Applying for an internship.
Source: Pinterest
Internship takes you to the window of opportunity in professional life and also helps you to assess the area of interest. With an extremely aware and connected generation, the competition to gain professional experience, work as interns, land in globally reputed graduate or internship programs is at an all-time high. Getting into good architecture firms for internships is more competitive than ever before. Hence it is very important to consider applying for internship seriously and work for it effectively.
In this blog, we will be discussing important points to consider while applying for an internship.
1. Prepare a portfolio
Any firm these days would receive at least hundreds of applications and so it is very crucial to send a thoughtful one, which ideally should be speaking why you are perfect to the firm. Make sure that your portfolio is not visually cluttered – it is better to have more pages that are sparingly and thoughtfully composed for clarity than few pages crammed edge to edge with excessive information.
Try and limit the size of the email attachment that contains your portfolio. Many mail servers will filter out emails with attachments that are larger than 10 MB. Your application will only be viewed on a digital screen and so there is absolutely no need for high-resolution images.
2. Make a list of architecture firms
Collect as much information as possible and attach your resume and portfolio to these emails and script a crisp cover letter proving that you are the proper fit for the firm.
Make sure that your applications are customized depending on the firm and after studying them thoroughly.
3. Define yourself
Source: archinect.com
Your portfolio should market for you and reflect you as a unique person. It is acceptable to show your mistakes as long as you demonstrate what you have learned from them. Every person is unique, at a different point in their journey, and you should not try and hide this fact in your portfolio. It should showcase your commitment.
4. Apply well in advance
An application needs to be sent at least six months prior. Some companies, especially large multi-national architecture organizations open internship applications as early as one year before and also have super early deadlines on the applications. They generally have dedicated internship or graduate programmes that run annually, and applications open a year before.
5. Follow up
Source: customercontactadvisor.blr.com
Follow up with all the firms you have applied to every one or two weeks, this shows that you are not only interested in the internship but also very much determined to get into it. But in rare cases, like if they have mentioned not to contact till you receive a mail from them, then refrain yourself from contacting them as it may create a negative impression.
Internships are educating, enriching, and equipping the student to face the competitive world and the first step for the training starts from creating an extremely impressive portfolio and applying actively and smart. Internships help you gain a great amount of practical knowledge under professional guidance which definitely is of help in the later future.