« New positions for Architects in companies » Dominique Noël, President of ArchiBat

The recruitment agency witnesses a strong diversification of occupations in the architectural sector

OFTEN COMMON PLACE in architecture : there is not enough work. Completely untrue, responds Dominique Noël, founder and president of recruitment agency ArchiBat. The only specialist in the field of architecture and having just celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2005, this company has become the number one recruiter in the industry, with 1,500 candidates placed every year. Despite the marked opposition of architecture students, industry players and the Ministry of Culture with respect to the structure of architectural programmes, which underwent reforms last July, Mme Noël tells architects to seek jobs where there are opportunities: in companies, stores, housing development and any works owner.

Is there an employement crisis among architects? It is an industry that likes to complain—always has been. But claiming it a crisis is going a bit too far. ArchiBat always has a minimum of 250 positions to fill. The problem is not finding employers but finding good candidates. All too often, architects lack a first working experience, English skills, technical knowledge in standards, familiarity of the rules that govern urban planning and money. 

Who is looking to hire? Architectural firms? During the 1980s, there was very high, but temporary, demand for employment among firms, stemming from the large construction projects commissioned by François Mitterrand. Since the 1990s, demand for public works has dropped and that of private projects has skyrocketed. Today, Archibat’s clientele base is composed of 60% architectural firms and 40% public and private companies, primarily large retailers : permanent positions for architects have become significantly diversified.

How can we explain this trend? A number of positions have been made available because many engineers are moving toward the sector of new technologies. A myriad of companies have since realized that they need to manage and maintain their properties, and financial advisors are not the best qualified for the job. And lastly, retailers, merchandisers and stores offering leisure space have developed considerably. 
Architects have multiple skills, including technical, business, aesthetical and managerial know-how. There is an enormous demand today in hotel, restaurant and bar construction, space planning, boutique renovation, interior design and project management.The architectural industry has undergone a complete transformation and is no longer what it was 20 years ago. It is an architect’s goldmine, with positions available in all fields. In addition, companies, rather than architectural firms, frequently offer positions with more responsibility and higher pay.

What exactly does that mean? An architect just starting out earns approximately EUR 2,000 gross per month in an architectural firm. Sometimes less. At ArchiBat, we estimate that an architect should make at least EUR 1,500 net. This is the minimum salary an architect could expect after six years of studies. Companies can offer more.

Do architectural schools prepare their students for the plethora of occupations?  “When I hold conferences in schools, the students fall from their seat,” explains Dominique Noël. They are shocked that human resource departments are looking to recruit them; and schools provide no information with respect to these positions. Universities entertain the myth of the “Architect, Creator,” and speak only of the public market, thus students never think beyond large public projects. And on top of that, beginners don’t have access to competitions, and the State cannot spoonfeed everyone.

Recent reforms in architectural studies have introduced new programmes in addition to the current single diploma curriculum, namely Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s and 1-year certificate programmes, including a six-month apprenticeship to allow students to work on their own. Will these reforms help the current situation? 

Students have always implicitly carried out apprenticeships upon completing their studies; I have never seen a recent graduate post his or her plaque upon obtaining their degree. Generally, newcomers spend 1 to 3 years working for architectural firms, and then choose to become permanent staff members or set up their own businesses. However, the completion and validation of the apprenticeship of beginners by their employer could be worrying because that would place architects in a position in which they might be choosing their future competitors. That being said, the programme reform proves that at least we are starting to become aware of the diversity of occupations in the architectural industry. With a Master’s degree, architects would be able to apply for permanent positions after five years and the Bachelor’s degree could prepare assistants. We will soon find out how these diplomas and candidates actually do on the job market.


            Article prepared by Grégoire Allix     -    Article published in the September 23rd, 2005 issue