I’ve started an “internship” in a studio recently. I’ve been here for two weeks and the only thing I’ve done so far is a Welcome Workshop that lasted a week and now they’ve made me do 3 sections in autocad which took me two days to complete them. Also they’re making me read a book on history of the place where they’re developing a project. I feel like I’m not doing much.
What can I expect? More responsibilities or is it always gonna be like this?
apscoradiales
Nov 5, 20 12:12 pm
3 sections in ACAD shouldn't take that long.
They may not be busy enough so that's why maybe they made you read a book. As a junior or intern, you can expect anything and everything including taking garbage out. Gets better with time... 2-3 years.
If it doesn't in that office, move to another.
vitzune
Nov 5, 20 1:25 pm
Honestly it’s a place where I’m probably going to stay for 3-4 months since it’s called “prácticas profesionales” here in Spain and that’s how long they are. There’s a chance you can get hired after you finish them.
Non Sequitur
Nov 5, 20 12:23 pm
is this a paid internship?
vitzune
Nov 10, 20 10:52 am
I think it is not. It was supposed to be at first but now I don't know, since it's through university they don't HAVE to pay you.
Non Sequitur
Nov 10, 20 10:59 am
So, you're getting uni credits instead of pay?
Everyday Architect
Nov 10, 20 12:44 pm
You should know whether or not you're getting paid.
Everyday Architect
Nov 5, 20 1:18 pm
It's been two weeks, give it some time. Sometimes firms hire for work that will be coming, not for work they have to do NOW. If it's like this in a couple 2-3 months, come back and ask for advice again.
vitzune
Nov 5, 20 1:26 pm
It’s a small studio and they only have 2 on going projects right now. One of them is a house and the other one is an office building. They already have people working on both so I’m apparently joining a team but it’s been very lazy.
Wilma Buttfit
Nov 6, 20 11:08 am
An office with only two projects doesn't sound like a good place to be. I'm a part-time solo firm and I have at least 5 projects.
senjohnblutarsky
Nov 5, 20 1:21 pm
Find some friendly looking people and ask them if they need help with anything.
vitzune
Nov 5, 20 1:25 pm
It’s worse when I say there’s only 3 people working at the studio right now... there’s more 4 people but they’re staying home since one of them got Covid and those 4 were working together by that time.
vitzune
Nov 5, 20 1:23 pm
It’s worse when I say there’s only 3 people working at the studio right now... there’s more 4 people but they’re staying home since one of them got Covid and those 4 were working together by that time.
thisisnotmyname
Nov 5, 20 1:31 pm
I think it's safe to assume that your firms management is distracted by other matters like the office COVID outbreak. Do you have a supervisor you directly report to? If so, gently contact them and communicate to them you have time to do more work than you are currently assigned. Also, perhaps take the time to learn new skills with the software the offices uses.
BabbleBeautiful
Nov 5, 20 1:50 pm
There's no normal internship experience. In an office that small I think management is aware of the workload that's available and being distributed. You're obviously eager to learn and if you truly feel underutilized I suggest letting them know you have the capacity for more tasks.
Those 3 sections were a test - they want to gauge what your real ability level is before they start assigning you more work, because the last thing they want is to give you more than you can handle and then end up having to redo it themselves.
randomised
Nov 6, 20 2:48 am
also, nothing wrong with making coffee. I make coffee, my boss makes us coffee too, and we share prepping lunch too...it’s a team effort, all of it, especially in a small office. be a team player, let them know you want more to do and you can handle it. show them what you can do. I also always dive into the history of the places we do projects, that’s where the leads and gems are hidden that will inform your projects, where to find the clues to the concept that the client will embrace etc. I love that part of a project and always spend too much time on it, but it usually pays off.
kenchiku
Nov 6, 20 8:41 am
You're going to get lots of different answers because the word 'Intern' and 'Internship' mean vastly different things in different places.
Intern/internship in Canada is something you do AFTER you graduate with a Masters, obtain a mentor, and register with the National Certification Board to start counting your hours towards obtaining your license.
