work

Today I put out seven applications for employment, some in Calgary, one in Edmonton, a couple in Lethbridge.

I was discussing this with M&F today – about taking work in Calgary.  1. There are more architectural positions there, and 2. the pay is higher there than in Lethbridge.  However, what I would pay in rent, utilities, food, fuel for longer commutes, fuel back and forth from Calgary to Lethbridge, and a few more things, it seems not worth it at all.

Bottom line – my Mom is in Lethbridge and needs help being looked after, so I’ll likely stay in Lethbridge.  Even if there is no work in architecture, there will be work in civil.

Well, SA didn’t work out.  I got a phone call yesterday stating that they need someone with experience as they’re heading into a project that I gather will be a challenge.  They don’t want a newbie at the helm.

I’m continuing to work on the architectural drawings from the college (corrections from the instructors) and my own “work” to put into a portfolio.  What I showed them at SA was basically me trying to show them that I’m serious about learning, fixing mistakes, becoming more fluid with using Revit.  What they want to see, I take it, is more of a finished product.  I get that.  So back to work I go.

TB, on the other hand, is now working.  CY found employment in Calgary right away, as did K.

I have an interview at a local architectural company!  This should happen Friday sometime if all goes well.  TB‘s been there part-time for a few weeks now.  I guess he’s found something else in the mean time.  The company?  I’ll call it SA for now.  I’ll tell you later if all goes well.  For what position?  Glad you asked.  It’ll involve using Revit, architectural drawing software from Autodesk, that seems to be replacing CAD (like AutoCAD) in the industry.  The company has been using CAD for all of its drawings and need someone knowledgeable in Revit to switch over and teach them how it’s used.

The main tasks I’m trying to master now with Revit is a) linework (various line types and thicknesses with various symbols and / or letters) and b) editing families (editing and / or creating from scratch objects useful in creating drawings, like window frames, custom stairways, paving bricks that actually look correct, etc.).  It’s not something they covered to much in class as it’s sort of an advanced level thing.  But, to create accurate drawings, it must be learned, practised, & mastered.

When I say “drawings”, usually the first thing that comes to mind for most people is hand-drawn pictures of buildings.  No, this is a sketch.  ‘Drawings‘  are more the technical specifications side of things.  Have a look.  All the red marks?  Instructor’s marks.  All the green?  Me doing my homework.  My goal is to do all corrections the instructor(s) supplied me with.  After all, I paid for these red marks!

I had it in mind that I’d try to complete as much as I could in these corrections before going out and meeting architectural people (except for Joe Matthew, that is) so as to have some sort of nice looking portfolio.  But this opportunity with SA came up!  Very cool!  So I’ll keep you posted about this.