Entry-level Positions For Aspiring Architects At Boston Architecture Firm
Entry-level architecture roles extend beyond design internships; Nima suggests exploring "tangentially related things," such as marketing roles offering early exposure to "senior leadership," or 3D modeling, providing "a sense of what the various projects are" and design experience. The most successful entry point, however, may be pursuing passions outside the field which "lend themselves to your portfolio," showcasing a candidate's unique skill set and interests.
Entry-Level Positions, Networking and Internships, Alternative Career Paths, 3D Modeling and Design, Firm Management and Practice
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nima Shariat
Architect
Boston Architecture Firm
University of California, Santa Cruz
Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, Master of Architecture 2022
Computer Science, Economics, Fine Arts, Music
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Architecture, Construction & Design
Creative
Video Highlights
1. Summer internships are a great way to network and gain experience in the field.
2. Entry-level positions outside of design, such as marketing or working in a 3D studio/model shop, offer valuable experience and insights into the architectural field. These can provide access to senior leadership and a broad view of projects.
3. Developing skills and experience outside of architecture (e.g., furniture making, design competitions) can enhance your portfolio and demonstrate your passion, offering a less direct but potentially more effective path into the field than purely focusing on design internships.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
There's a really good network for summer internships, especially if you're in a design program. But I'd say there are also tangential things that I've always suggested people get into. You have the rest of your life to be in architecture and learn it.
Gaining benefits from having a more interesting background and bringing other passions into the field later is valuable. It's a field that rewards you less at the entry level and much more as you gain knowledge and progress in your career. For instance, I went into transit planning as an intern and explored other majors beforehand.
Even if you want to work at an architecture office, there are ways in that aren't directly as a designer. At our firm, we have two positions. One is in the marketing department. At some firms, this is a mid-career role, but ours has recent graduates who handle everything from new project proposals and award documentation. They work directly with senior leadership because the principals and heads of the firm support initial interviews and awards.
This offers incredible access, which you get at the entry level but not as much later in your career. Taking advantage of opportunities that only exist at the entry level is huge.
The other position is in our 3D studio, our model shop. It has a wood shop, 3D printers, and facilities for hand-cutting site models. This is another way into the profession. Project teams will come to you with new models or items they need for client meetings or interviews.
This allows you to get a sense of various projects. You're not pigeonholed into a single team for years; instead, you see all the teams in the office. You gain experience seeing how designs are crafted, and while making a model, you're also making design decisions. This offers an abundance of benefits for getting into the design side of the field very early.
The other option offers more insight into firm management and the general practice and profession. I'd also say doing tangentially related things, like furniture making or starting your own competitions, is helpful. These contribute to your portfolio, not just as a representation of your work, but as a person and what you're passionate about.
This is the best way to get into the field. Rather than explicitly stating "I need to become a design intern and be an architect," approaching it indirectly is a much more productive way in.