Architect Intern Jobs: Requirements and How to Land One

In today's competitive creative industry, a design degree alone isn't enough. Employers expect practical experience. Internships bridge this gap, offering invaluable hands-on learning and a taste of the professional world. Securing an architecture internship can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can increase your chances of success.

Why Internships Matter?

Internships provide design and architecture students with invaluable practical, hands-on experience while exploring what it’s like to work in the industry, which is invaluable for building a successful career. Internships allow you to apply your formal education to real-world scenarios, working alongside experienced professionals and gaining insights into organizational functions. This practical experience can even lay the groundwork for future entrepreneurial ventures. Furthermore, internships facilitate networking, connecting you with architects and designers who can be valuable resources when seeking future employment.

How to Land an Architecture Internship

Assess Your Strengths, Interests, and Goals

Before sending out a flurry of applications, take time to evaluate your skills, accomplishments, and previous work experience. Consider the type of firm that aligns with your interests. Design firms often specialize in areas like hospitality, residential design, or product design. Understanding your goals, aspirations, and abilities will help you target your search effectively. An internship is designed to enhance your experience and professional development journey.

Craft a Compelling Resume and Portfolio

In architecture and design, your portfolio is a crucial element in securing success. Your portfolio is your visual resume, showcasing your best work and potential. It should be thoughtfully designed to communicate your potential and demonstrate your unique design perspectives and talents. Tailor your portfolio and resume to each firm, including relevant experience and projects related to their practice. Highlight projects and skills that align with the firm's specific focus.

Leverage Career Services

Career Services are invaluable when it comes to job and internship placement. Firms will often post internship openings interested in hiring students, and your advisor can even provide recommendations. Utilize your university’s network to gain connections and potential internship opportunities. Building a relationship with your Career Advisor will help you stay up to date on upcoming workshops, career fairs, networking events, and more. University career services departments offer invaluable resources, including job boards, resume workshops, and mock interviews.

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Network Strategically

Networking is a critical aspect of securing an internship in architecture and design. Building relationships with architects and designers can lead to job offers, recommendations, and referrals. Networking can also help you gain insight into the industry and provide you with new ideas and perspectives. Attend industry events, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and reach out to architects whose work you admire. Informational interviews can provide valuable insights into the field and potential opportunities. So, be proactive and put yourself out there!

Apply Early and Often

Once you’ve determined which firms you’re interested in, apply as soon as possible. The architecture and design fields are highly competitive, so early applications increase your chances of standing out. Highly competitive fields like architecture and design often have hundreds of prospects vying for limited positions, so be the early bird to increase your chances of success.

Master the Interview

The key to a successful interview is effectively communicating your skills, experience, and showing what you can offer the firm. Prepare to articulate your design philosophy, discuss your creative process, and demonstrate your understanding of the firm's work. Interviewers want to know that you are confident and capable, while being open-minded and ready to learn. Research the organization’s values, culture, and mission, practice interview questions, and be ready to articulate your design philosophy and creative process. Asking informed questions about the position and company helps to show your passion, initiative, and eagerness - these are qualities that are highly valued in the industry. Asking thoughtful questions demonstrates your interest and initiative.

Making the Most of Your Architecture Internship

Network Intentionally

Talking to colleagues, industry professionals, friends, family and others in your network can lead to job offers, recommendations, and referrals in the future. Building relationships within the firm can lead to future opportunities.

Embrace Learning

Internships are an opportunity to learn from professionals in the field. Asking questions and being open to feedback will help you learn how organizations work, along with improving and building on your foundational knowledge. Don't hesitate to ask questions and seek guidance from experienced professionals.

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Explore Different Areas

An internship is your chance to put your skills to work and see the day-to-day work. Try to take on new responsibilities and projects to broaden your horizons and determine what facet of the industry you envision for your long-term career. Volunteer for new tasks and expand your skillset.

Observe and Absorb

Be a sponge! Soak up as much knowledge about your field as possible. Take the time to observe your colleagues’ communication styles, work processes, and design methodology. In the process, you’ll get a better idea of whether it’s something you want to pursue. Pay attention to your colleagues' work habits, communication styles, and problem-solving approaches.

