Architectural Technology Career

Retro-Fit

From 1996 to 2006, Pharmacy research firms more than trebled their staff numbers and increased their productivity ten-fold. Lab-Technicians were at the forefront of the change over to computerised systems and handling of larger volume delivery critical projects. Lacking a comparible academic background to PHD Scientists or Engineers, Lab-Technicians Project managed and research team managed, delivered projects and calmly solved problems that arose at 'the coal face ' as we call it. Many lab-technicians advanced to middle management roles, some set up small scale technical research practices of their own, some went on to study 4th Level. I have worked with many exceptional lab-technicians, However the future for lab-Technicians is not rosy

There are those who have become indispensable to their employers and as long as the Pharmacy firm survive, they will have a career and income. For most that's enough, they have a life outside work, others need more, they dont like being excluded from designing product, strategic planning, sign off of stages of approval and partnership of a major research firm.
Many of my contepories are going to Dubai and Sydney as the work dries up here, there are some oppertunities overseas despite the constrictions in my industry being world wide.

My concern though, is for the recent graduates or those with less than 5 years experienceas technicians. The previous advantages they had of fast computer skills and good technical ability have been significantly reduced. Doctoral level graduates after 6 years have far better computer and presentation skills and now worryingly, they have a better understanding of the rational behind the technical side of the industry especially in the context of escalating stringency in Federal drug standards and stricter environmental controls. it begs the age old friday night drinks question, Who would they keep in a recession, Phd Scientist or lab-technician? My money used to be on the lab-technician.

For fully qualified PHD Scientists to progress their careers, their are ample choices. For lab-technicians, they are lucky if they get into project management. So how do lab-technicians adapt to new method in Pharmacy or up-skill to advance their net worth? Most graduates nowdays leave with a PHD. How can the lab-technician call him or herself a professional with only a hons degree and no irish recognised representative body, the law dosen't even recognise it as a career, save the fact that we are not Pharmacists* (registered title).

4 years of 20 hours of college time a week and 10 years of hard work, is worth what now? when you have no job security, when your employers firm could collapse any day now, when what you took for a worthwhile career turns out to have severe limitations. When you can't progress to where your career path seems to be leading you, despite being so close you can never be an Pharmacist, I'll never be one without going right back to college for 3 years to do a Masters and PHD.

Instead of doing that I thought I'd go back instead for the 3 years to study Architectural Technology, I think it would be a wonderfully fulfilling career. I love drawing and I love buildings. What do you guys think. Which college is the best? I 've been accepted to course for september, but just checkin.

smashey

An interesting change of career there. The job is rewarding but can be frustrating. As for what college is best, DIT and WIT seem to be up there.

Slig

I started off loving buildings and half way through I hated them, back to liking them again though:D. I heard WIT was the best, which is why I went. I'm a bit biased though. DIT seem to have good facilities but I'd go back to Waterford any day over Dublin. Either way good luck with the new career,
kinda weird time to go for the construction industry though, dont you think?

sinnerboy

Back in my day ( old man groaning sounds ) - early 80's the cynics told us that that we'd have no jobs to work at after training as computers would see us all redundant . :rolleyes:

True , when I finished ( DIT ) in the mid 80's the economy In General was in the crapper - but we were all snapped up by the then booming UK economy . Some went to the US , others Oz ( spent 18 months there myself) .

You are very mobile as an AT - at least until you tie yourself down with your own commitments .

If you can afford to do it - I think an economic downturn is an excellent time to retrain

Builderfromhell

sinnerboy wrote: »

Back in my day ( old man groaning sounds ) - early 80's the cynics told us that that we'd have no jobs to work at after training as computers would see us all redundant . :rolleyes:

True , when I finished ( DIT ) in the mid 80's the economy In General was in the crapper - but we were all snapped up by the then booming UK economy . Some went to the US , others Oz ( spent 18 months there myself) .

You are very mobile as an AT - at least until you tie yourself down with your own commitments .

If you can afford to do it - I think an economic downturn is an excellent time to retrain

Couldn't agree more. when the economy is racing ahead there is little time to think, study, learn. Now would be a good time to gain more skills and be ready for the next wave of development.

Poor Uncle Tom

Builderfromhell wrote: »

be ready for the next wave of development.

Optomism like that should be canned and sold (labelled as an elixer for a flagging career in construction)

Anyway, you are right and I agree fully.