hi guys, this is my first post. i would appreciate helpful suggestions 
I completed B.arch from India last year and im planning for a post graduate course in Canada related to my field. i have 1 year of experience, i know its not much so before i opt for the course i would like to know :
1. Can i work under an Architect for job experience? ( im not looking forward to settle in Canada at the moment, i just need job experience).
2. what are the chances that i might get a job?
3. is Architecture in demand in canada??
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 14-03-15 10:33:47
I am an Architect who working in Canada for 9 years and now in India for 4 years.
I have given my word that I will be positive from now on and hence my answer to your queries as follows :
1. You need one year experience to apply for PR (Permanent residency). Come through PR so that your fees to universities will be less.
2. yes. You can work under an Architect for job experience but no one will hire you as the field is saturated and only whites are given preference.
3. Once you do PG from a good university like Carleton or a Univ. of Toronto etc.., you may get a job. But pay will be very less when compared to people in the IT field.
4. Architecture is not in demand in Canada but the profession of Architecture is in great demand for immigration. You will get top points for that.
You cm use the Msg. option to PM me your phone number and if you need further info. I can call you. I am located in the state known as Kerala in India.
Murali
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
mkpr,
Please visit CACB and OAA websites. All the information is given and is comprehensive. It is hard for any immigrant to settle in most of the fields and you will start to appreciate why. The culture here is they expect you to start at the bottom and work your way up, regardless of how much foreign education and experience you may have. I know a lot of people (white & Indian) who started at the bottom, took evening & weekend courses related to building/architecture and developed their network before getting hired into higher paying positions. They have grown within a few years.
But some immigrants who came in their 40's and 50's did find it hard to assimilate into the Canadian system. I would not be this optimistic to them. But if you are younger and can bear some of this challenge, things will ease out. After spending more than 10 years in Canada, my opinion is Architecture is a good field to be in especially today. However, it is hard to become an architect or call yourself an Architect because of legal constrains in certification and liability issues. It is some what of a pure science where they don't need a lot of people in front of computer/desk trying to design a building in an office. But this country needs a lot of more people who would be able to interpret drawings, do cost analysis, understand building science, building codes, manage projects and be able to supervise, coordinate & finish projects on time and budget. And a person with Architectural back ground is well suited to be able to do such things. Also the possibility of starting your own home design business (don't have to be an architect) or construction/renovation/restoration business cannot be ignored.
All the best.
thank you your replies were helpful
There are few things you should keep in your mind while jumping into Canadian Job market. Soft skills play very important role so spend first few weeks/months on learning/polishing them. Another point is to keep your options open – location wise as well as role wise. Be ready to start from any level of your field. I would say, even keep your option open to modify/change you career/field/domain. When I landed here, I was in engineering domain but most of the manufacturing/engineering jobs were already outsourced so in the first month itself, I understood that I have to change my career. I spent around a month to study the prospects of other careers and finalized top three to take a plunge. I picked the career which was 180 degree apart but I would like to give you an example of my known person, who was an architecture graduate from Delhi University and came almost the same time I came, with few years of working experience. In the first few months, he also understood that architecture work in North America in not the same as in India. He started looking into deviating to another career with better prospects where he can re-use his technical skills. He came across the Building Maintenance Technician’s profession which had a constant demand and wide scope. He waited for one year, to be eligible for the OSAP load and joined Centennial College. Thereafter, he got his first break in a rental building. After six month, he got into Ministry of Health’s office building where the maintenance was given to specialized company. I think it was the same company which owns 407 ETR. The role was to see that all functions of building are in good working condition. For regular maintenance, they had 3 handymen and for any other work, they had a list of on call sub-contractors. His job was to keep an eye on all building machinery, allocate work to the handymen, prepare job orders for the external sub-contractors/technicians and prepare weekly reports for the management. The last time I met him in around 2010 and he was maintenance manager of Rogers Center, drawing 6 figures annual salary. His salary was more than an average IT guy’s salary so TK, don’t think only IT guys make most money.
The crux of this example is that you have to be ready for the change and think beyond the box. Unless you think that you are born to be an architect and cannot do anything else, explore where can you divert your skills and where future prospects are brighter. A long time back, someone told me that an average Canadian changes career 2-3 time in life so be prepare and take it as an opportunity to explore the new domains. Be ready to come out from your comfort zone – believe me, you will enjoy it later.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A Delhite in Toronto
thank you for your reply, pretty helpful
Quote:
Originally posted by mkpr
hi guys, this is my first post. i would appreciate helpful suggestions
I completed B.arch from India last year and im planning for a post graduate course in Canada related to my field. i have 1 year of experience, i know its not much so before i opt for the course i would like to know :
1. Can i work under an Architect for job experience? ( im not looking forward to settle in Canada at the moment, i just need job experience).
2. what are the chances that i might get a job?
3. is Architecture in demand in canada??
Your chances of working as an Architect here are next to nothing. Maybe you can do some MS over here & go into some urban planning & get a job with the city , gov etc.
But doing a regular Arch. job with some builder, construction firm etc are next to nothing. Maybe you can get some Auto CAD job or some low level drafting job. But you won't be doing much design job .
