Anyone need an architect?
 

Just found out our office will be closing its doors in January right after the New Year due to work slowdown (actually it's pretty much come to a screeching halt) associated with the economy. Fkin wonderful. Happy 2009. Might not be around here much anymore as a result.

If anyone happens to know of anyone hiring/looking, let me know. Or maybe I'll just try to make a career change out of it. I'm getting awfully sick of dealing with this kind of crap every time the economy burps every 5-8 years or so... This profession is so love/hate sometimes...

Sorry to hear the bad news.


KT

Thanks - I know you're in a similar boat as a construction guy. Our office was heavily focused on retail (something I warned the boss about at least a half-dozen times, but I guess he was just in love with the "easy money" during the good times or whatever). We just hit the wall in the last month or two and I think he saw the writing on the wall. It bites but I'm trying to focus on the silver linings...

I have plenty to get caught up on around home and what-not so it's not like I'll be short of things to do, but it's a bit easier when there's money coming in also. I'm hopeful that something will come along, just the uncertainty kind of stinks.

I was frankly getting kind of sick of where I was anyway - sort of "plateaued", not much real advancement opportunity, wasn't really learning anything new, etc. Maybe a change will be good. We'll see. 2008 has officially been one of the crappiest years of my life for many reasons I won't get into right now (this is just the icing on the cake). I'll be celebrating its departure tomorrow night. Hopefully 2009 marks better days.

2009 has "got" to be better for a bunch of us :). I've been busier than ever with "house projects" these past few months while I figure out "what's next"...good luck, you'll be OK even though it sucks (now)!!!

Sorry to hear that, Jeff. I'm confident that you will turn this into a positive experience and that everything will work out fine in the end.

That sucks Jeff. Sorry to hear. :(

The industry sucks now. My construction business has tanked this past yr. I had alot of job cancellations. Plus, I'm just not getting that many calls. I've never seen it this bad.

Jeff, sorry to hear the news. I've been watching the Architectural Billings Index tank to all-time record lows and always wondered if you were safe. I feel it's good that you're prepped for a change, because this monstrous commercial real estate bust will delay the eventual recovery in architecture. jürgen

Sorry to hear the news, here's hoping 2009 brings better things. I concur, 2008 was a crappy, crappy year...

I'm obviously going to shoot a bunch of resumes off to the (few) firms that are still hiring, but I'm seriously giving thought to just becoming an owner's rep or some sort of (non-construction-related) general Project Manager. I think I could make a pretty compelling case for being effective in that role. Worst case I have my study materials for the CA Real Estate Agent test too, so I can take that and go sit around a Century 21 office or something and see if I can scrape up a few clients if worse comes to worse. Dunno yet. Something will shake out.

I'll be lifting a glass at midnight tonight to kick 2008's arse into the history books in either case. Here's hoping for a good 2009 and a good one to all you guys too - and thanks for the kind words!

Ugh.

Just talked to my best friend last night. He works for a small video game developer that does games for the PS3. They are small enough that the whole company works on only one game at a time. Their publisher just cancelled their contract for their one and only game in development.

He expects to be looking for a new job soon too.
...
My mother, who works for a rental car company, was telling me that someone from corporate sent an e-mail to the wrong "Linda" in her office three weeks ago. In the e-mail was a reference to her (my mother's) office closing. The very next day, three people from corporate showed up in person to deny the rumors (my mother doesn't buy their denials). She's just waiting for the "official" word.

Lot's of people in a lot of industries are hurting right now, but at least we are bailing out the largest, least profitiable companies, right?

What's keeping you in CA, Jeff? Other parts of the country may be in better shape. What about LEED? Will the new administration's interest in green technology open opportunities for architects that are LEED certified / savy?

You could always see if Markus could get you up to speed on a career as a fluffer. :)

Sorry to hear that Jeff,

Maybe I could get you a job wit the state... on wait.

Or maybe you could get a sales job at Circle Porsche? Seriously, even as a in between job until you find something else.

If things get really bad you can always make a few bucks wrenching on my 944. ;) I really do have to either get it running or give it away in 2009.

Jeff this may turn out to be the opportunity to find something you like more. At least you have been smart with your money!

As for me and the wife, we are still waiting to see if the new Governor is going to keep us or let us go. We both may be out on the streets in Jan. 2009.

I have been out of the job market since Sept. 2008. Not only do I have an architectural license for my state but I am NCARB certified and a LEED Accredited Professional. Been going on interviews, but the companies that are hiring are only offering half of what I was making. Last time I was unemployed was back in 1974.

Lucky for me I have a pension and the wife still have her job.

Hoping that Chicago will get the nod for the 2016 Olympic in 2009. That will bring design and construction jobs back to the city.

The bright side of this is that i have been able to spend a lot of time with my 4year old son. My wife think he has autism because he missed several milestones in his development. I think he is fine. We had him tested by several specialists and some say that he is find and some say that he has a little bit of autism.

He is more talkative since I been home and I got him hook on the internet. My brother even got him a tiny mouse for his hand.

Happy New Year everyone.

Too bad, Jeff. Join the club. I'm just waiting for my wife to get laid off and lose our benefits, not to mention what keeps us going. When that happens, I'm outta this sewer. Maybe Costa Rica or BFE. I have nothing but contempt for the US, the lemmings, the politicians, everything.

Nothing has changed for 90 % of the people I know, but they're all behaving as if they have lost their jobs, which they haven't. They can all suck mine.

At least you can pick up and go. I have so much sch!t around me that I'm anchored until I can sell it or give it away. Can't afford to move it or store it.

Might be a hijack, but I must comment. I have a grand nephew that didn't even start to talk until he was 4. Everyone in the family was so worried that he was going to be slow, but I said, "He's fine."

Guess what? He's fine. 16 and in high school doing well. Hope this is the case for you too, ruf.

It is probably a massive cut in pay... and very little job security being a state job.

But FWIW my department is hiring:

http://jobs.spb.ca.gov/wvpos/more_info.cfm?recno=384626

Jeff,
Sorry to hear of your troubles.
Do you speak French? Many English home buyers have a need for English First Language Architect or Project Manager. Many French Architects have English skills that don't quite mesh with the technically challenged home buyers or owners. Might be a good opportunity.

They are or were offering jobs for Architects/project managers for $200,00 per year. Only down side is it is in Iraq. Mrs. Ruf didn't think it was a great idea. I told her it not worth losing your head over a job. Other companies are hiring but you had to relocate to Dubai, and the cost of living in Dubai is much more than the cost of living in the states.

It's pretty calm now.

I know a guy who did a stint in Iraq in 2004 as a heavy machine operator. When he came back, he had enough money to buy a brand new 997 C4S Cab. (He is also "unemployed" every year from December to March when he chooses not to work, but that is a thread for PARF.)