TIPS FOR SECURING AN INTERNSHIP IN ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

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TIPS FOR SECURING AN INTERNSHIP IN ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN
While receiving a college education and degree in
design was enough to start your career in the
creative industry, todays most demanding
professions expect you to have experience so you
can hit the ground running after
graduation. Finding an internship can be
challenging, and choosing which is right for you
can be even more difficult. Why Are Internships
Important? Internships offer design and
architecture students the chance to gain
practical, hands- on experience while exploring
what its like to work in the industry, which is
invaluable for building a successful career.
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Youll be able to apply your formal education and
talents to practice while working alongside
experienced professionals, learning from their
expertise and gaining insight into how
organizations function as a whole. This may also
give you the skills you need to launch your own
business in the future. Internships also provide
the opportunity to network and create connections
with architects and designers, which can be a
tremendous asset when securing a job in the
future. So, lets jump into the tips on securing
an internship within the field of architecture
and design. How to Land an Internship Consider
Your Qualifications, Discipline, and Interests An
internship is designed to enhance your experience
and professional development journey. Before
applying to as many firms as possible, take a
moment to evaluate the skills youve gained
during your schooling, accomplishments, and
previous work experience. Youll also want to
consider what type of specialty firm you would
like to gain experience in, as design firms
usually have a specific focus within their
office, whether its hospitality, residential,
or even product design, among many other areas of
focus. By understanding your goals, aspirations,
and abilities, you can make the most of your
search process and determine which firms align
with what youre looking for. Build a Strong
Resume and Portfolio In architecture and design,
your portfolio is a crucial element in securing
success. It should be thoughtfully designed to
showcase your best work, clearly communicate your
potential, and demonstrate your unique design
perspectives and talents. Tailoring your
portfolio and resume to each firm is essential,
including relevant experience and projects
related to their practice. Hiring managers are
busy, so its crucial to communicate your skills
and abilities efficiently while including a
minimum of three projects within the
portfolio. Finding an Internship After
determining what types of internships are
available for your degree, discipline, and
interests, its time to start looking.
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Apart from browsing LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and
other job sites, utilize the resources available
to you through your university network. 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 universitys
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. Network, Network, Network Networking is a
critical aspect of securing an internship in
architecture and design. Attend industry events,
join professional organizations, and connect with
professionals on LinkedIn. 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. So, be proactive and
put yourself out there! Apply Early Once youve
determined which firms youre interested in,
apply as soon as possible. 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. Interview Well The key to a
successful interview is effectively communicating
your skills, experience, and showing what you
can offer the firm. Interviewers want to know
that you are confident and capable, while being
open-minded and ready to learn. Research the
organizations 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. Internshi
p Success Tips After youve secured your
internship, your work is just beginning. Heres
how to get the most out of your experience.
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• Network Talking to colleagues, industry
  professionals, friends, family and others in
  your network can lead to job offers,
  recommendations, and referrals in the future.
• Ask questions 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.
• Explore 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.
• 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, youll get a better idea of
  whether its something you want to pursue.
• NewSchool of Architecture and Design
• At NewSchool, our learning-by-doing methodology
  means we encourage students to intern as soon as
  their abilities and circumstances allow. Some
  internships earn credit or pay, but all expose
  you to industry best practices and enhance your
  professional experience and network.
• Whether pursuing a Bachelor of Interior
  Architecture and Design or one of our graduate
  architecture programs, internships will help you
  gain industry-ready skills to fuel your future
  success. With the help of our Career Services
  office, you can secure positions tailored to
  your educational goals and aimed at future
  employment.
• And because San Diego is in the hub of the design
  and architecture industries, you can choose from
  a variety of companies and firms representing the
  full spectrum of creative employment.
• Get in touch with our Enrollment Team and
  discover how our award-winning architecture
  design school can turn your passion into
  professional excellence!