Wow! Ok really, is this firm for real? This is perhaps the most involved interview process we've seen for an unpaid internship...ever. It is just plain absurd that someone would go to this much trouble to work for, uh what was his name, Robert Siegal? And for free nonetheless. Has anyone ever even heard of this guy? This might take the award for most ridiculous internship offer ever. Hey we have an idea, how about offering Mr. Siegal and offer of his own? Be creative and send him and email here.Robert Siegel Architects, a nationally acclaimed architecture firm, seeks two full time interns for a three month, uncompensated internship.
We are looking for talented and passionate people who are excited about making buildings and working outside their comfort zone towards innovation in architecture. Hard work and dedication, combined with inspiration and drawing ability, is one thing that all staff members share. You must have truly excellent written and oral communication skills.
Cover Letter:
Send us a brief, signed cover letter specific to Robert Siegel Architects that states why it makes sense to hire you. Graphic presentation is key. This is your first impression and demonstrates your ability as a designer. Use care in selecting the paper, the font, and the organization of text on the page.
One-Page Resume:
We are looking for great experience and commitment. Limit your resume to one page only.
Your Work Samples:
Show us only your best stuff and the work you are most passionate about. You should showcase your abilities - whether it is a sketch, a floor plan, a construction detail, wall section, spec section, watercolor, etc. So long as it is your work, we are interested in seeing it. Please do not show renderings made by others. Submitting renderings other than your own will lead to automatic rejection.
Test:
After making it through the first resume review process, we give selected promising candidates a graphic test in our office. The goals of this 20 minute test are:
Personal Interview:
- Drawing ability using a pencil. This is a tool that architects use to communicate. In our office we are always drawing and sketching freehand.
- Passion for architecture and analytical ability. There is a portion of the test in which you have to draw a plan and a section or elevation of any piece of architecture. Amazingly, either history is no longer taught or the relevance of our architectural past is not integrated into design curricula since most people fail this portion catastrophically.
- Basic design ability. This is a classic "Architecture 101" test to measure spatial design ability.
You will be asked to present highlights of your work and a detail or two. Move quickly and ask questions. Let the person conducting the interview hold the portfolio and turn at their own pace. You must demonstrate your ability to edit and to be concise. Do not be late: Make sure that you are on time and are dressed as if you were meeting with a valued client.
Professional References:
You should have outstanding professional references that are able to talk about your specific strengths and abilities. Please have these ready to give at the conclusion of a personal interview.
ABOUT THE JOB:
Would you like to work on projects ranging in size from $500,000 to $200 million in construction value? Are you energized by the idea of working with outstanding public clients including the United States General Services Administration and the New York State University Construction Fund? Do you enjoy working with private companies and high-end private residential clients?
Robert Siegel Architects focuses on architectural innovation, every day, for every client. Our staff is an energetic and talented group drawn from all over the world with a passion for architecture and expertise in design, technology, urban and graphic design.
Applicants should be strong designers with outstanding drawing and/or model-making skills, and have strong organizational and communication skills. Applicants must be proficient in AutoCAD and Rhino.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. and have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
If you would like to be part of our growth and are interested in contributing to the creative process at a design, detail and management level, we would like to see your work. For consideration please mail (no emails, please) the following:
Please send to:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Work Samples that demonstrate your design and technical ability
Robert Siegel Architects
Attn: Nadine Friedman
37 West 37th Street, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10018NO PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS PLEASE
www.robertsiegelarchitects.com
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whats up with all the chinese spam comments, anyway, RSA suck, they should pay their interns at least minimum wage for working on projects "ranging in size from $500,000 to $200 million in construction value" what a bunch of 20th century losers...
Yes this practice is out of control in so many 'creative' industries these days, where the 'unpaid' status is scarily close to the reality of being a so called salaried creative practitioner. I hear the Magazine industry - especially in NYC - completely chews up young interns. The film industry (which operates with a similar 'star' system to architecture) has long exploited unpaid and underpaid workers, young hopefuls eager to get a foot in the door. I guess it's the ultimate expression of what David Harvey refers to as the 'flexible workforce' that is a characteristic of our post industrial era. This practice seems to be spreading to other areas too such as PR, advertising and marketing. I used to find students 'internships' with industry as part of their university studies - something that in principal is good - but refuse to be complicit with it any longer after too many examples of students being exploited and bullied to work longer and harder - with no renumeration nor even compensation for expenses - in spite of their other commitments (study, paid employment, family, etc).
And of course the media now thrives on a similar exploitative basis, with reality programs and competitions enlisting free labour, free content for entertainment spectacle. Is this the new business model for many industries I wonder?
I sent this rant to RSA earlier this year in April:
Whatever your firm has become (and the beautiful people it is about), it must have traversed a tortuous path to get there. Your need for superb, passionate players and their willingness to go through three or more months sans pay says volumes. Your office must have been burned very early with flops, as it would seem you have no confidence in architecture design programs per se and the students coming out of them. Let’s review: all of these programs are (must be) “accredited”; moreover the graduating students have sacrificed enormous amounts of time, stressed over design details and deadlines, met some idiosyncratic, if not outright idiotic critique “feedback”, and much more...to be met with a basic high-minded insult from such a egomaniacal outfit as yours. For starters try defining “hire”. It means: To engage the services of (a person) for a fee. If you’re going to throw a bone (without any meat on it) to the masses on craigslist, you’re not likely to find the candidate(s) you’re seeking---chances are it’s a desperation move on both parts, despite what your over-inflated ad says. If you (the principals at your place of glory) would venture into investing some time and energy into identifying what universities are offering architectural curricula that has consistently involved their profs and advisors in being successful with graduating students who ARE ready—even with a stupid pencil, you’d have a much better “methodology” to begin a reasoned search for a viable candidate. However, you will need to “show me the money”. Five to six years of architectural study, Autocad and Revit skill, environmental integration and impact, acoustic and electrical design, philosophy of design proposal, mechanical and structural engineering…doesn’t come cheap and doesn’t come for nothing. If you want something or someone (for hire) --- you need to pay, otherwise you’re stealing. If that’s your office culture and morality, how is it you’re saying such wonderful things about yourself. On the other hand you might just be looking for a chump to fill out some CAD grunt work to complete a proposal you don’t want to pay any money for…either way you’re incredibly ridiculous.
Can you correct the spelling in the title & elsewhere in the article? It's "Siegel" with 2 e's. We don't want to implicate the wrong person. Thanks.
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