Architects can work with construction companies wherein they are asked to serve as a designer. Initially an architect is expected to understand specific requirements of clients and strike a right balance between aesthetics and practicality. Additionally, an architect with skills can help clients by his ideas in terms of balancing the requirements of appearance, financial budget and time frame. Some architects even work independently and earn their livelihood through consultancy fees which entirely depends upon the skills and profile as well as work experience.

Most of the jobs in architecture come up in government organizations such as Public Works Department, the Archaeological Department, Ministry of Defense, National Building Organization, Town and Country Planning Organization, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Departments of Railways, Post and Telegraphs, Public Sector Undertakings, Housing and Urban Development Corporation, National Building Construction Corporation Ltd., etc. While some other organizations or bodies like State Departments, Housing Boards, Local Bodies for construction works, Builders, Architecture Firms, Consultants, etc. also hire architects.

Architects working independently have ample scope in terms of earning. However, the inherent hazard with independent practice is that the professional undergoes lots of work as he alone has to plan details of sizes, specification and estimates of the cost of the structure, etc. Moreover, he require good models and graphics as there would not be any other person to assist him which is the case when he works with some construction company. Specialization works well for better prospects in architecture as it is a matter of requirement.

Urban Planning

Urban and regional planners develop land use plans and programs that help create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize physical facilities in towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.

Starting salary for an Architect can be in the range of INR 20,000 to 30,000. The growth is registered after 2+ years. Candidates with work experience of more than 5 years can get salary in the range of INR 50,000 to 60,000. Moreover, when mammoth investment from government and private real estate developers is coming up, a huge crunch of trained architects is being felt. The starting salary can be even higher than average Indian salary if the candidate is from premier architecture college. According to some sources, projection of architects stands over 10,000. The demand is expected to increase in next couple of decades as India is going to expand FDI in real estate and it will attract huge money from foreign companies.

Career Pros Details

• Architecture is a demanding profession, but it can also be a very interesting, creative one. As architects gain more experience, they become more involved in actual design work rather than technical issues and routine construction documents.
• Architecture is also never a boring career because of the variety of tasks it demands. No project is ever the same as the one that came before. Architects are also constantly dealing with different issues, such as meeting with clients and contractors, drawing plans, looking at estimates, or working out last-minute details and requests.
• Even though many architecture schools have heavy math requirements, many architects say that very little math is actually involved in their day-to-day routines. Anything that requires advanced levels of math such as calculus is usually handled by engineers or other specialists involved with a project. General overall intelligence, good drawing skills, an inquiring nature, and excellent listening and speaking abilities are actually the most important qualities for architects to possess.
• Most architects work in the profession not for the money but because they have a passion for their work, and this passion makes everything else worthwhile. Even with below-average pay, many architects know they are providing a valuable service and love every minute of it, especially when a client truly appreciates their finished work on a project. Also, the pay usually does increase with experience and can even be lucrative if you reach the top levels of the profession.

Career Cons Details

• • The process of becoming an architect is long, competitive, and expensive. It takes five years of school to earn a Bachelor of Architecture degree, plus an additional two to four years for a master’s. Although admission requirements vary considerably, the most reputable architecture schools usually have extremely competitive standards with a heavy emphasis on the physical sciences, geometry, algebra, and trigonometry. After schooling comes three years of internship that, like other internships, can involve long hours and low pay. The Architect Registration Exam, which all aspiring architects must pass in order to become licensed, is also very difficult, with seven separate divisions and pass rates varying from 56% to 71% per division in 2009.
  • Starting salaries for architects are considered lower than average when compared with other professional careers with similar requirements, such as medicine and law. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the lowest ten percent of architects earned an annual salary of $42,320 in May 2009. The average annual wage was $72,700. Salary prospects generally rise after architects have spent several years in the profession and have worked their way up the ranks. Starting architects are often advised to practice good money management skills and perhaps even work a second job.

• Architecture is a very challenging and demanding field. The scope of issues that an architect is accountable for on a project is tremendous. Architects actually spend twice the amount of time working on a project as it takes to build it, in order to address various start-up and close-out issues. Architects often have to carry large amounts of insurance to protect themselves in case projects do not meet the client’s requirements or develop problems.
• The architectural field is very subject to the ups and downs of the economy. Architects depend on economic growth for their living. If the economy is depressed, construction of new buildings is one of the first things that will be in less demand, along with architects.

• Technical Know-How: You need to really sound with the concepts you have learned by far and its application in the real world designing.
• Good communication skills: A good idea is worth nothing if it cannot be put across to stakeholders and convince them of the same.
• Management Skills: You also need to get the work done by employees who are below you in the hierarchy.

• Out of the box thinking: creativity is a non-negotiable clause when it comes to this business. You need to contemplate and make those ideas happen.
• Visualization Skills: You need to be excellent with the angles, drawing and sketching skills to design a perfect prototype of your model.
• Meticulousness: There should be great attention to each and every detail while working on a project.