Boston Society of Landscape Architects Spring Fieldbook Volume 14.1 | Page 20

Refining the Internship Experience
Emi ly M illiman, A ss o c i a te A S L A

The design studios in New England schools are

The Search

The Interview

Assessment and Reflection

abuzz with activity as spring semester is well underway;
and with summer just a few months away, preparation by
students and firms for internships this summer has begun.
While internships are becoming increasingly important
in achieving a competitive edge in the search for a
post-graduation, full-time position, the process of finding
and acquiring an internship continues to be somewhat
unpredictable. The opportunities for firms to tap growing
talent are also often not utilized and sometimes overlooked.

Students: Identify the type(s) of internships you

Students: Bring your portfolio and have

would like to pursue and start early. One of the
best ways to find out about opportunities is to
talk to older students and ask them about their
previous internship experiences.

one or two projects to discuss in detail
that illustrate skills that are required for
the position you are applying for. Take this
opportunity to expand your knowledge
about professional practice by preparing
a few questions about the office, their
past and present work, their specialties or
organizational structure.

Students and firms: As the internship comes to a close, take some time
to have a conversation about the experience. Discuss the work and
development that have taken place during the internship. Exchange
feedback about the process and how it might be improved.
Document the work and process you’ve gone through along the way
and reflect about what you’ve learned and how you will
move forward.

Having experienced two internships and watched my
colleagues go through the process, it is clear that the
internship experience is a work-in-progress and highly
variable across the profession in terms of the type of work,
environment and opportunities, and outcomes.
Smaller offices often allow the intern to see multiple
aspects of the practice, from marketing to schematic
design to construction documents. While at a small
landscape architecture firm, participating in discussions
with interdisciplinary consultants allowed me to observe
the collaboration required to see a project to completion,
as well as how some designer-client relationships shape
the design process. At the other end of the spectrum,
large firms tend to offer more formal internship programs.
There, several interns may participate in a design charette
and then play a specific role in collaborating with the
design professionals on a real project.
Throughout the office size spectrum, the internship
experience offers students the opportunity to engage with
professionals within the field and witness real client-based
projects. Below are some tips for both students and firms
to consider while navigating each stage of the
internship process.

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BSLA

Firms: While summer project work is often hard

to anticipate, strategize about how you can
host an intern and brainstorm ways in which
hiring an intern could grow your practice.

The Application
Students: Focus on your skills, goals, and

intended contributions to the firm. Be punctual
and av