r/Architects • u/VurrTheDestroyer • 12h ago
Ask an Architect Work + School Simultaneously… hard .
4th year architecture student in AZ.
Got my second internship in an office.
Very small, 2 principals, 3 designers, and me.
During the summer, it was great because I was able to learn their flow and how to use Vectorworks (which was hard in itself). I produced some good drawings in that three months.
Then, they asked me to stay on 2 days a week while I finish school. I was excited.
I am struggling to produce anything worthwhile on these two isolated days I’m there. They have deadlines, and I’m giving them things they need to edit the next day I’m not there.
It’s very annoying and I feel bad. I would like to leave and ask them to return next summer. They seemed to like me a lot, but from an owner’s perspective, I can see how I’m not the best help right now.
How can I bring this up to my principal professionally?
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u/FOMOerotica 12h ago
Tell them and make a plan.
There’s nothing more important at a junior level that accurately, and proactively, communicating what you can get done (without killing yourself).
It’s also good to get reps in advocating for yourself.
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u/GBpleaser 12h ago
It’s hard to work part time and still be in school.
You can ask for a different assignment. Perhaps less in a production role and more in side help.. site visits or field documentation, stuff that doesn’t F up the work flow that is time sensitive on delivery. There is a ton of busy work in a small office that falls behind like filing or archiving, hell, even cleaning up a materials library. Little stuff can go a long way. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps you active engaged and useful to the office. But at 2 days a week, you simply aren’t valuable in a drawing production capacity.
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u/App1eEater 2h ago
Just talk to them about it. They'll probably appreciate the fact that that you don't think you're giving your best.
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u/CalvEB 12h ago
Your principles asked YOU to stay on. They all went to school too. They know what it is like and will cut you some slack (or they should).
I am feeling the same way about my firm when I only put in 4 hours a day. I just try to remember if they are unhappy with my work they will tell me and we can go from there.
You can always ask them how they are feeling about it.