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Is architecture a good career for stable employment and money?

Ok i wanted to major in architecture in college, but i spoke to my art teacher and she said that she has many friends and relatives that are architects and most of them are unemployed because its hard to find a job as an architect. She only has 2 successful architect friends, one who got lucky and became the St. John's head maintenance and another who opened her own architect business, other than that she said its mainly based on lucky. Now i feel like picking another major because i dont want to base my future career on "luck" any helpful informations will be appreciated thanks.

Public Comments

1. Yes, architecture can be a hard field, like any field that relies on the whims of the economy and a nebulous thing as talent. You are in competition with builders, develops and general contractors & designers as well. You either have to try & open your own office or go to work for someone else. If you are really fabulous, innovative & talented you will do well. If you are so so, you may be a CAD designer for the rest of your life. There are pitfalls to not getting paid as an independent architect as well as some hefty lawsuits. You might want to attend an open house at a school of architecture and also go to some of the senior projects defenses & presentations for some insight.
2. First of all, I wouldn't consider being the head maintenance company for St. John or whoever to be lucky. Your teacher has a lot to learn between luck and opportunity. No one can generate luck, but we all can generate opportunity. I do not appreciate what your teacher said, her statement dismisses all the hard work by people throughout the industry. In any given vocation, there are pros and cons. Just because there is a potential for something bad to happen does not mean you avoid it. Every day, you get in a car or some form of transportation, do you worry about getting into an accident? Select the field that gives you the best chance of success. Your personality will be good at something, only you can tell what that something is. Do not select a field based on earning potential No one can guarantee you a stable job, even city workers are being laid off. No matter how talented you are, without hard work, your chances of success is slim to none.