Getting architecture work experience

Getting architecture work experience means time in a practice, on a real project, or on a placement where you can say what you did. It is how people move from study into the work of a studio.

An internship is one kind of work experience: a structured placement. Internships are listed on their own page. This page is about getting architecture work experience, including the steps around those placements.

Where to look

Start with practices that already take students and people early in their career. Open roles are on the jobs board. Some studios offer a short spell in the office before a longer role. Say what you can do, when you can start, and what you want to learn.

What to show

Take a small set of project examples. University work is fine when it shows how you think and what you contributed. Name the software you can use. Be clear about what you have done and what you have not.

After you have been in a practice

Write down the project, the stage it was at, and what you actually did. That is the evidence you will use on a CV and in an interview. When you are ready for a role, look at Part I architectural assistant and Part II architectural assistant positions.