Working With Interns

The Maker’s Quest

In this episode, Greg and Brian discussed their experiences mentoring interns and apprentices in their respective woodworking and architecture businesses. They discussed the potential benefits and challenges of hiring an intern, with Brian stressing the importance of fair compensation.

Hosted by Brian Benham

Portfolio: https://www.benhamdesignconcepts.com/

Brian’s Woodworking Plans: https://www.digitaldesignconcepts.art/

Brian On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benham_design/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO8f1IIliMKKlu5PgSpodQ

Greg Porter

https://skyscraperguitars.com/
Greg On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsgaragekc/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyscraperGuitars
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GregsGarage

Show Notes Woodworking Mentorship Experiences and Challenges

Greg and Brian discussed their experiences mentoring interns and apprentices in their respective woodworking and architecture businesses. Brian shared his experience teaching a new student how to use tools safely, emphasizing the importance of patience. They talked about an apprentice with no prior experience learning woodworking through hands-on projects guided by Brian. Greg recounted a past project involving the installation of an MRI machine that required structural modifications to be made to the building. They also discussed the potential benefits and challenges of hiring an intern, with Brian stressing the importance of fair compensation. The two shared their experiences working in small shop spaces, noting the need for larger workspaces to handle bigger materials efficiently.

Architectural Internships, Education, and Training

Greg and Brian discussed the concept of interns in the architectural world, with Greg explaining the three levels of interns and their involvement in real projects. They also discussed the firm's involvement in education, focusing on K-12 and higher education, and the company's approach to hiring and training young professionals. Brian raised a question about whether the company needs to break bad habits that these new hires might have. The conversation ended with Greg explaining their process-oriented approach to client work and the importance of hands-on technical skills for architects. Greg also shared his diverse background in construction and emphasized the importance of understanding various systems in a building. The conversation concluded with Brian suggesting that the architectural internship program should include more on-site work to provide designers with practical experience.

Building Experience and Managing Transitions

Greg emphasized the importance of experience in the field of building and design, using the analogy of a high school progression to illustrate the learning curve. He and Brian discussed the challenges of transitioning from a doer to a manager, with Brian sharing his own experience of starting as a project manager after years of working in the field. They agreed on the difficulty of human resource management and the importance of learning from experience. Greg also stressed the importance of building respect and understanding in their work, including learning people's names and providing guidance without insulting someone's intelligence.

Architectural Design Challenges and Solutions

Brian and Greg discussed the complexities of architectural design, particularly in residential and commercial settings. They highlighted the challenges of coordinating different design elements and the issue of liability in cases where design elements fail to meet expectations or safety standards. Greg emphasized the importance of clear specifications and responsibilities in design projects and the need for architects to take responsibility for certain design elements. They also discussed the design of handrails, which must meet both aesthetic and safety requirements.