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Why Become an Architect? The Dream Career for Creative and Innovative Minds
7
Min Read
Any licensed architect will agree; the path to get there is not easy. It takes from 5 to 7 years to obtain your professional degree, plus postgraduate training and additional jurisdictional requirements before you can obtain your license. However, successful architects often share a sense of fulfillment as this industry embraces your individuality, and that's difficult to find in other careers.
One of the most fulfilling experiences is seeing the results of your efforts. Imagining a structure, putting that idea on paper or into a computer, and then turning that vision into reality, is truly something extraordinary. So if you are considering architecture as your professional path, read on to find out if it's the best fit for you.
Note: If you're planning on freelancing or starting your own architect firm, use Bonsai's all -in-one product suite to seamlessly manage your business finances and paperwork. From prospecting, proposals and contracts, to collecting payments after the project is done, our software can simplify the process. Claim your 14-day free trial here.
Why Do People Choose to go to Architecture School?
If you enter a room and think, "Wow, that's a fascinating space," or if you're a young person walking through a city and you have to grab your camera because you notice how the sun is setting on the edge and the buildings are aligned and the banners on the buildings are aligned, then architecture is without a doubt something you should think about. But there are other reasons why people may choose to study architecture that are probably not as obvious at first.
You Like Tangible Results
If you take pride in tangible results, you're meant to get an architecture degree. Anyone who has ever witnessed a building where they worked being constructed understands this perfectly. Seeing your projects being developed is like having your own laboratory where you can experiment and perfect things that you feel to be significant and worthwhile. Architects feel a fulfilling sense of ownership over every project they work on.
You Want To Travel
Most architects will be able to travel the globe to see how your work was first conceived and to see it come to life. You'll always be driven to explore, broaden your horizons, continue to study, and try new things. So those looking for an opportunity to travel a lot, meet new people and improve communication skills should consider this career path.
Most Architects Are Artistic and Creative
Architecture school also allows you to unleash your creative side. The design and construction process gives you many chances to express your originality and artistic talent while creating functional spaces where people can live, communicate, work and play. So if you're a creative person, this will be a natural environment for you.
The Benefits of Becoming an Architect
The profession of architecture has a significant impact on our daily life. The long-term benefits of working in architecture outweigh the rigorous educational and internship requirements as well as the competitive nature of the field. Take a look at some wonderful advantages of becoming an architect!
Develop Problem Solving Skills
For one, regardless of your current drawing, sketching, and other creative skills, architecture students are required to perform activities that develop both the right and left sides of the brain. These activities will allow you to enhance your capacity for strategic and logical thought, gain proficiency with numbers, resolve challenging issues, be more flexible and perform better under pressure.
You will learn to maintain a healthy level of commitment, enthusiasm, and drive throughout entire projects, while multitasking during the day, challenging your thinking process and building performance endurance. The great news is that all of these acquired skills and knowledge will serve as your base for success regardless of whether you decide to make a rapid career move or take on a managing position.
Make a Difference
Aside from improving people's lives, you can help literally build a better world. You've probably heard about the newest sustainability trends and environmental studies that show how each industry helps to preserve and protect the environment as a whole. Nowadays, there's more consideration for future generations and environmentally friendly solutions when it comes to the use of building materials, energy generation and consumption, system design, location of buildings, etc.
This is how architects are attempting to reduce the negative impact on the environment when designing buildings. If you have fascinating, unique and revolutionary ideas to improve sustainability and create environmentally-friendly structures, architectural education is the way to go for you.
Expand Your Knowledge
One of the most fascinating aspects of studying architecture is consistently gaining a broad range of theories from various fields. Typically, an architect is an expert in many areas. Every project offers a fresh opportunity to incorporate cutting-edge methods, concepts, and technologies. Projects can incorporate effective organization theories and a variety of construction techniques.
Additionally, areas like energy consumption, the use of recycled materials, building performance and construction methods are always evolving. You will advance professionally as an architect with the landscape as a whole and you'll never have too much knowledge. Your professional development will be ongoing.
