To say that job titles shouldn't include the word 'architect' unless they are actually an architect?

[itssunnyyay]

Hi all, so my partner is an architect, It takes years to become an architect and you have to be registered on the RIBA (royal institute of British architects) to call yourself an architect.

I have noticed an increasing number of jobs using the job title 'architect' that has nothing to do with architecture.. for example, "solution Architect" which is 'responsible for evaluating an organisations business needs and determining how IT can support those needs leveraging software" so .. not an architect.

Other job titles are "software architect", "senior enterprise solution architect manufacturing", "web solutions architect", "HR solutions architect", "finance and accounting digital architect", "analytics implementation architect", "deputy food architect", "platform architect" ... the list goes on

Isn't Architect a protected title? IMO job titles should actually mean something, and all of the above mean absolutely nothing?

Yeah, most of the project managers and programme managers where I work mainly just do admin. It's pretty meaningless.

from small annoyances that they keep having recruiters contacting them trying to recruit them to be a solutions Architect or whatever

Pretty stupid recruiters then. I don't believe this got a moment.

it also screws the salary numbers for architects online and for bigger reasons that they studied for a long time (I'm not saying IT 'architects don't also) and they have to pay for their licensing and if any job can adopt the term architect then it dilutes the responsibilities of the title

This makes no sense. None.

What do you mean 'online'? And hoe does it affect their salaries?

Any job cannot adopt the term 'architect'. The term architect can obviously be used as it is defined in conjunction with another term eg software architect and this makes sense to everyone. Bar OP.

There's zero risk to architects. A software engineer is not covertly trying to design house extensions.

That's the point of protecting the title, so that people who are not qualified in an area, cannot use it to try & practice in that area.

Not to prevent legitimate use of the term according to accepted usage.

My husbands job title is 'chief architect' (IT), I agree it does sound very wanky!!

I guess though it's just moving with the times isn't it, using more traditional language to describe something that's come about in more recent times.

I'm a chartered professional, and the word used to describe my profession isn't protected.

In corporate roles, it's fine - employers know which qualifications to ask for, and recruiters only approach people if they hold those qualifications.

The problem in my industry arises when unqualified charlatans sell their services to the public, and the customers don't always know how to distinguish a competent professional from an incompetent one.

However, I can't see this happening with architects somehow.... a solutions architect / data architect isn't going to try to flog a dodgy loft conversion design to an unsuspecting person, are they?

So what's the problem?

Not worth getting hyped up about IMO.

I'm an engineer. In this country it means nothing really as it's a broad title nowadays. I've never been one for titles though and as long as I get paid well for what I do, that's all that counts.

@EarringsandLipstick

from small annoyances that they keep having recruiters contacting them trying to recruit them to be a solutions Architect or whatever

Pretty stupid recruiters then. I don't believe this got a moment.

it also screws the salary numbers for architects online and for bigger reasons that they studied for a long time (I'm not saying IT 'architects don't also) and they have to pay for their licensing and if any job can adopt the term architect then it dilutes the responsibilities of the title

This makes no sense. None.

What do you mean 'online'? And hoe does it affect their salaries?

Any job cannot adopt the term 'architect'. The term architect can obviously be used as it is defined in conjunction with another term eg software architect and this makes sense to everyone. Bar OP.

There's zero risk to architects. A software engineer is not covertly trying to design house extensions.

That's the point of protecting the title, so that people who are not qualified in an area, cannot use it to try & practice in that area.

Not to prevent legitimate use of the term according to accepted usage.

The first one does happen, you can choose to believe it or not..

And I meant it scews the numbers shown online for average architect salaries etc

Just from a quick google looks like IT architects get paid more than an actual architect. Is that what you mean OP?

@C8H10N4O2

I had the understanding that you had be an architect to be registered as an architect

I am an architect. Just not one who designs buildings. Get your head around it.

Look on the bright side. If someone accidentally offered your highly qualified building partner a job in my space he would get that salary hike you are so keen on.

Oh okay I get it now, you aren't an architect.

I don't care about a salary rise, just want him to be happy :) he's slowly coming out of a spout of depression thankfully so I'm trying to be encouraging and supportive

hardly unique to architechts - loads of "accountant" roles, not quite as long to qualify, but same principal.

I have worked with some excellent QBE accountants, and some crap qualified ones.

The first one does happen, you can choose to believe it or not..

