Challenges Of First Job For An Intern Architect

Fresh out of college, with the internship and everything else that follows, freshers and interns face a lot of challenges in the working conditions of an office and to adapt to it can be really difficult at times. But as the works progress, all of us start learning from the experiences and find ways out to make the most out of each experience.

Unable To Express:

When one starts working in a professional environment, with more experience people, the first major challenge comes across in expression. Expressing the kind of work you are good at or you would like to do, is important. Because that usually decides your role in the firm that you have been appointed in. But, usually seniors try to reach out, and there will always be someone you can confide in and express.

Image credit: Flickr/Matus Laslofi

Trying To Cope With The Pace:

Being a student in college, and an intern in an office, have very different demands when it comes to pace of work, and the need to cope with it. The drawings and the quality and sadly, even the quantity at an office cannot be compromised. The drawings that need to send in a day cannot reduce, because the work has to progress, and it won’t unless the quantity of drawings is right. So, this definitely comes off as a major challenge for the interns. The timelines cannot be pushed, and thus, the need to keep up.

Sudden Shift To Longer Working Hours:

As a student, time bounds are as per their wish, the work can be done at any time for how many hours as one wishes, and at whatever time. But, offices have particular timings, and everyone is bound by it. This sudden shift is underrated, but it is challenging at the same time.

Image credit: Flickr/Diego Sevilla Ruiz

Unawareness:

Usually, every office has their standard procedures that define the workflow of the place, and sometimes you can be unaware of certain ways or softwares or even words that they use on a daily basis. There is no wrong in not knowing. Ask people around for help or use the internet to the best. Search words you don’t know, or learn the software through some seniors or online tutorials.

To Learn And Unlearn:

Sometimes, what you learn has to be re-learned or unlearned when you start working professionally. Because, every place has its cultural and climatically varying priorities and sometimes you might have to learn something entirely new and different, Transitionin order to achieve something and sometimes you might have to unlearn something. But you will never be losing any knowledge, because architecture is far and wide spread and every ounce of knowledge of it will always be useful.

Image credit: Flickr/Linccampbell

Involving:

Feeling involved at a new place and at an entirely new setup is always a challenge, no matter how old or youngThe transition is always difficult. But the key is to being proactive, and sharing the knowledge you have and the learning all you can. Be upright.

Image credit: Flickr/Erik Van

Choosing Wisely:

All the above efforts will only be worth putting if you actually work at a place you like or do the work you like. Otherwise efforts are in vain. So when you are choosing a place to work, choose wisely, because it should be as you desire, maybe not entirely but still, somewhere you don’t feel you cannot even make an effort to belong there. Take advice from college seniors, ask them the experience of working where they did and research and choose accordingly.