Make Good Money
An architect often makes more money than the average person because it is a prestigious profession. You can earn a lot of money working as an architect because big companies are always looking for new talent and innovative ideas. While average salaries vary depending on skills, location and experience, the median pay is $80,180 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s an excellent career choice if you're seeking a high-demand, high-paying job.
Is Architecture a Good Career for the Future?
In contrast to other professions, you can earn an architecture degree without needing to decide which kind of architecture you want to specialize in, and the options are constantly evolving. This makes it a great option for your professional future as you can switch between working for large and small businesses, as a project architect, structural engineering, designer, or project manager.
You can work on diverse building kinds from various building types or market sectors, such as residential, municipal, retail, and hospitality, and yet be an architect. Plus choose between contemporary, classic or modern architecture. Beyond the period of your immediate graduation, your degree will still be valuable in the job market.
Additionally, by creating places that are adaptable to their needs and enable them to live more easily and comfortably, architects have the potential to improve the lives of others. In fact, according to Forbes magazine, architecture is one of the most admired vocations for this very reason.
Do You Want to Be an Architect?
To sum up, becoming an architect is a great opportunity to obtain a professional job that will pay well, is enjoyable to study, allows you to be creative, affects the lives of others, and presents challenges in your day-to-day work.
After all, you've decided this is a great career for you, and are ready to take on this challenge. Keep in mind, as you research the best architecture programs, consider those accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) as this is a great signal that the program will meet basic standards regarding faculty, student services and curriculum.
At some time, everyone makes a sacrifice to further their career ambitions in design by becoming an architect. So be ready to take a punch at your social life, relationships, and more often than not, your time. But as long as you know WHY you want to become an architect, it's not such a big deal.
Are You Ready To Work?
If you've walked the mile and are ready to provide your professional architect services independently, Bonsai is a great tool to help you take off. We offer a wide array of accounting and administrative tools to help you with project management end-to-end. Take a look at a few ways Bonsai can help take your business further.
- Client-winning proposal and quote templates with package options and approval notifications to help you land more projects.
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- A complete invoicing software to automatically create and send invoices, payment reminders and more.
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What Defines a Verbal Contract?
A verbal contract (formally called an oral contract) refers to an agreement between two parties that's made —you guessed it— verbally.
Formal contracts, like those between an employee and an employer, are typically written down. However, some professional transactions take place based on verbally agreed terms.
Freelancers are a good example of this. Often, freelancers will take on projects having agreed on the terms and payment via the phone, or an email. Unfortunately, sometimes clients don't pull through on their agreements, and hardworking freelancers can find themselves out of pocket and wondering whether a legal battle is worth all the hassle.
The main differences between written and oral contracts are that the former is signed and documented, whereas the latter is solely attributed to verbal communication.
Verbal contracts are a bit of a gray area for most people unfamiliar with contract law —which is most of us, right?— due to the fact that there's no physical evidence to support the claims made by the implemented parties.
When is a Verbal Agreement Legally Binding?
For any contract (written or verbal) to be binding, there are four major elements which need to be in place. The crucial elements of a contract are as follows:
- Offer and acceptance: An offer is made and accepted by another party involved in the agreement;
- Consideration: The involved parties must exchange something of value (money, a service, time, etc), this is known as consideration;
- Intention and certainty: All parties must fully understand the terms of the contract and intend to make a legally binding agreement freely; and
- Capacity: The parties must have the capacity to legally enter into the contract; they're above age and of a stable mindset.
Therefore, an oral agreement has legal validity if all of these elements are present. However, verbal contracts can be difficult to enforce in a court of law. In the next section, we take a look at how oral agreements hold up in court.
How strong is a verbal agreement in court?
Most business professionals are wary of entering into contracts orally because they can difficult to enforce in the face of the law.
If an oral contract is brought in front of a court of law, there is increased risk of one party (or both!) lying about the initial terms of the agreement. This is problematic for the court, as there's no unbiased way to conclude the case; often, this will result in the case being disregarded. Moreover, it can be difficult to outline contract defects if it's not in writing.
That being said, there are plenty of situations where enforceable contracts do not need to be written or spoken, they're simply implied. For instance, when you buy milk from a store, you give something in exchange for something else and enter into an implied contract, in this case - money is exchanged for goods.
