Interested in pursuing a career in architecture? Deciding what skills to develop can feel challenging, especially because a career in architecture can take you in many different directions. To help guide students and emerging professionals, NCARB has released a new Workforce Readiness Report that identifies the key knowledge, skills, and abilities (called KSAs) you need to succeed in your first architecture job.

Download the Workforce Readiness Report

The report was created with research and input from thousands of both experienced and entry-level architecture professionals. It identifies the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to effectively perform in an entry-level architecture position, including technical skills and soft skills.

Start building your career plan—dive into the nine skills that both licensed and unlicensed individuals indicated were most critical for an entry-level role:

Technical Skills

  1. Use software to create 2D and 3D drawings as directed. As you work in an architecture firm, it’s essential that you know how to use CAD and/or BIM software to develop a design based on instructions and specifications. 
  2. Make changes to those 2D and 3D drawings based on redline comments. Once you’ve developed those initial designs, a more senior architect or designer will mark them up with comments, revisions, and changes—you have to know how to adjust your drawings based on that feedback.
  3. Understand the meaning and purpose of common drawing elements included within design and construction drawings. From hatch patterns to dimensions to elevations, there are many Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry-specific drawing elements that you’ll need to know how to interpret and apply correctly.
  4. Follow instructions to assemble construction drawings. Once the design has been finalized, it’s important that you can create a set of construction drawings that the contractor will use to turn the design from a sketch to a built object.
  5. Understand common business software applications. Aside from the AEC-specific programs, like CAD or Revit, you’ll also need to know how to use generic business software, including word processing (Microsoft Word, Google Docs) and spreadsheet (Excel, Google Sheets) programs.   

Soft Skills

  1. Understand the importance of collaborating with others to achieve goals. Architects collaborate every day with a variety of individuals, including engineers, interior designers, contractors, and more. To succeed as an architect, you’ll need to work well within a team toward a shared goal.
  2. Demonstrate time management and organizational skills. You’re also likely to be juggling several projects and deadlines at any given moment—learning how to meet those deadlines while staying on top of other priorities is an essential skill.
  3. Communicate clearly and professionally. Whether sharing your ideas with a client or collaborating with your colleagues, you’ll need to know how to present your thoughts in a way that other people can understand.
  4. Take initiative and solve problems independently. Being able to seek out answers to questions independently and find a solution on your own is a valuable skill that can help you advance.

Interested in learning more? Check out all the KSAs that can help you build an early career in architecture in NCARB’s Workforce Readiness Report.