CAREER DEVELOPMENT SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
The A-School Career Development team annually hosts a variety of signature programs that are designed for students to explore professional development opportunities, build skillsets and meet future employers and mentors. These include an externship program, career week, workshops, and more.
WINTER EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
On the tail end of UVA’s winter break in January, School of Architecture students are given the opportunity to shadow or have a short working experience with employers across the United States as part of the Winter Externship Program. As a short experience, the Winter Externship Program is intended to aid students in their career exploration efforts, networking abilities, and act as a resume booster before internship, job, or fellowship application periods in the spring. Through participating in externships, students learn more about individual organizations, their own field of interest, and how a career path may or may not work for their future plans.
In the fall semester, employers volunteer to host (virtually or in-person) one or more students for the January term through the Career Development Office and plan to have the students shadow them for up to one week or take on a smaller project for pay that can be completed over a maximum of two weeks.
In early October, once enough employers have been recruited, the Career Development Office posts an all-call application through Handshake for School of Architecture students (undergraduate and graduate) in all areas of study. Based on employer and student preferences, the Career Development Office matches employers and students for the Winter Externship Program starting in November and matches continue to be made through December 1st for the January term.
If you are interested in participating in the Winter Externship Program as an employer host or have questions as a student, please contact Lindsay Schiller at lms7yk@virginia.edu.
HOW DOES THE EXTERNSHIP MATCHING PROCESS WORK?
As part of the application process, students can be expected to submit a resume (1 page allowed for undergraduates, 2 pages allowed for graduates) and short work sample (up to 4 pages) that will be given in a packet to employers. Students will choose and submit their top 10 employers of interest for the Winter Externship Program, keeping in mind that many of the employers prefer an in-person experience.
Once the application has closed, employers will get a compiled packet of application materials submitted by students most interested in their firms. Employers will review these materials and submit their own rankings to the Career Development Office identifying the students with whom they would most like to be matched. After rankings have been received, the Career Development Office will best match students and employers based on all materials and preferences. Students will be notified of their match over Fall Break with a deadline for returning signed waivers and acceptance into the program.
PORTFOLIO/RESUME REVIEWS
Periodically throughout the academic year, the Career Development Office will organize reviews where faculty, alumni, and/or employer volunteers provide feedback on student portfolios and/or resumes. These reviews are timed throughout the semester so that students can receive helpful tips for improvement before application periods or career fairs on Grounds, and are opportunities for students to gain valuable networking time with respected mentors.
Regularly scheduled reviews include faculty portfolio reviews that occur once a semester and employer portfolio reviews that take place as part of our Spring Career Connect Week. If you work in a design field or on hiring teams for your organization and would like to volunteer your time to critique student portfolios or resumes, please contact Lindsay Schiller at lms7yk@virginia.edu.
SPRING CAREER CONNECT WEEK AT THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
The Spring Career Connect Week acts as focused week of scheduled events developed for student to explore professional development opportunities and build skillsets. Every day of the week, at least one professional activity or hiring event is hosted with mindfulness of accommodating every student academic area within the School of Architecture. Descriptions of our typical programs are shared below:
LUNCH & LEARNS
Lunch & Learns are 1 - 1.5 hour sessions for students that are hosted by employers or alumni focused on the work of a firm/organization and its culture, or more broadly, career paths and opportunities. Held on Grounds (most typically at the A-School), hosting organizations often provide a mid-day meal for students in attendance.
SMALL GROUP NETWORKING
Apart from the tabling event of the larger Spring Career Connect Fair, students and employer representatives are invited to attend smaller lunches or gatherings of less than 75 people. These smaller groups accommodate more time allotted for each employer representative and student to interface in a low pressure environment.
PORTFOLIO/RESUME REVIEWS
Employers attending the Spring Career Connect Fair are invited to attend a dinner on the evening prior to the event and participate in portfolio/resume review sessions for School of Architecture students. For this program, employers volunteer 2 hours of time to review candidates through an individual appointment format. Students can use the feedback to make minor, last-minute edits to their materials before the Fair the following day, or for any future internship or employment applications throughout the spring semester and beyond. Organizational representatives receive a list of participating students with whom they will be meeting in advance of the event.
SPRING CAREER CONNECT FAIR
The Spring Career Connect Fair is an employer tabling event in which organizational representatives come to Grounds to chat with students about their hiring capabilities for summer internships or full-time opportunities. Students approach any table of their choosing with resumes and/or portfolios in hand to pitch themselves for open roles or to gain more insight into the organizational structure and culture of a firm. To provide the best attendance ratio for networking touch points between firms and students, participation is limited to approximately 40 employers (or less). In order to best meet the needs of students and to maximize attendance, the event takes place in the evening (post-studio).
If you are interested in participating in Spring Career Connect Week as an employer or a student, please contact Lindsay Schiller at lms7yk@virginia.edu.