2010 was a BAD year

[CJ6np435]

ha ha if you drink and draft your a bloody architect

emigrate to Australia kiddo

I will be out of a job 1st quarter next year, going to try something different, and work towards buying some acreage and being more self sufficient

[ZJ from WA]

Originally Posted by xxxpedition

i'm an architect

I had to work for an architec,t a job we estimated to take 2 months took till yesterday to get finished. and we started in july 09, just doing some hand railing it was the most excruciating job i have ever done. during that time i also drafted up about 1 million tonnes of steel for other projects. and this pissy little job just kept plugging along, stupid changes like steel grade from as3678-250 to be called mild steel. as3678-250 IS generic mild steel.
the worst was
'make it look like our drawings.'
'ok will fix it from your standard drawings to th area specific drawings.'
'why is that area not to code...'
'we did it to your drawings. ok we will change it.'
two weeks later 'why is that area height different to that area height. we want height two'
'... umm architect thats not to code'....
'just do it'
'ok.'
two weeks later. 'why is not that to our drawings'
...arrrrghhhhh...
'ohh look at our standard drawings they are not code oh well just ignore them'....
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUU<<<<<<<<<<<##############

it was painful. or we design an area according to the plans and no other contractor was following them so stuff got built and would not fit up so we have to measure and remake, thankfully the architect had a heart attack and the builder a stroke. and now the job should hopfully be finished in 8 days times. no more draft/design work. for me and then i can ask for pay rise i dont feel confident with job looming over me.

[Wooders]

Good pay, Low stress & Good hours.
Pick 1 & the other 2 will probably be the opposite.

[RenegadeDom]

Architecture industry atm is the worst for recent graduates, have been struggling all year to get a grad position, makes you think if the last 5 years have been a waste of time. xxxpedition, have you thought about trying your hand at project management, with architectural experience under your belt you should be able to land a job in that field which is closely related.

[xxxpedition]

thanks for all the answers!
well, i used to live in los angeles - i worked there as an architect and loved it. the pay was great the hours good.
here in germany the pay doesn't even pay my bills and the job is quite different - that's what i don't like about it.

And maybe you could try writing adventure articles with photo's for a magazine???

i do that publishing on 3 continents (see also jeep action magazine) but the economy has hit here too. i can't sell half the articles i used to. none in 2010!

Its a big world out there don't limit your options to just Europe

i know! that's why i used to live in the US. but my wife wanted to be closer to family - that's why we are here - so the big world doesn't help me. believe me i, would love to leave - i don't like living here at all...

[BLU-125]

You do realise that you have just posted one of the main reasons why GOD invented alcohol.

[jam jar]

Mate, you are not alone, 2010 for me so far: had to shut down my company or go insolvent.Got a job with a friend, then my wife developed brest cancer. Two months later my friend also shuts down his company, again out of a job as well as the wife not able to work plus $20 000 in medical bills( either stand in the que at Franganistan hospital or pay the mony and get above average care in Brighton, no brainer) finally got a break and scored a fantastic job with good pay in about October, so although i will be working most of chrissy, at least the bills are being seen to and some pressys for the family. Basically a shit year, but getting better.