Additional Considerations

Internship Program Requirements

To be eligible for the Architecture internship program for credit, a student must have successfully completed all required courses in the third year of the BArch program.After securing employment at an approved site, students must log a minimum of 225 hours at the site. CCA's Architecture Program supports the AIA's requirements that all student interns and employees be compensated for their work in any architectural, landscape, or design practice.While compensation should be negotiated with your employer, we suggest students be paid $15 per hour, minimally, as an employee. International students must contact CCA's ISAP for instructions and requirements related to employment in the United States and abroad.)For a site to be approved, it must provide architectural services eligible for either Setting A, or O based upon NCARB's AXP Guidelines.Internships completed at landscape architecture, interior design, structural engineering, fabrication shops or building construction firms will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must be approved prior to commencement of internship.Teaching assistants and researchers paid by the college may count their experience towards internship. To initiate the internship process, students must first meet with their academic advisor in the spring or fall semester, prior to starting their internship search. The completion of the student’s internship is recorded and credited through the Internship Course, which is a zero-unit pass/fail class. To take this class, students who expect to complete their internship requirements prior to the end of the coming semester should register during Priority Registration in WorkDay for an Architecture Internship Placeholder (ARCHT 3980-01).During the Add/Drop period; students who have registered for the Internship Placeholder (ARCHT 3980) and who have a completed learning agreement on file, will be registered by Student Records in the internship course (ARCHT 3980-02); check your schedule during Add/Drop for these changes.Registration in the Internship course ARCHT 3980-02 is not available for online registration in WebAdvisor. AXP DocumentationStudents are encourage to start a record with NCARB to record their hours toward the requirements for licensure.

Presentation and Application

First things first. Prepare your presentation: résumé, cover letter, and projects.Work with Career Development to prepare for your internship. They can help with your résumé, portfolio, job search, and more! Networking! Research firms you believe to have a connection to your work. Adhere to conventional, elegant graphic layout, but allow your words and images tell your story.Follow firm guidelines for the submission of your application materials. Many firms have FTP sites that facilitate the application process. Don't ask for an internship! Instead, ask for a meeting to review your work. If you say you are looking for an internship, it puts the person on the other end of your communication in a tough situation. Currently the company may not be looking for an intern. Or they may be looking for one, but the intern supervisor may not have time to meet with you. Or they may need someone but haven't officially set the internship hiring process in motion.Often the person you talk to will say, "We are not looking for an intern right now," or something like that. You need to get your foot in the door, literally. One strategy is to ask the person you are contacting if they can meet with you to review your portfolio or work you have done to date in college.You want feedback from a professional. That's it. This sets up a good first meeting feeling and agenda. All the person is committing to is a meeting to discuss and give feedback on your work.

Meeting Preparation

If you cannot get a meeting, do not push too hard. You get the appointment! Do your homework. Find information on local firms that have been published.Talk to your professors, peers, and alumni to see what they know.Talk to upperclassmen who have already done internships.Practice, practice, practice. Practice your presentation at least three times with someone. Get comfortable with your material. Do not go in cold; it may be your only shot. Career Development can help you practice by doing mock interviews.Plan ahead. Suits are not necessary. Ask your instructors if you have questions.Be on time, or even a few minutes early. Do not be late. Show the person your work and engage them in discussion. If you have prepared in advance, you will have questions about the company.Before beginning the conversation, clarify how much time you have for your conversation.Be pleasant and as articulate as possible. Be clear when you explain your work.Be accepting of criticism. Take notes!Ask for a tour of the office.During the conversation, if it seems appropriate, ask if they hire interns. In some cases, the person you are meeting will volunteer this information before you ask. Check in every month or so and ask about a follow-up meeting for an internship. Now, since they know you, the second meeting will be easy!

Dealing with Rejection and Ambiguity

Ambiguous or No Response

They keep saying, "Call me next week," "We are busy, but aren't ready to hire," "We are waiting for this job to come through," and the like. What this means . . .They aren't ready to hire, so keep your options open and go on other interviews and meetings. Don't wait around for this one opportunity. This means they are busy, and the internship isn't the first thing on their to do list. You want to be persistent without harassing anyone.

Handling Rejection

You are rejected. No one likes it, but get used to this. It's impossible to please everyone, and people are entitled to their opinions. Part of the job of finding an internship is finding a place where you want to work. If one potential employer doesn't feel the fit, that is OK. Just accept it, thank them, and move on to your next choice. You will likely have many meetings and interviews before you get the one you want.Keep in touch with them either way. You never know where it might lead.

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