I work for a tiny firm consisting of the principal, myself, and a very part-time as-built/CAD person. The principal is getting new cards printed up, and asked me what I wanted my title to be.
I am educated, but unlicensed. At any given point you could walk into the office and find only me. Any structural, code, or drawing questions get referred to me, and some clients and builders deal almost exclusively with me.
What do I call that? (I prefer Architect, but there are rules against that.)
sorry. I guess project manager is the best: all-round, status but not 'trying to call yourself an architect but avoiding legal pitfalls' which is demeaning
If you're thinking of using "architect" (lowercase or not!) or "architectural", or even "designer", you need to check with your state's board to see if that's acceptable.
Some states don't allow any title that has "architect" in it - or anything word constructed to look or sound like architect - by anyone unlicensed.
California is an example of a state that fines people for using such terms, even "intern architect." In California you can't even use "designer" without certain credentials.
But other states allow certain "architect" constructions (even capitilized!) for people working in the field by unlicensed. For example Massachusetts' board specifically states that "Intern Architect" is an acceptable title.
Your firm might also want to check with its insurance rep. The insurance guys discourage the use of "Project Manager" by unlicensed staff, because it implies a certain level of care.
"Job Captain" is safer. Associate is fine - but has different meanings in different firms - and it also has that "WalMart Associate" or "Sandwich Associate" stigma...
These are all reasons why our firm has eliminated all titles from everybody's cards. All cards just have names, but those of us who are licensed use our stamps to emboss our cards.
Here's the title I propose, keep in mind it's all one title:
Senior Liason for Building Construction and Design Communications / Chief Construction Document Implementation Coordinator / International Building Code Analysis Specialist
If that's too long to fit on a business card I'd just go with Job Captain or Project Manager.
I've always liked Project Architect, other titles seem too project/construction management-related and push aside the basic fact that you're an architect, and the term never implies or denies whether you're licensed or not.
My cousin used to tell girls he was a "Sub-Aquatic Ceramics Technician" for the few months he was a dishwasher at a restaurant. Once he explained his job, they quickly fled.
"Project Architect" implies specifically that you are licensed and will put you in hot water in most jurisdictions if you use it and haven't passed the ARE.
"Senior Associate" (or anything except "citizen" with "senior" in front of it) is generally good.
hrmm... my firm assigned the title of "Staff Architect" to me and my unregistered peers. I use the title in email signatures, but my business card has no title. I never considered the upper case / lower case differentiation but suppose the higher-ups would tell me not to sign my emails with my title if they objected to it...
While "Staff Architect" means bottom of the totem pole in my office, I prefer to use it in emails so that outside people don't mistake me for an administrative person...
Most boards prohibit the use of "architect" by unlicensed people.
If you use the term in emails it can come back to haunt you. If you check the "disciplinary actions" sections of various state board websites you'll find that some of them often use business cards, letterhead, email signatures and the like to fine people - and to fine firms that apply titles incorrectly to their staff.
Call Yourself and Engineer....that will grab everyones attention....certainly your boss...and you might get a
pay raise. You could well be a drawing engineer....
code engineer, coffee engineer....
i'm in the same situation myself with my cards.... my own business.... i have designer/builder on mine but a few people told me to put CEO since it's my own company...hmmm....... i want the title to sound a bit more creative...... maybe "sharpie pusher/power tool operator"
I agree with Aluminate – My company eliminated titles from business cards for the shear fact that employer job titles changed frequently. For the last five years, I have worn about a dozen different hats depending on project – so why not go with eliminating the title and going with a name only basis? Additionally, this would alleviate the need to reprint business cards every time your tile changed:) Unless you are stuck on identifying your existence I would forgo the "title".
Thanks for all the input- always good to hear what's going on in the outside world.
Personally I'm all for the no-title approach, but I REALLY need to break his occasional habit of using the word 'assistant' like I sharpen the pencils and take out the trash or something. Or I'm about to be put in a box and appear to be cut in half with a saw.....
I like it when an architect is called a "Master Builder" - I saw some reference to Frank Gehry as a Master Builder... sounded perfect to me... but I don't have it on my card yet...
Until you pass the ARE, you can use IT Architect
Those guys have so much money they would sink architectural associations with lawsuits if challenged. A friend who is an IT Architect for IBM makes three times my salary, just bought a 700k house, has a second child on the way, and works from home! Not bad for only being 31.
