M-F 8-5...Cry me a river.

Portfolio? GRE prep? That's what weekends and evenings are for. Suck it up, aquaman, and be a "can-do" man.

What do you do anyways?

I work in advertising for a newspaper. I just feel like with a more flexible job(retail, etc.) I could get more accomplished.

whoa, if you are having issues with an 8-5 and pulling your port together at the same time, you may reconsider applying for the march program. consider this a primer of what's to come. you'll be wishing you had your 8-5 back.

The main issue is that I don't like my job right now and I just want something else right now. but I'm curious as to what kind of schedules others are working on while preparing for grad school. just looking for some perspective

i wish i had a 8-5 job. actually, no i dont. i work from 6-3 (sometimes to 5) and some saturday's, and im able to find time to work on my portfolio and study for the gre's. do you have a second job? kids? if not and youre just spending all that after work time hanging out with friends, you really need to get your priorities straight. and e's comment is right: if you cant manage an 8-5, then you probably should reconsider.

"The main issue is that I don't like my job right now and I just want something else right now."
-aquaman

just quit already.

so just get another job...
i usually don't post pessimistic advice to others, but seriously - if you feel you have to create special conditions in your life to simply apply to MArch programs, you really should reconsider your decision to apply. Most good MArch programs will have you busy 12 to 18 hours day...

citizen, I understand the importance of priorities. My question is do you think that working a different kind of schedule will give me(or anyone for that matter) MORE time. Not really complaining just really wanting to know if someone has a different approach.

Of course, my answer is: quit any job you hate, unless it will mean losing your house because you can't pay the mortgage.

As to working a different schedule, it might help you be more productive. I had a job for three years that was 8-5, but on a Sun-Thursday schedule. I hated it, as it meant I only saw my partner on Saturdays, BUT I got a whole heck of a lot done on Fridays. It never felt like a weekend to me, since I was still getting up early to drop my partner off at work. Most of what I did was recreational (build rockets, mostly), but it somehow went better because I was home alone all day when everyone else was at work.

Also, I once had a job making pizza dough for a living, and I had to be at work at 6:30. Hated that, but again, I got so much done in the afternoon. I think I did more painting (watercolor) during that time of my life than at any other time. I missed out on a lot of social activities in the evening because I had to be in bed by 9:00, but overall, it was a good time for me in terms of creative energy.

aqua, you need to find something that works for you. we are all different. you are asking about a "different kind of schedule" and "flexibility", but it sounds like you want more time to apply yourself to your port and gre studies. if so, do what you need to do to get into the best school possible, but be prepared for a lot of hard work once you get in that will present you with many inflexible schedules and deadlines.

"My question is do you think that working a different kind of schedule will give me(or anyone for that matter) MORE time"

aquaman, i really cant answer that. its a matter of personal preference. if you think that you need a flexible schedule to work, then so be it. find another job that will allow you to do that (you seem to hate your job anyway). some people are flexible and can work around their work schedule, and some people need their work schedule to be flexible around them. just remember that grad school (from what i know at least) will not be as forgiving or as flexible as some jobs.

Hours in a Week - 168
Hours Spent Working - 45
Hours Spent Sleeping [assuming 8 hours a day] - 56
Hours for Miscellaneous tasks - 17
Hours leftover - 40

If you cant get your portfolio and study done in 40 hours a week, you need some professional time-management help.

8 hours of sleep a day? lucky bastard!

4 hours of sleep for me last night. could've used a couple more.

8-5 aint bad, but i would prefer a job where i could work 4 days and have off 3 everyweek. lets me have straight focus time. problem is, there is a real world that demands our compliance.

you could always go get another job, just don't tell them you will be leaving it, until 2-3 weeks before when you hand them your notice. if the job pays the same and you can get something with the same amount of hours spread out more to your liking, go for it. othewise, like most have said, get your portfolio done at night and on the weekend.

Actually, that breakdown was based on the assumption of aquaman's schedule, although I do myself manage to sneak in 8 hours of sleep a night...

coming in for the defense of aquaman.... it makes sense that you want to devote time to your portfolio and maybe even just screw around a little before grad school. if you can support yourself financially and legitimize the event to all interested parties (spouse? parent? future employer?) then I say go for it. Personally, I didn't have a job while composing my portfolio for employment...oh but wait, I screwed around a lot too.

diabase - add in an hour and half everyday for getting ready for work, an hour for lunch at work, driving home from work and you've lost another 15 hours.

....whenever I complain about not having enough time, my father will retort with "You have the same time everyone else does." It shuts me up.

Actually Strawbeary. in those lucky countries with daylight savings time, we get an extra hour during the summer. The only problem is, that the extra hour of sunlight fades the curtains at a substantially higher rate ;]

I think we all architect should need more flexible job hours...How can estimulate our creative minds on corporate hours?...Aqua go for it...enjoy it while you can....Get around...fix you portfolio....get the gre out of the way...Once you get to Grad school you won't even have time to pee (depending on the school I guess) but you'll enjoy the schedule because it will be Awkwardly flexible. I wouldn't mind working 14 hours a day if only I could spend them working MY way...What is up with these stiff architecture office hours? We should have flexible schedules so we can come in and out as we wish, go to museums, lectures, etc... deliver the job on time and still enjoy life while doing it...

thanks a lot everyone. I definitely got some different viewpoints that will help.

Aquaman,

One thing that really helped me was a job that I could start at 5am. So I would have more time during the day for my architecture school. It takes a little discipline but it really really works. Good luck.

pumakiro - i know of an office that works like that, and everyone works way more than the corporate 8 hour day because of it and they are happy and in control. I think it sounds great - so human, so creative, so friendly.
I HATE finishing a huge deadline at say 2:00 pm where I worked so hard, overtime, skipping lunches - and I just have to pick up what's next on the damn pile! Those are the most anguishing afternoons of all.

problem of flexible hours is that the rest of world is still in "regular" hours. My most productive hour is around midnight, but it's too bad that I can't reach either my clients or contractors at that hours.

I guess artists can work whenever they want, because they don't have to deal with anyone... except when they have to sell their stuff.

Strawbeary....Which office is that/... I'll like to work for them...it looks that they know what architecture is about....(maybe) it seems the only way to go for me...it drives me nuts to be sitting in an office for more than 4 hours a day...Just kills me..."specially Those anguishing afternoons".
Fulcrum- i don't think flexible schedules wil create a problem.. Assuming we are all responsible, well organized individual who could manage our own time and the time of others around it. Technology allows us now to be that flexible. Or you are going to tell me that if you take on a project in Japan you are going to change your sleeping time based on theirs... ???? Evrything is workable....

zip it and stay at that ball + chain

Aquaman-- I too work 8-5 M-F and am applying this fall as well. I also hate my job, but am sticking it out to save money, and view switching jobs in the middle of the application process as too much of a distraction. As far as having enough time--- I think if I had my days free, I'd do something else and continue to leave the app stuff for nights and weekends.

pumakiro - I heard that about this firm hlkb
i am sure there is someone here who can either confirm or denounce that they work like this - ? I heard it from a former employee.

M-F 8-to-5!!!! What are ya KRAZY!!! GIT a reel job & work 10-1. Buy my book & I'll show U how. You work-A-friggin-HolIcS.

Your Pal,
Carlton Sheets

yes, you should.

get a few days off.. say about a week. if u feel you need to get back to work and manage your time do it or quit.
meantime also search for another job which suits your need.