A year of Intern 101

Well, hot dog!

It just occurred to me that I've been running this blog for a year now! (Well, a year ago tomorrow, really.) It all started with this post, which I wrote initially as a semi-lark because I was so furious at what this economy was doing to intern architects and just needed to vent. I realized as I was writing it that I wanted to do something more. I wanted to help the future of my profession in some way because I feared that all the really good sharp talent was going to leave. And I couldn't let that happen without some kind of fight.

A grad school friend was visiting me this weekend, and we had several good conversations/debates/discussions about what makes a good architect, what kind of interns are firms looking for, and so on. He made the point that my redlining of resumes may mean that I'm applying my very-practical viewpoint (gained from working at a more production-oriented firm) to resumes that aren't meant to ever go to firms like mine. Through my super-practical filter, I might be inadvertently squelching some good thinking and creativity when it comes to someone's resume. I countered that by having a resume be too specific or too artsy or too straight-ahead in a bad economy, an intern might talk someone out of hiring them, when the experience of working for that firm might be good for both intern and firm. Ultimately, though, I'd like to think that my readers are sharp enough to know if a redline I've made is simply not going to work for them. After all, what I'm providing is advice, not Gospel.

And I provide that advice because it feels like for at least some of you, there's no one else available to provide this info. When I started this blog and told a colleague about it at dinner one evening, he practically blew the paper napkin off the table when he sniffed in disdain: "You're babying these interns, Lu--they need to suck it up and ask someone at their office, not come whining to you, and you're gonna keep that from happening." I didn't counter his argument, as he was making this proclamation after a few margaritas, and I know better than to argue with drunk architects. But my counterargument, had he been sober enough to hear it, would be this: in order for interns to ask questions, people have to be available to ask. And just being at the same office as people with knowledge isn't enough--those fellow experienced architects must be physically or technologically available, and they must also be verbally, emotionally, and mentally available. I once worked for an architect who was always busy, and while she was very helpful and knowledgeable, it took me a long time to figure that out. Every time I would ask her, "do you have a moment for a question?" her immediate response was "No." She meant it as a form of commiseration--oh, we're all so busy!--but I took it as her way of blowing me off.

So, as I thank you all for checking in and commenting, I'd like to start this new year of Intern 101 with a couple of questions for you:

• how did you find this blog?
• who do you ask for professional advice?

Thanks again for visiting, and remember that this site works (if it works at all) based on your questions and comments, so keep 'em coming!

All the very best,

Lulu