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1. Can you tell me about the types of tasks you are responsible for on a day-to-day basis 2. What do you enjoy most about your career? 3. What is most challenging about your career? 4. What are some skills and personality traits necessary to perform your job? 5. What are some misconceptions about your career? 6. How much do you make per year in your career? 7. What is the funnest part of your job? 8. Does your job require you to be on your feet all the time or is it more laid back? 9. What type of education do you require to do this job? 10. Is your career worth all the effort? ?
There’s more than one question so I would appreciate if you answered all of them. :D
I would also like to know how difficult your career is to master. Thank you!
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2 answers
John Easton CEng FIET FBCS CITP
Design large computer systems for companies
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John’s Answer
OK, so lots to answer here but I'll try to be brief.
1. I work with companies and help them solve their business problems with technology solutions. That basically sums up what I do (or what I get paid to do). I do lots of other stuff too like mentoring, teaching, things like this as well.
2. I like solving problems and that is what I basically do. Some are easy to solve and some are hard. The hard ones are more fun.
3. Organisational bureaucracy. There are processes for everything. Some come from customers and some from the company I work for. While they are surely important, they can be challenging to deal with too!
4. Being able to learn new things quickly. Being able to communicate complex things simply. Most importantly, coming up with creative solutions to problems.
5. The main one I hate is that people think that IT is just about programming. This puts so many people off careers in IT when actually very few IT jobs actually need programming skills. Don't get me wrong, they're useful to have, but they are way off being the only skill you need (if indeed you need it at all).
6. Total package is in excess of 200K.
7. The best part of the job are the people I work with. That is by far what makes it all worthwhile to come into the office every day.
8. I have a lot of flexibility in what I do and when/where I do it so that helps. If I answer this literally, I have a standing desk, so yes I do spend most of my day on my feet rather than sitting down ;-)
9. I studied for a degree and beyond because that was the entry criteria at the time. Nowadays we take people on apprenticeships as well as graduates and experienced hires so there are many more paths into the organisation than before. You need to choose what is right for you accepting that university is not always going to be the right route for everyone.
10. Is it worth it? Absolutely. They say that if you enjoy what you do then you will never work a day in your life and I love what I do.
1. I work with companies and help them solve their business problems with technology solutions. That basically sums up what I do (or what I get paid to do). I do lots of other stuff too like mentoring, teaching, things like this as well.
2. I like solving problems and that is what I basically do. Some are easy to solve and some are hard. The hard ones are more fun.
3. Organisational bureaucracy. There are processes for everything. Some come from customers and some from the company I work for. While they are surely important, they can be challenging to deal with too!
4. Being able to learn new things quickly. Being able to communicate complex things simply. Most importantly, coming up with creative solutions to problems.
5. The main one I hate is that people think that IT is just about programming. This puts so many people off careers in IT when actually very few IT jobs actually need programming skills. Don't get me wrong, they're useful to have, but they are way off being the only skill you need (if indeed you need it at all).
6. Total package is in excess of 200K.
7. The best part of the job are the people I work with. That is by far what makes it all worthwhile to come into the office every day.
8. I have a lot of flexibility in what I do and when/where I do it so that helps. If I answer this literally, I have a standing desk, so yes I do spend most of my day on my feet rather than sitting down ;-)
9. I studied for a degree and beyond because that was the entry criteria at the time. Nowadays we take people on apprenticeships as well as graduates and experienced hires so there are many more paths into the organisation than before. You need to choose what is right for you accepting that university is not always going to be the right route for everyone.
10. Is it worth it? Absolutely. They say that if you enjoy what you do then you will never work a day in your life and I love what I do.
Updated
Carly’s Answer
1- As a Senior Level Landscape Architect every day is different but some of the things I might work on are: responding to a public request for proposal (RFP) and writing about my/teams/companies experience and qualifications and our understanding of the project and/or site; managing project budgets and invoicing, set up and facilitate meetings with clients, contractors, all the many interconnected disciplines, and stakeholders; present design ideas to the public or local planning departments/ city councils/ government officials; visit the site to start a new project to verify existing limits of work, landform, ecology, drainage patterns/ grading, climate/sun/wind patterns, abutting property details, etc.; sketching design plans and ideas in plan view and or perspective; delegating project work to a team of junior LA's, landscape designers, and or CAD specialists; technical work might include- working on construction drawings in AutoCAD, cost estimates in MS Excel, memo's and letters/ specification packages in MS Word, creating presentations in MS PowerPoint, refining graphic communication/ project visualization/ reports and more in Adobe Creative Suite, 3D model building in Trimble SketchUp, and more; and maybe researching products and materials for a design.
2- I love everything about my career connecting people to nature, creating play and recreation opportunities, protecting the environment, using art and science skills.
3- What is most challenging for me and a lot of other LA's is the non-creative work and business/admin side of our work.
4- Skills and traits are probably passionate about the environment and human welfare, artistic and creative, and you have to have a sense of humor (and patience) for all the mishaps and dealing with so many disciplines and types of people.
5- The biggest misconnection is that landscape architect= gardener. We deal with way more than just plants and planting layouts. I always tell people "Think architect of the outdoors".
6- Making lower six figures with almost 20 years experience.
7- funnest part is site visits and playing on the finished playground you designed. Or networking, continuing education and seminars.
8- You will mostly be at the computer, get a standup desk!
9- Education is a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution to practice, if you want to teach a Masters or PHD is required.
10- Yes I believe my career is worth all the effort and long nights in the studio and 5 years of school (most programs at 5). But you got to love what you do to believe its all worth it.
2- I love everything about my career connecting people to nature, creating play and recreation opportunities, protecting the environment, using art and science skills.
3- What is most challenging for me and a lot of other LA's is the non-creative work and business/admin side of our work.
4- Skills and traits are probably passionate about the environment and human welfare, artistic and creative, and you have to have a sense of humor (and patience) for all the mishaps and dealing with so many disciplines and types of people.
5- The biggest misconnection is that landscape architect= gardener. We deal with way more than just plants and planting layouts. I always tell people "Think architect of the outdoors".
6- Making lower six figures with almost 20 years experience.
7- funnest part is site visits and playing on the finished playground you designed. Or networking, continuing education and seminars.
8- You will mostly be at the computer, get a standup desk!
9- Education is a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution to practice, if you want to teach a Masters or PHD is required.
10- Yes I believe my career is worth all the effort and long nights in the studio and 5 years of school (most programs at 5). But you got to love what you do to believe its all worth it.