Just wondering if an employer looks first at the degree and then the experience or the other way around?
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marcus lee
definitely the experience first but more than that the ability to draw - always interesting to know which college I suppose
Sarah O'Sullivan
Accreditation of the degree is important. Employers seem to like to see RIBA, RICS, CIOB, CIAT etc. I think they think that it indicates a certain standard of education.
I now wonder if I'd studied one of the 'traditional subjects' i.e. architecture, surveying, town planning and then specialised, I might have done better in the jobs market than with the unaccredited degree I have (Architectural & Urban Conservation - a subject I chose as it was interesting and what I wanted to do as a job).
john kellett
As a potential employer I would be looking primarily at the knowledge and skills of a recent graduate. An architecture degree would be useless if not ARB/RIBA validated and an architectural technology degree equally so if not CIAT validated (or whatever their system is). Likewise the University would be a consideration: a 'second' degree from a good school of architecture is, to my mind more telling, than a 'first' degree from an average school.
Experience is too dependent on the nature of any previous employer to be a primary consideration.
However, an ability to understand, design and detail the construction of a building is more important than either education or experience. It's just that education and experience happen to be the best/easiest way of assessing ability qualitatively and quantitatively.
graham mckay
I should think that an "ability to articulate" one's reasoning is every reason why architecture is an academically oriented subject. Unfortunately, "ability to articulate" is popularly misconstrued as "media and PR agenda" and "marketing clout". What gets believed, becomes "truth" – a.k.a. the history of architecture. It's not a new thing. Stirling? A few stone blocks lying on the ground exposing a hole ventilating a car park. This is what he will be remembered for. A whole new generation of students is thinking wtf was that all about? If they think about him at all. Next.
stefano turato
Obviously a certain standard of education and experience is fundamental and should allow an employer to whittle down prospective candidates but I would always employ somebody who is likeable and whom I would consider to fit well into the team over an arrogant/very confident high achiever. It is difficult to establish this during an interview however but gut instincts are generally proven to be correct. Harmony within any working environment is key. To answer the question, it should be assumed that you are sufficiently educated wherever you have studied but your personality is your most valuable asset.
del hossain
Architecture as a profession is so unlike any other profession, because it is not an academically orientated subject (hardly any exams~) and relies an awful lot on practicality and crits, and the ability to comprehend concepts and translate into 3 dimensions and then articulate your reasoning. In school tests for kids when assessors work out IQ tests (usually at 7+ and 11+) they test spatial awareness and a child with poor 'traditional academic' ability can often do incredibly well in spatial awareness, and theoretically show potential for 'massing' and 3d.
Architectural practices are creativess yes but also businesses and in the main have come to accept that terrific students can still make poor employees whilst someone getting a 'Desmond' or even a third could still be really useful at putting together practical technical drawing packages. The portfolio is the real credential that will be assessed, and this will only look stronger if you can kick it off with your practical work experience.
Lets not forget the name sake of the most coveted prize in British Architecture today 'the Stirling Prize,' we will always remember Jim Stirling for his strong contribution to design, and not his weak academic history.
nats_48
Experience is far more important than anything else because everyone knows you dont really start learning until you leave University - much like learning to drive and actually driving a car on your own. But also I would be very interested if the person was perhaps not very experienced but showed willingness to learn and was flexible enough to learns. Many kids come out of University these days thinking they know everything and they know nothing. And solid CAD knowledge is more valuable than any degree to most employers of inexperienced trainees. In my degree we did tent design and unrealistic buildings nothing like what I would end up doing in the real world. But my CAD knowledge got me plenty of jobs.