Christal+Brosnahan

= ** Landscape Architect ** =

** Description of the job: **
// Landscape architects plan, design and advise on the construction of many landscapes. They work with Engineers, Surveyors and Architects to ensure the designs/plans of their client are the best they can be but still comply with environmental regulations and the site's geology. //

** Three questions I want to answer about this job: **
Graduate Landscape Architects: $40,000-$50,000 a year. Landscape Architects (2-5 years experience): $50,000-$70,000 a year. Senior Landscape Architects (5-10 years experience): $70,000-$90,000 a year. But self-employed Landscape Architects can earn more. Job opportunities for landscape architects are poor. They spend most of their time in offices, creating plans/designs, preparing models, estimating costs, doing research and attending meetings with clients or other professionals involved in designing or planning a project. Most work full time (50+ hours a week). It usually takes around 5 years to graduate.
 * 1. ** How much can I earn?
 * 2. ** Where can I work with this job?
 * 3. ** How long do I need to study at University for?

** The sources I used to find this information: **
1. [] 2. [] 3 . [|http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Architecture-and-Engineering/Landscape-architects.htm#tab-]

** About the job... **
To become a landscape architect I will need to get a degree in landscape architecture from an accredited school, work experience and a passing score on the Landscape Architect Registration Exam. They confer with clients, engineers and other architects so need good communication skills. Landscape architects need to think about the environment as well as the designs and plans for the site. Some other tasks Landscape Architects have are: Some skills I will need to develop: Knowledge: Tools I will need to use:
 * Prepare site plans, specifications, and cost estimates for land development, coordinating arrangement of existing and proposed land features and structures.
 * Seek new work opportunities through marketing, writing proposals or giving presentations.
 * Prepare graphic representations or drawings of proposed plans or designs.
 * Create landscapes that minimize water consumption such as by incorporating drought-resistant grasses or indigenous plants.
 * Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
 * Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively
 * Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
 * Time Management: Managing your own time and the time of others.
 * Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
 * Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 * Geography: Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses.
 * Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.
 * Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 * Digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras.
 * Global positioning system (GPS) devices.
 * Computers/laptops.
 * Computer programs (Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Adobe systems, Sketchup and other software.

** About the qualifications and conditions: **
Some of the subjects I will need to take are graphics, physics, art and maths (calculas) at secondary school and at university I must achieve either a Bachelor's degree, Doctoral or professional degree or a Masters degree. Some useful experience would be a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge and must be considered qualified. The pay: Graduate Landscape Architects: $40,000-$50,000 a year. Landscape Architects (2-5 years experience): $50,000-$70,000 a year. Senior Landscape Architects (5-10 years experience): $70,000-$90,000 a year. But self-employed Landscape Architects can earn more. Working Conditions: Landscape Architects spend most of their time in offices, creating plans/designs, preparing models, estimating costs, doing research and attending meetings with clients or other professionals involved in designing or planning a project. If they aren't, they would be found at the site they are working on. Most work full time (50+ hours a week). Related Jobs: Architect, Architectural Technicion, Interior Designer, Landscape Gardener, Civil Engineer, Industrial Designer, Naval Architect/Boat Designer, Survey Technicion, Surveyor.

** Conclusion... **
I would enjoy this job because the subjects I need to study are of interest to me but I may not enjoy working in an office with alot of other people. I am very interested in becoming a Landscape Architect but I could develop some of the skills I need for it. I will need to develop better speaking skills and other related qualities. This job will probably change over time with newer technology.