Landscape Architecture for Landscape Architects › Forums › GENERAL DISCUSSION › Interesting topic by Mike Rowe
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Tanya Olson.
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May 19, 2011 at 6:58 pm #162879
Heather SmithParticipantI thought I would share this as so many recent LA graduates and even more experienced LAs are unemployed. I have seen conversations that seem to be hopeless regarding employment and wanted to offer encouragement. We have been able to survive and gain experience through self employment and yes…manual labor. I know there are people on here that are waiting for work…just wanted to throw out there opportunities for self employment. Our landscaping business has been profitable from the get-go…this despite the Great Recession. And there is great satisfaction in seeing your design through to completion.
May 19, 2011 at 7:40 pm #162884Tanya Olson
ParticipantYep! There are ‘weekend warriors’ but if you work that way for a living you’re a ‘grunt’? Couldn’t agree more with the sentiments expressed here.
In line with something I’ve been thinking about – are we (as a profession) shooting ourselves in the foot by letting apprenticeship training for licensure fall by the wayside? I know some states still allow it, but more and more don’t. What happens when people can’t afford college any more?
I know at least one LA and one Architect who gained licensure simply by working at firm (for many years of course – I think 10 years is the equivalent for masters+3) in their respective careers. Also know a person who started as a CAD drafter in an LA firm – now doing drafting and a good portion of their CA – who would be a very good landscape architect, who is taking the LARE in an adjacent state that allows for years working under a licensed LA as equivalent to college.
May 19, 2011 at 8:21 pm #162883
Jason T. RadiceParticipantMike is right. There is a major skills gap. In our cities, the schools can’t even get kids to read, with some having more than 60% dropout rates. You need to be able to read to do these jobs.
Where have all the technical highschools gone? Try to find a skilled machinist. Try to find a welder. Try to find competent construction workers.
One of the issues is that these jobs were seriously on the decline years ago, so training and emphasis had dropped off. We keep proping people up to live in areas where there are no jobs (rust belt), cheat them out of an education, and then support them for the rest of their lives. It has become so engrained in these societies that they rather live in poverty and not have to work than try to do something for themselves to improve their station in life. The spoiled brats in the burbs have mommy and daddy buy them everything and have no work ethic. They think they deserve everything just handed to them (RLA title anyone?). Then they get pushed to go to college when they really are not college material and wind up stuck in mediocrity because they hate what they do.
I started as a grunt working in food service and lawn/landscape and taught myself along the way to get where I am. You have to work hard to get ahead. Great post.
May 19, 2011 at 9:08 pm #162882
mauiBobParticipantYes, no kidding Jason! Read all the designers who want to be called Landscape Architect under the thread “Non LA’s using the title LA”. That is our society today. Did you read the recent article about the retired man in Michigan who won a $2 million dollar lottery? Because of a loophole in the system, he is able to collect welfare and food stamps and says he doesn’t mind doing it. Even though he has $2 million in the bank! Food stamps are taxpayer funded and suppose to go to people who really need it. The guy has no morals. Yes the mistake is with the State, but he knows better.
Heather, during one thread you were talking about barely making ends meet and struggling with the design build business. Now you seem to be doing okay.
May 19, 2011 at 9:28 pm #162881Heather SmithParticipantI think the hardest thing for us is redefining success and going with the eb and flow of self employment. A couple months ago I was having a hard time since it was winter here in N. Idaho and we don’t have consistent money. We don’t mind the hard work aspect, it is the insecurity of self employment. But we do recognize that our potential is unlimited and really we are the only ones that can stunt ourselves. I see people doing this in the design professions…waiting to be hired for years. I just wanted to throw out this link because I think we were taught that going to school would equal steady, gainful employment. Instead, I know multiple graduates unemployed or underemployed.
I may have another freak out next winter…living off of 12 months income for 16 months can be very stressful. 😛 If anyone has any ideas on how to make more moolah throw them our way!
I should add that being profitable doesn’t mean we are getting rich…just that we don’t have to live with our parents or a box under a bridge. 😉
May 20, 2011 at 9:25 pm #162880mark foster
ParticipantThanks for that Heather. I have seen a diminished capacity in the skilled trades and many construction sites filled with older workers. I fear that your generation of LA’s may have to “dumb down” designs to accommodate a lack of craftsmanship– too many of the good ones are getting older with no young ones to teach.
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