Internship somewhere else may simply mean a few months of working between school semesters. In this situation what you're being given for work makes a bit more sense.
Non Sequitur
Nov 6, 20 9:13 am
OP is in spain, I believe. Also, it's not called the National Certification Board, it's called the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB).
kenchiku
Nov 6, 20 12:55 pm
Apologies, I didn't mean to capitalize National. Meant to just say it was a national governing body that oversaw the internship. My student status is showing.
I’ve started an “internship” in a studio recently. I’ve been here for two weeks and the only thing I’ve done so far is a Welcome Workshop that lasted a week and now they’ve made me do 3 sections in autocad which took me two days to complete them. Also they’re making me read a book on history of the place where they’re developing a project. I feel like I’m not doing much.
What can I expect? More responsibilities or is it always gonna be like this?
3 sections in ACAD shouldn't take that long.
They may not be busy enough so that's why maybe they made you read a book. As a junior or intern, you can expect anything and everything including taking garbage out. Gets better with time... 2-3 years.
If it doesn't in that office, move to another.
Honestly it’s a place where I’m probably going to stay for 3-4 months since it’s called “prácticas profesionales” here in Spain and that’s how long they are. There’s a chance you can get hired after you finish them.
is this a paid internship?
I think it is not. It was supposed to be at first but now I don't know, since it's through university they don't HAVE to pay you.
So, you're getting uni credits instead of pay?
You should know whether or not you're getting paid.
It's been two weeks, give it some time. Sometimes firms hire for work that will be coming, not for work they have to do NOW. If it's like this in a couple 2-3 months, come back and ask for advice again.
It’s a small studio and they only have 2 on going projects right now. One of them is a house and the other one is an office building. They already have people working on both so I’m apparently joining a team but it’s been very lazy.
An office with only two projects doesn't sound like a good place to be. I'm a part-time solo firm and I have at least 5 projects.
Find some friendly looking people and ask them if they need help with anything.
It’s worse when I say there’s only 3 people working at the studio right now... there’s more 4 people but they’re staying home since one of them got Covid and those 4 were working together by that time.
It’s worse when I say there’s only 3 people working at the studio right now... there’s more 4 people but they’re staying home since one of them got Covid and those 4 were working together by that time.
I think it's safe to assume that your firms management is distracted by other matters like the office COVID outbreak. Do you have a supervisor you directly report to? If so, gently contact them and communicate to them you have time to do more work than you are currently assigned. Also, perhaps take the time to learn new skills with the software the offices uses.
There's no normal internship experience. In an office that small I think management is aware of the workload that's available and being distributed. You're obviously eager to learn and if you truly feel underutilized I suggest letting them know you have the capacity for more tasks.
Check out this piece we published in our Archinect's Guide to Job Titles series, looking at a typical internship role:
Archinect's Guide to Job Titles: Intern
Those 3 sections were a test - they want to gauge what your real ability level is before they start assigning you more work, because the last thing they want is to give you more than you can handle and then end up having to redo it themselves.
also, nothing wrong with making coffee. I make coffee, my boss makes us coffee too, and we share prepping lunch too...it’s a team effort, all of it, especially in a small office. be a team player, let them know you want more to do and you can handle it. show them what you can do. I also always dive into the history of the places we do projects, that’s where the leads and gems are hidden that will inform your projects, where to find the clues to the concept that the client will embrace etc. I love that part of a project and always spend too much time on it, but it usually pays off.
You're going to get lots of different answers because the word 'Intern' and 'Internship' mean vastly different things in different places.
Intern/internship in Canada is something you do AFTER you graduate with a Masters, obtain a mentor, and register with the National Certification Board to start counting your hours towards obtaining your license.
Internship somewhere else may simply mean a few months of working between school semesters. In this situation what you're being given for work makes a bit more sense.
OP is in spain, I believe. Also, it's not called the National Certification Board, it's called the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB).
Apologies, I didn't mean to capitalize National. Meant to just say it was a national governing body that oversaw the internship. My student status is showing.