Architects

I went on the company's website and looked at several of their projects they had recently completed, and noted specific designs that caught my attention. I also looked into other architecture styles of famous individuals to get an understanding of what type of architecture I would want to build i...

As a Model Shop Intern, I spent most days translating drawings and computer models into scale, physical models. This was mostly centered around creating laser cutter files and determining how the model will be built. There is a lot of iteration of the same model that might be rebuilt multiple tim...

Architecture in school certainly prepares you in a lot of ways for the working world, but there are ways in which professional practice really varies. The collaborative nature with other industries, the paperwork, and the protocol for making and logging decisions all are pretty unfamiliar initial...

The interview was casual for me and involved an office tour and meeting many of the employees there, so be personable and ASK QUESTIONS. The more formal questions regarded my interest in the field of architecture and there were a few about my awareness of space (without looking, what is the color...

Make sure you have a printed portfolio with you! I ended up bringing my overall portfolio as well as one of my project-specific portfolios since it was the most recent project I had worked on. The bulk of my interview was more of a conversation about the different projects I worked on and the des...

Everyday I would be occupied with different projects; usually a project manager or a job captain would approach me and ask for help on the current project they are working on. Examples of things I did was 3D modeling (in SketchUp) of a site and adding our implemented renovations, AutoCAD drawings...

My architecture education at Cal Poly has made me very well-equipped for my position at Studio G. Having experience in the various programs (Adobe Suites, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Rhino, etc.) was, of course, very helpful. I had to work with different types of people at the firm and I believe that Cal ...

In my interview, the interviewer asked me to walk him through my portfolio for around 10 minutes, so having your portfolio nicely printed and bound is important. He then asked specific questions relating to my projects. To prepare for explaining your ideas in a clear and concise way can help the ...

This is an entry level position. The content of work varies from team to team and project to project.I came in around 9:30 to 10 am. My supervisor sent to-do-list to me, normally including getting material samples from suppliers, making presentation package, making/updating drawings in computer b...

The major is a perfect fit. I have acquired enough professional knowledge from undergraduate architecture education. It is to be expected that during work, there is always new information and things you do not know how to do, it is fine. My senior colleagues helped me a lot on real project situat...

Come to the interview prepared to answer questions regarding your interest in the firm, your experience, and your goals as an aspiring architect. Also come with questions of your own that you may have for the firm regarding their projects, atmosphere, philosophy, and practices.

My major has given me a foundation in architectural principles, theories, and design philosophies, and has made me interested in putting that knowledge to practice in the real world. Some say that working at a firm is nothing like college, but college certainly helps to provide the mindset and ab...

I would recommend going into the interview honest about what you would like to focus on, and areas you would like to grow in. Talk about your technical strengths as well so the office can have an idea of what work you can help with. I would be honest, and open to learning and helping wherever you...

Most days, since I came in during the Construction Document (CD) stage of the projects I was given to work on, a lot of time it would be autoCAD drawings all day, redlining changes from the principal across elevations, plans, and wall sections as necessary based off client changes. Sprinkled with...

I had an office space at the Mason Architects office in the business district of downtown Honolulu (a lot of historical buildings around this area!) I worked from 8am to 5pm, with about an hour lunch - sometimes with my coworkers :). I worked primarily on digitizing the Historical Structures Repo...

The classes I took at Oxy prepared me well for the internship; taking Modern/Contemporary Architecture and Architecture of Asia/Pacific gave me a solid foundation of knowledge, and an understanding of the complexities of preservation and modernity in the Pacific. I think this helped me contextual...

Make sure to invest time researching the company and the different projects they have completed. Understand if you want to be a part of their Interiors Department or Architecture Group (Same office and work together but two very different roles)

Everyone is in the office by 9am and interns head out at about 6pm. The typical day starts with checking emails to understand which project you will be spending a majority of your time on as well as checking to see if there will be a free breakfast from a company rep. Much of the day involves wor...

Definitely get to know the company and the office location that you’re interviewing for. Prepare for the basic interview questions and be able to talk through your portfolio. The biggest tip is to relax and be yourself during the interview. Gensler really prides itself on its people and culture, ...

It’s a learning experience - you’ll learn more in one summer than a year in school. Take advantage of the opportunity to fully assimilate into the culture and workplace. You can explore the different types of projects that the office is working on, meet and get to know people in different positio...

