I absolutely loved the setting of this internship. Getting to work outdoors on a rooftop park was amazing, and always kept me engaged. Also, the management was extremely organized and very easy to communicate with.
What I wish was different
I wish interns partook in active shooter training since they work solely atop the roof in the park, oftentimes without other full time supervisors. Also, I wish the culture of the park did not involve having to disrupt the lives of displaced and homeless peoples visiting the public park. They need a place to stay too! Just be mindful of the more capitalistic and corporate components of this firm.
Advice
Go into this with an open mind. This job was not in my field and may not have been my favorite job ever, but I learned so much in this position. I learned to navigate the ambiguities of bureaucracy within a small, private, place-making firm — something I didn’t know much about at all prior to being hired. I also learned what industry and culture I do not want to work in post-grad and reaffirmed my dreams of pursuing my own degree, and not seeking a position/industry for the money that could be made in it. I made a ton of connections at this job via all of the programming partners that interns directly coordinate with as well as got to participate in the programming (while getting paid!). I simply advise you to apply with the understanding that this is a very low-skill level and easy/fun internship, at the end of the day, the job just simply wasn’t for me.
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Junior Project Analyst
June 2018 • New York City, NY
What I liked
I was given a lot of responsibility and it was a great opportunity to learn about placemaking in the private sector. Also, the office is right on Bryant Park!
What I wish was different
It's a very small team, and heavily male. As a woman, I sometimes had trouble relating to my colleagues, although they were very smart and kind!
Advice
Professionalism matters a lot with this position: be on time, dress appropriately, work consistently.
