I work as a Senior Architect. The main part of my job is the main work of the profession, planning, documentation and problem solving.

design & Construction.

This is year 13 for me.

I'd put the main work of the profession, planning, documentation and problem solving at the top of the list. Some coworkers would probably answer differently.

Basically, the organization needs someone responsible for this area so problems don't just get passed around. It can be different at other places.

other people build on what I do, so mistakes can travel pretty far. Good work saves everyone time later.

It changes. Yesterday was mostly the main work of the profession, planning, documentation and problem solving; today could be meetings and fixing something unexpected. I learned that pretty quickly.

Yes. Reviews and documentation repeat a lot. The actual subject of the work changes. Some months are completely different.

Depends on the season/project. I wouldn't call every day high pressure. That's how it works on my team.

I'm on-site most days. That matters more than I expected.

The main tools are standard industry software and equipment. My last job handled it differently.

There's a lot of collaboration. The focused work is independent. That's been pretty consistent for me.

For someone starting now, I'd expect relevant education or training plus experience. Some months are completely different.

certifications can help. Experience still matters more once you've been working for a while.

Knowing the technical basics matters, but so does being able to explain a problem clearly. I notice it more during busy weeks.

My hours move around a little, but it's a full-time schedule. It depends on the project, though.

mine has some flexibility. I still need to be available when the rest of the team is working.

Most weeks are fine. Busy periods can be rough. It can be different at other places.

Most weeks it's the same core group, with different customers or stakeholders mixed in. Some coworkers would probably answer differently.

There is room to grow, especially if you're willing to learn the less glamorous parts of the business. Some months are completely different.

Mine wasn't a straight ladder, and I don't think most people's careers are. It's not something I thought about before I started.

You can move into training, operations, management or a neighboring specialty. It took me a while to get used to that.

there seems to be steady demand where I am.

getting good information on time is a constant problem.

I expect demand to stay decent, especially for people who keep learning. It can be different at other places.

Automation will take pieces of the job. The people who know the field well enough to check the automated work will still be needed. That's been my experience anyway.

Compensation varies by employer, region and specialty, so a national average can be misleading. It depends on the project, though.

The usual benefits are available at larger employers. Smaller places can be different. That changed a little once I had more experience.

get comfortable being bad at something for a while. That's how you actually learn it.

An internship helped me because I finally saw what the work looked like outside school. It depends on the project, though.

It started as a practical choice. I stayed because I found I was good at it and didn't dread Mondays. That's been my experience anyway.

I like that I still run into problems I haven't seen before. At my workplace, at least.

The paperwork is not exciting, but it has to be done. It can be different at other places.

A lot of people assume the software/equipment does most of the thinking for you. It doesn't. I learned that pretty quickly.

you don't have to be the loudest person. You do need to communicate when something is wrong.

If you hate the normal daily tasks, the salary won't fix that. It's not something I thought about before I started.

How often plans change after work has already started. The exact mix changes from week to week.

i'd spend less time worrying about picking the perfect career and more time trying things.

nobody expects a new graduate to know everything. I put way too much pressure on myself.

there was a difficult deadline we met without cutting corners. I was proud of the whole team.

I spend less time doing individual tasks and more time reviewing, planning and helping other people make decisions. That changed a little once I had more experience.

Very little travel for me. A late evening happens once in a while. The exact mix changes from week to week.