Architecture students have problem solving, technical and project management skills that will enable them to succeed in property, construction and a range of other careers.

Architecture graduates go on to a range of professions, including town planning, quantity surveying and chartered surveying, and there are other options too for those who decide not to pursue a career as an architect. This guide should help you think about the skills you have, the jobs they can be applied to, and the options available.

Skills for your CV

The following is a list of key skills that architects develop while studying for their degrees. It also applies to architecture technologists, who are particularly concerned with the technical performance of buildings:

• time and self-management
• design skills
• concise and accurate writing/communication skills
• organisational skills
• identify and predict trends and patterns
• interpret and evaluate events, information, and ideas
• computer literacy
• project management
• problem solving
• up-to-date knowledge of the latest legal developments in their field.

Job roles and career areas you could work in

Many architectural graduates who decide not to qualify as an architect find jobs in the construction industry as design managers.

Architecture graduates tend to be perfectionists, as it is crucial for original plans to be faultless in order for a project to succeed. This means that they would do very well in careers that require mathematical precision, such as finance, accounting and computer programming.

They are also used to having to think laterally. If something doesn’t work on the build, they will have to think of ways of getting round the problem. This would make them ideal for roles in the armed forces, Civil Service, or education.

Other possible careers include:

• Marketing, sales, advertising and HR
• accountancy and financial management
• fire engineering
• becoming a solicitor
• becoming a barrister
• consulting and building plans