Be genuine and come with a portfolio. Talk to your interviewer about your goals and where you see yourself in ten years. NAC is especially interested in helping grow talent that will remain with the firm four their career, not just until the next recession hits. When they interview you, thru are ...

As with every internship, you may spend a fair bit of time working on stair details or picking up redlines for demo plans. Embrace this time, as it will help you develop your drafting skills and you'll get to rub shoulders with people who have a lot of experience.You'll also have a chance to work...

I recommend doing a few things. Be well versed in the job description and make sure you are familiar with all of the expectations. Is something confusing? Take note and with it, start a list of questions to ask during your interview. The more curiosity you express, the more you can glean from you...

While in the San Francisco office, my daily activities varied. As an intern, there were a lot of projects that I had the opportunity to hop between. I was regularly working in Revit with my colleagues to update models, accept and process RFI’s and engage in meetings to better understand the desig...

Perhaps the biggest thing SkB values in their work, employees, and architecture/design in general is a clear narrative. Clearly and concisely communicate who you are as a designer by thinking of your portfolio as a narrative, and speaking through it as such. This includes walking through your pro...

The office is fast paced, and while everyone with experience serve as fantastic mentors, the environment is very "sink-or-swim". You will be given a set of responsibilities, and be expected to follow through with results. If you start running into issues, document them, and approach your superior...

It was actually a fun loving environment at my former office. I would go to office at 8:30 am. Then start my computer, everyone comes one by one settles down we say hello and begin working for the day. Every Monday we had our office meetings at 9:00 am to 9:30 am, where we would meet at the confe...

You enter the office around 9. Coffee and tea are readily available to you as well as water. You greet your coworkers with a smile, everyone is busy but always friendly. Usually, you are seated by your project teams which include your fellow designers as well as your project manager. Most of your...

If you can, schedule a practice interview with Career services beforehand so you get some practice and feedback presenting yourself and your work to someone. Go over your portfolio the night before and make sure that you are also familiar with the firm's work and their work model. Also try to kno...

I interned after my second year of school and, besides Rhino, I did not have much experience in modeling and drafting programs. However, my mentor (who is also a Cal Poly Alum) was really helpful as I learned AutoCAD--which would be important in my next internships. I did a lot of 2D drafting in ...

My major prepared me very well for the internship. While I never worked on a residential project before, my knowledge of architectural drawings and programs like Sketchup, AutoCAD, and the Adobe Suite were really important.

These are basic steps to consider: Make sure your resume is one to two pages long, no photo portrait, no graphic embellishments. Simple, clean, legible paragraphs clearly organized. Include a short cover letter highlighting the two or three key points of distinction that make you a great candidat...

The job requires great dedication. If you are unwilling to work long hours, some weekends, or travel frequently. Do not apply.It is not a job for the faint of heart. The hospitality development market is very competitive and you have to feel very comfortable making some sacrifices, and putting in...

Depending on the project, most of the day is spent in working in Revit building the model or working on drafting details. Sometimes Staff Designers will go out on site surveys and work on talking to contractors or vendors. As you show skill, you can also work on presentation deliverables and desi...

Extremely rigorous but rewarding. You get to be put on many different projects as an intern and the full time staff really focuses on what you learn rather than what you can produce. Just be prepared to work extremely long hours or maybe called in on weekends to meet deadlines. Working almost 12-...

Be prepared to describe your portfolio in detail and with enthusiasm. Also, research the firm before your interview. They want to here what you can do, but they are also very interested in why you want to work here. If you're not working for the right reasons, it doesn't matter how good your work...

The office culture at ZGF is great, depending on your project you could be working on a large team of upwards of 14 people to a small team with 1 or 2 other people. The days are most like a day at any architecture firm, you draw, design, research products, discuss ideas with coworkers, meet with ...

Make sure you are familiar with the projects in your portfolio - not necessarily so much what the project is about but rather what you learned, what was interesting about the studio, the challenges of the project, etc. make sure you are clear (and honest) about your knowledge of programs (CAD, Rh...

It prepared me very well - the learning structure and Cornell was very much like the culture at Ennead and the way the studios for different projects are organized and the way the office approaches design.