<p>how easy or hard is for raising sophmores to find an internship in an architecture firm? my ds has been looking but so far no luck...so i wonder what other alternatives would be a good option? thanks a lot</p>
<p>I’d be interested in hearing any suggestions as well. My daughter is finishing her junior year looking for internships in architecture or interior design firms in NY. She has sent out dozens of applications to ads with zero response.</p>
<p>its nearly impossible to get an internship unles u know someone in the firm. ive already checked im a junior and they don’t even want to take me. They prefer seniors 4,5th year students and graduates otherwise firms are not inclined to give internships. Hope this helps but if you really want an internship email firm send your resume and see if you can get something.</p>
<p>Granted, depends on your location/the firms you’re looking at, but I’ve had a good amount of success by simply sending out e-mails to firms of interested asking if they’d like to take on an intern. I did this as a rising soph., contacting 30-some odd firms ( didn’t even bother combing through craigslist). About 15 got back to me, about 5 expressed interest, and in the end, 3 offered me interns. Take into consideration that I wasn’t doing a 5-year B.Arch, but a BA, so I didn’t have an extensive portfolio (though I did have a good deal of CAD experience). Been working at that firm during my summers (paid, mind you). Granted, it may be harder to get an internship during the current econom. climate, but it’s worth a try just shooting a bunch of firms some e-mails.</p>
<p>We hired two interns for the summer. They both happened to have connections to the firm, but we hired them because they had the nicest work and some solid computer skills. The reality of architectural practice for us is that if you do not have computer skills; Sketchup, Revit, form.z, or Max, then there is going to be very little you will be able to do in our office. The old days of hiring students to build models is pretty well gone. E-mailing resumes is good, following up with a phone call is even better, and of course a connection with the firm is the best. Times are still very tough for most firms, but I hope next sumer will provide much better internship opportunities.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>I’m also looking for an internship this summer as a junior. I wrote a letter expressing my interest along with a resume. I’m going to send them out in probably about two weeks after my AP exams. I was sure to include I was interested in an unpaid internship, because the chances of getting paid in high school are slim to none. If you can talk to anyone with connections that have connections with any firms be sure to ask them if they would be willing to help. For instance, I am involved in the ACE Mentor Program and one of the mentors came up and offered if I wanted him to write a letter of recommendation he would be more than willing. Good luck in searching!</p>
<p>Thanks all for the helpful responses. The arch program at my DS told him that this year is very hard to find internship because of the economy. And ds attends a top ranking program…anyhow, i’ll encourage ds to keep sending resumes…
Rick12 thanks for the heads up about the computer skills…i wonder if all arch programs make sure that their graduates learn about them</p>
<p>Another thing that helps you get a summer internship is to be willing to work in any dept. in the firm…including marketing, the sample library, etc. (i.e. for bigger firms who have these depts.) This is especially true for those who are relatively inexperienced…i.e. after freshman or sophomore year. In your e-mail, make sure you tell them that you’d work in the marketing dept. preparing proposals, or re-organizing/labeling their samples or their product catalogs…or at the plan desk getting drawings out the door. </p>
<p>You can learn a lot about the practice of architecture in these “service” depts., it’s easier to accomodate “short-term” employees there, and you won’t be competing with all of the recent grads looking for jobs “on-the-boards”.</p>
<p>We used to hire several interns every summer (a NYC municipal agency with a large Design Department). For the last several years, we have not hired any. A couple of Interns - when we were hiring, of course - did get permanent jobs afterwards.</p>
<p>Even though we received over $400 million in stimulus (i.e. also “job creation”) funds, we have not reached out to colleges and universities for students.</p>
<p>We are hiring Construction Management firms to manage large construction projects for us, so that type of firm might be where to look…</p>