I choose not to.

You really think that recruiters call up architects for IT software jobs & software architects for architect roles? Of course they don't (unless they are terrible recruiters)

And I meant it scews the numbers shown online for average architect salaries etc

No, it doesn't.

Again because everyone (bar you) can differentiate between an IT job & a job designing buildings & other structures. And gather salary data accordingly.

I'm amazed OP that you keep doubling down on your misinformation

@EarringsandLipstick

The first one does happen, you can choose to believe it or not..

I choose not to.

You really think that recruiters call up architects for IT software jobs & software architects for architect roles? Of course they don't (unless they are terrible recruiters)

And I meant it scews the numbers shown online for average architect salaries etc

No, it doesn't.

Again because everyone (bar you) can differentiate between an IT job & a job designing buildings & other structures. And gather salary data accordingly.

I'm amazed OP that you keep doubling down on your misinformation

Have you ever been on LinkedIn lmao

You sound as if you're preening over your job status.

Yet it's not even your job it's your other half's.

Strange.

@ouch321

You sound as if you're preening over your job status.

Yet it's not even your job it's your other half's.

Strange.

I take an interest in his job, but not preening

This has to go down as the most unreasonable AIBU in a long time. I why ask if you're being unreasonable or if you're so determined that you're being reasonable. The idea that architects are being hounded by recruiters for IT jobs to the extent that they should have their job title legally protected. So bonkers I love it!

After a late lunch and a good long walk I’ve come back to this and...I may have got slightly more het up than warranted. I spend an inordinate amount of time lately, it seems, going over and over very simple concepts with actually ignorant people about properly important things and clearly all my pissed-offedness (yes that’s a word in my own personal dictionary) in that regard spilled out here.

In conclusion YABVVU but I was also a teeny bit U.

It’s friday night! and Cheers everyone!!

@Franca123

This has to go down as the most unreasonable AIBU in a long time. I why ask if you're being unreasonable or if you're so determined that you're being reasonable. The idea that architects are being hounded by recruiters for IT jobs to the extent that they should have their job title legally protected. So bonkers I love it!

Haha that was a minor point, I think I said it was a small annoyance. That's not why I think the term shouldn't be used lol. Besides I declared ages ago there IABU

@Nnique

After a late lunch and a good long walk I’ve come back to this and...I may have got slightly more het up than warranted. I spend an inordinate amount of time lately, it seems, going over and over very simple concepts with actually ignorant people about properly important things and clearly all my pissed-offedness (yes that’s a word in my own personal dictionary) in that regard spilled out here.

In conclusion YABVVU but I was also a teeny bit U.

It’s friday night! and Cheers everyone!!

You're fine, have a good one!

We’ve got pizza on the way! Can not WAIT.

@Nnique

We’ve got pizza on the way! Can not WAIT.

What toppings? It's hot dog night for me!

@Nnique although I would argue that they shouldn't really call themselves hotdogs as they aren't really dogs are they

Just to skew thing even more, I have colleagues at Airbus who are mechanical or thermal architects. It's a recognised profession but just not in very large circles.

@Octomore

I'm a chartered professional, and the word used to describe my profession isn't protected.

In corporate roles, it's fine - employers know which qualifications to ask for, and recruiters only approach people if they hold those qualifications.

The problem in my industry arises when unqualified charlatans sell their services to the public, and the customers don't always know how to distinguish a competent professional from an incompetent one.

However, I can't see this happening with architects somehow.... a solutions architect / data architect isn't going to try to flog a dodgy loft conversion design to an unsuspecting person, are they?

So what's the problem?

Well, it does happen. People sell 'architectural services' and aren't always open about the fact that they're not qualified.

[quote itssunnyyay]@Nnique although I would argue that they shouldn't really call themselves hotdogs as they aren't really dogs are they [/quote]

@Franca123
It is actually already protected by law but there are caveats to that and I don't think the OP got that

https://arb.org.uk/public-information/before-hiring-an-architect/who-can-use-the-title-architect/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/RegistrationoffarchitectsinntheUnitedd_Kingdom

Uhm. I can’t remember. We’ve ordered 3 pizzas, and a cheese burger. We don’t get takeaway often at all (maybe twice a year as the selection here is shit) but when we do apparently we go all out...there’s only two of us! But cold pizza (with extra salt) is great for breakfast/lunch.