The issue with using "architect" is whether you're confusing the public. If you're an IT Architect working at a technology firm, no one is confused. Put "IT Architect" on your card and advertise design and construction services in the Yellow Pages uand you'll be fined by the state board. It's not the word itself that's protected, it's only when its use would confuse a reasonable person that you're offering to provide architectural services.
Don't put "architect" on your email signature, resume or business card unless you're licensed or not offering design services. Do tell people at cocktail parties that you're an architect and explain the details if pressed for them. "Architect" is not a dirty word.
Actually if the AIA was really worth the money they would do a sneaky pool of IT architect to find the 1000 or so of them who have made millions while claiming to be 'architects,' file a class action suit against them for all they earned and then all of their members could retire.
in reference to titles at my old firm, the description of your job sounds a little between 'construction administrator' and 'job captain / project manager'
Remember that even licensed professionals are only "Architects" in the states where they are licensed. That's why most large national/international firms leave titles off business cards.
Now something like partner/principal/CEO...now those are descriptions that carry some weight.
i totally scratched out INTERN ARCHITECT from my business card and wrote DAVE'S BITCH and placed it on my boss' desk. his name, obviously, is dave. and i, obviously, am his bitch.
help me choose a job title
So here's the deal-
I work for a tiny firm consisting of the principal, myself, and a very part-time as-built/CAD person. The principal is getting new cards printed up, and asked me what I wanted my title to be.
I am educated, but unlicensed. At any given point you could walk into the office and find only me. Any structural, code, or drawing questions get referred to me, and some clients and builders deal almost exclusively with me.
What do I call that? (I prefer Architect, but there are rules against that.)
King
Or lord.
how about something like "Architectural Job Captain" or "Project Manager"
His Emminence, The Grand Duke of All Things Unbuilt? or maybe project manajer will work too.
i've found this site to be helpful when trying to generate a job title.
"Master of Architecture", or better yet, "Bachelor of Architecture".
Project Coordinator
associate?
If you use architect, it has to be lower case. I think WonderK has some experience with that.
I'd call myself Project architect with a lower class a.
"all too human"
JdesP - is that true?
sorry. I guess project manager is the best: all-round, status but not 'trying to call yourself an architect but avoiding legal pitfalls' which is demeaning
If you're thinking of using "architect" (lowercase or not!) or "architectural", or even "designer", you need to check with your state's board to see if that's acceptable.
Some states don't allow any title that has "architect" in it - or anything word constructed to look or sound like architect - by anyone unlicensed.
California is an example of a state that fines people for using such terms, even "intern architect." In California you can't even use "designer" without certain credentials.
But other states allow certain "architect" constructions (even capitilized!) for people working in the field by unlicensed. For example Massachusetts' board specifically states that "Intern Architect" is an acceptable title.
Your firm might also want to check with its insurance rep. The insurance guys discourage the use of "Project Manager" by unlicensed staff, because it implies a certain level of care.
"Job Captain" is safer. Associate is fine - but has different meanings in different firms - and it also has that "WalMart Associate" or "Sandwich Associate" stigma...
These are all reasons why our firm has eliminated all titles from everybody's cards. All cards just have names, but those of us who are licensed use our stamps to emboss our cards.
Here's the title I propose, keep in mind it's all one title:
Senior Liason for Building Construction and Design Communications / Chief Construction Document Implementation Coordinator / International Building Code Analysis Specialist
If that's too long to fit on a business card I'd just go with Job Captain or Project Manager.
good job aluminate. there's your answer.
i was in a similar situation... sadly "world's largest white sox fan" didn't get put underneath "architectural god"
what, you can only have one title!? BS i say!
How about "maestro"?
how about no title on the card at all?
my cards just have the company information and my name at the bottom. nice and simple.
I've always liked Project Architect, other titles seem too project/construction management-related and push aside the basic fact that you're an architect, and the term never implies or denies whether you're licensed or not.
My cousin used to tell girls he was a "Sub-Aquatic Ceramics Technician" for the few months he was a dishwasher at a restaurant. Once he explained his job, they quickly fled.
"Project Architect" implies specifically that you are licensed and will put you in hot water in most jurisdictions if you use it and haven't passed the ARE.
"Senior Associate" (or anything except "citizen" with "senior" in front of it) is generally good.
hrmm... my firm assigned the title of "Staff Architect" to me and my unregistered peers. I use the title in email signatures, but my business card has no title. I never considered the upper case / lower case differentiation but suppose the higher-ups would tell me not to sign my emails with my title if they objected to it...