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get started nowWhen are verbal agreements not enforceable?
There are some types of contracts which must be in writing.
The Statute of Frauds is a legal statute which states that certain kinds of contracts must be executed in writing and signed by the parties involved. The Statute of Frauds has been adopted in almost all U.S states, and requires a written contract for the following purposes:
- The sale of real estate or vehicles
- Real estate leases lasting longer than one year.
- Property transfer following the death of the owner.
- The case of a party agreeing to pay debt for someone else.
- Any contract that requires more than a year to fulfil.
- A contract involving and exceeding a specified amount of money (which varies by state).
Typically, a court of law won't enforce an oral agreement in any of these circumstances under the statute. Instead, a written document is required to make the contract enforceable.
Contract law is generally doesn't favor contracts agreed upon verbally. A verbal agreement is difficult to prove, and can be used by those intent on committing fraud. For that reason, it's always best to put any agreements in writing and ensure all parties have fully understood and consented to signing.
How are Verbal Contracts Enforced?
Verbal agreements can be proven with actions in the absence of physical documentation. Any oral promise to provide the sale of goods or perform a service that you agreed to counts as a valid contract. So, when facing a court of law, what evidence can you provide to enforce a verbal agreement?
How can you prove an oral contract?
Unfortunately, without solid proof, it may be difficult to convince a court of the legality of an oral contract. Without witnesses to testify to the oral agreement taking place or other forms of evidence, oral contracts won't stand up in court. Instead, it becomes a matter of "he-said-she-said" - which legal professionals definitely don't have time for!
If you were to enter into a verbal contract, it's recommended to follow up with an email or a letter confirming the offer, the terms of the agreement , and payment conditions. The more you can document the elements of a contract, the better your chances of legally enforcing a oral contract.
Another option is to make a recording of the conversation where the agreement is verbalized. This can be used to support your claims in the absence of a written agreement. However, it's always best to gain the permission of the other involved parties before hitting record.
Written vs Verbal Contracts: What's the Verdict?
Fundamentally, most verbal agreements are legally valid as long as they meet all the requirements for a contract. However, if you were to go to court over one party not fulfilling the terms of the contract, proving that the interaction took place can be extremely taxing.
So, ultimately, the question is: written or verbal agreements?
Any good lawyer, contract law firm, or legal professional would advise you to make sure you formalize any professional agreement with a written agreement. Written contracts provide a secure testament to the conditions that were agreed and signed by the two parties involved. If it comes to it, a physical contract is much easier to eviden in legal circumstances.
Freelancers, in particular, should be aware of the extra security that digital contracts may provide. Many people choose to stick to executing contracts verbally because they're not sure how to write a contract, or they think writing out the contract terms is too complicated or requires expensive legal advice. However, this is no longer the case.
Say hello to digital contracts
Today, we have a world of resources available at our fingertips. The internet is a treasure trove of invaluable information, platforms, and software that simplifies our lives. Creating, signing, and sending contracts has never been easier. What's more, you don't have to rely on a hiring a lawyer to explain all that legal jargon anymore.
There are plenty of tools available online for freelancers to use for guidance when drafting digital contracts. Tools like Bonsai provide a range of customizable, vetted contract templates for all kinds of freelance professionals. No matter what industry you're operating in, Bonsai has a professional template to offer.
Benefits of written contracts
A written contract makes the agreement much easier to prove the terms of the agreement in case something were to go awry. The two parties involved can rest assured that they're legal rights are protected, and the terms of the contract are sufficiently documented. Plus, it provides both parties with peace of mind to focus on the tasks at hand.
Create Professional Contracts with Bonsai
Bonsai's product suite for freelancers allows users to make contracts from scratch, or using professional templates, and sign them using an online signature maker.
With Bonsai, you can streamline and automate all of the boring back-office tasks that come with being a freelancer. From creating proposals that clients can't say no to, to sealing the deal with a professional contract - Bonsai will revolutionize the way you do business as a freelancer.
Why not secure your business today and sign up for a free trial?
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