and their egos) who think, simply because they're an architect, they know more than everyone else, no matter what that persons level of experience and/or specialism.
8. having to listen to archispeak from other architects who think they're still in school, and talk like this in an attempt to raise themselves above everyone around them, solely because they think they're genuinely better then everyone else (see point 7), and which they're usually not, and sometimes by a margin.
9. having to deal with interior designers who think they're architects, and who (especially on domestic projects) have the ear of the client (think nice evening house visits armed with mood boards) and who'll try and drive a coach and horses through your design vision.
10. watching your long-developed final design have its guts ripped out through value-engineering (think contactors who care not one bit about your design and only about maximising profits, at your designs' expense).
11. realising the ONLY way to make any real money or have a major impact on the built environment you're designing for is to work for yourself because working for someone else means you have almost zero final say on design (which is sole destroying), and then they also reap all the rewards.
12. having to tolerate others with less skill and ability than you stealing your ideas and taking credit for them (see above). Oh, and having to often take instruction from the same individuals because they're more skilled at office politics and better at brown-nosing for promotion, or possibly they have no shame or less self respect.
are many more but that's probably enough.

If you're lucky enough to find an architectural utopia then you're lucky (and go put your lottery numbers on) as you may only experience some of these issues. But for most, these sorts of issues are very regular occurrences.

[bi_himself]

Me right now at 17 seeing this video has enlightened me. I want to become an interior designer/ architect. And one day have my own firm. I now hear this and I want to implement your ideas into my future firm.

[ericabgomesfreire]

This year I realized that I don't really want to be on 8 to 6 hour office work, and unfortunately it is the most common type of job in my city, now I'm focusing on finish my final project and see what I can do to not have to be chained to a desk in front of autocad 8 hours per day. A bit utopic but we make do...
All the luck and success for you in your new schedule and job!

[feonix]

I've been freelancing since 2003. It afforded me the ability to work at home and raise my kids. I usually wake up around 3-4am and put 6 hours in and then put in a few more hours here and there. I work weekends when I need to. I feel very fortunate to have been able to do this for the past 18 years.

[Gusbus]

I’ve been freelancing for over a year. Best decision I’ve ever made.

[grandmasterplank]

You're spot on. Everything you've said is true of architectural practice. And none of this is explained to students at Architectural School (because it would horrify them) so subsequently many become quickly disillusioned when they realise the reality on the ground. If architectural school was less about bullshit archispeak theory that no one in the 'real world' (sorry) ever uses outside of academia (and for good reason or we'd never build anything) and was more about prepping students for the realities of working architectural life then the profession would function so much could also have added comment on the generally appalling level of salary offered to anyone below director level in practice, despite the almost insane amount of outlay required to qualify. When freelancing you have so much more scope to increase your income, or increase your free time, if that's of more value to you. Respect for making the leap though. I did the same many years ago, well before it became the norm to work remotely thanks to Covid.

I made some comments on a similar video earlier this week. I'll post them up here too for anyone interested.

[MarshallWarner]

I feel you, I quit my job last year, and me and my architect wife are battling throught it, but happy. : )

[DrFaggioni]

Im an architect, graduated 1 year ago, always worked as a sailor beside to sponsor the university. I can totaly understand you!!!
The thing is, this major is one of the hardest, not in terms of intelligence, but the amount of time you need for all the tasks.
And it is the degree with the lowest ROI in comparison to the other majors. Even a normal construction worker gets a higher salary, but you have to work more and you are always responsible for everything.
And when i think about all the hours you have to spend on certain projects, and the always complaining clients...
This degree is not worth it, it's a dying profession.
It's also frustrating when you see your friends and other people which put in half of the work in their education and have a much better and stresless life.
I can also see that most of my colleagues except a few are changing their profession...
You don't need to study to build something, you just need money :D
The only positive about this degree is that it is transferable, you may have to do some additional courses for some jobs but this is not so bad.

Sorry for the long post, but this is for the young fellows...
Internet is the real thing...
or sailing ;) :D

[purrsolus]

Industrial design student here and about to pull an all nighter for a project, which I'm sure you can relate to.
Freelancing has always been the dream, but the more I think about it the scarier the reality of it seems. Can't wait to hear what you have to say about your experiences and how it works! Best wishes to you man.

[emekadesmonds]

How am I the first person to watch this, dude I can relate!! I’m legit going through the same thing but my 9-5 finds my side hustle

[floralendurance]

I'm extremely fortunate to be working at a firm that does the type of projects I want to do in the future as a freelancer. After I finish my MArch. and my license I'll go the freelance route.

[ShootItALBY]

If you’re still studying architecture, it may be fun at studio right now hanging with friends all day, but that won’t be the endgame. It’s a lonely & aggressive career if you want to go far. RUN! 🏃

[Buckers]

I agree with everything you’re saying here and I’m hoping the pandemic has sparked a permanent change in people’s idea of how they should work.

[jaymarx]

This is totally confirming why I am SO MUCH HAPPIER working on my own. Just not being stressed all the time doing work that should be easy, but it's not, because the micromanager keeps moving the bar, or not properly explaining what they want. Then it affects my relationship with the client, my relationship with my coworkers, especially when I am also expected to micromanage them. I am a THOUSAND times more efficient working on my own and not having someone breathing down my neck and judging my every move.

[nelsonianb]

Yea but onstruction doesnt stop during working hours

[dazai]

Man.. I am completely that guy that you are explaining in this video.. flexibility is the key ! And I get anxious about that 9-5 job because as a student finishing my thesis right now its logical thinking about what is next. Being on an enviroment like that makes it so stressful thinking about it..

[MOJO-IV]

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how
~Friedrich Nietzsche

[atrane]

So uh I’m a senior in college studying pre-professional architecture and I’m at an internship where I sit in a cubicle and do site visit reports literally every single day and I can’t stand it.
I am so nervous to graduate and go further into the career because I REALLY hate the 9-5 after doing this internship. Is it always going to be like this? Is it even possible to pay off my debt being a freelance architect? Like

[tbelho]

For me in India work timing is 9.30 to 6.30pm but always leaves after 7pm. Monday - Saturday only Sunday is holiday but we get some work to do and send even on Sundays. And talk about salary it's really penny. We have to buy lunch from own pocket money also transportation. Bassically Salary is invisible. Waking up at 7am and reach home 8pm, cook dinner, take shower. And the cycle repeats.