While "Staff Architect" means bottom of the totem pole in my office, I prefer to use it in emails so that outside people don't mistake me for an administrative person...
There is no uppercase/lowercase distinction.
Most boards prohibit the use of "architect" by unlicensed people.
If you use the term in emails it can come back to haunt you. If you check the "disciplinary actions" sections of various state board websites you'll find that some of them often use business cards, letterhead, email signatures and the like to fine people - and to fine firms that apply titles incorrectly to their staff.
so all those years I was an "Information Architect" could come back and bite me? Somehow I don't think so.
I personally use "Righteous Dude", until I get my license.
We had the same issue at my old job. Just don't use a title. Let the client figure it out.
Drafting Cog?
That's what I insisted people call me until I finished the ARE. It can me very motivating, and depressingly true.
Call Yourself and Engineer....that will grab everyones attention....certainly your boss...and you might get a
pay raise. You could well be a drawing engineer....
code engineer, coffee engineer....
mr. roboto........
i'm in the same situation myself with my cards.... my own business.... i have designer/builder on mine but a few people told me to put CEO since it's my own company...hmmm....... i want the title to sound a bit more creative...... maybe "sharpie pusher/power tool operator"
I agree with Aluminate – My company eliminated titles from business cards for the shear fact that employer job titles changed frequently. For the last five years, I have worn about a dozen different hats depending on project – so why not go with eliminating the title and going with a name only basis? Additionally, this would alleviate the need to reprint business cards every time your tile changed:) Unless you are stuck on identifying your existence I would forgo the "title".
If you cant use "architect" , be creative but play safe.
"Creator" would be nice.
Thanks for all the input- always good to hear what's going on in the outside world.
Personally I'm all for the no-title approach, but I REALLY need to break his occasional habit of using the word 'assistant' like I sharpen the pencils and take out the trash or something. Or I'm about to be put in a box and appear to be cut in half with a saw.....
I've always thought job titles that started with "international" sounded the most official.
Wouldn't you rather be an "International Man of Mystery" than a "National Man of Mystery" or worse yet, "Mid-Atlantic Regional Man of Mystery"?
I like it when an architect is called a "Master Builder" - I saw some reference to Frank Gehry as a Master Builder... sounded perfect to me... but I don't have it on my card yet...
Until you pass the ARE, you can use
IT Architect
Those guys have so much money they would sink architectural associations with lawsuits if challenged. A friend who is an IT Architect for IBM makes three times my salary, just bought a 700k house, has a second child on the way, and works from home! Not bad for only being 31.
Or Software Architect, Solutions Architect, Systems Architect, Applications Architect.
Who knew our field had so many specialties?
I would recommend whippping boy.
How about 起草者?
The issue with using "architect" is whether you're confusing the public. If you're an IT Architect working at a technology firm, no one is confused. Put "IT Architect" on your card and advertise design and construction services in the Yellow Pages uand you'll be fined by the state board. It's not the word itself that's protected, it's only when its use would confuse a reasonable person that you're offering to provide architectural services.
Don't put "architect" on your email signature, resume or business card unless you're licensed or not offering design services. Do tell people at cocktail parties that you're an architect and explain the details if pressed for them. "Architect" is not a dirty word.
No title, just put "The" in front of you name....
Actually if the AIA was really worth the money they would do a sneaky pool of IT architect to find the 1000 or so of them who have made millions while claiming to be 'architects,' file a class action suit against them for all they earned and then all of their members could retire.
in reference to titles at my old firm, the description of your job sounds a little between 'construction administrator' and 'job captain / project manager'
how about "design director"?
How about "Project Archit---"
namehtmai
read it backwards
Remember that even licensed professionals are only "Architects" in the states where they are licensed. That's why most large national/international firms leave titles off business cards.
Now something like partner/principal/CEO...now those are descriptions that carry some weight.
how about 'champ'
I'm not sure you can legally call yourself a Project Manager either unless you're registered with PMI or APM
"FRO GOD" SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!
hilarious thread...
+++++++
signed,
Willing & Able, AIAS
i totally scratched out INTERN ARCHITECT from my business card and wrote DAVE'S BITCH and placed it on my boss' desk. his name, obviously, is dave. and i, obviously, am his bitch.
Supreme Commander of Allied Forces
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