ATTACHMENT/WORK PLACEMENT

An attachment is an examinable, short-term work experience that many Kenyan universities and colleges require students to undergo as part of the coursework required for you to graduate. It is different from an internship because it is done while one is still a student as part of the learning process. This link will lead to more differences between the two (https://afritechnews.com/difference-between-an-internship-and-an-attachment/)

My experience has cumulatively been for a total of eight months now and all of them have been in private firms. Working for the County government is bound to be a different experience so I will speak of it when I have had it but for now, I’m sure there are common grounds to be found. If you are wondering what to expect, don't worry, I got you.

1. Don’t fret

Ignore the noose on the meme, it is not that scary. Doing anything for the first time is bound to be nerve-wrecking. For over-thinkers like me, the anxiety was blown out of proportion. I was scared that they would give me tasks that I had never come across in any of my lectures and that I’d end up bringing the whole university to shame in the industry. Let’s ignore how dramatic all that is. The things you are scared of happening might actually happen but you will handle it better than you assume you will. You will make mistakes and it won’t be the end of the world, that’s just how learning works.

2. Find a place a month in advance

It takes a while for companies to respond to attachment applications. You think it will be easy and fast because it is free labor but it’s not. Sometimes they are not taking in interns and other times they have their slots full. It is quite disappointing to receive all the “we would love to have you here but…try next hiring period” emails. If you are working on a time crunch or a deadline is approaching soon, these emails become menacing. So give yourself enough time to apply to as many firms as possible and to wait for their responses.

3. Remember it’s a learning opportunity

I don’t know if I am just a perfectionist but I thought I needed to be very knowledgeable and proficient in everything before being an intern. The fact that I was not gave me major imposter syndrome. I have had to be reminded by my mentors that I am, in fact, still a student and the only thing I should be doing is learning. No one is expecting you to deliver approval-ready work for your first time in the field. So take it all in and ask questions. Anything you notice you have no knowledge of, ask about it. If it’s a situation where you can’t ask in the moment, note it down to ask later on or to google it.

4. Site visits

The biggest difference between learning in class and being in the field is having access to sites and being able to see construction as it is undergoing. I might be romanticizing buildings here but when you see them in their complete and final glory, you wonder how you went for years not acknowledging the secrets that are webbed in them: the ducts and pipes along the walls, slabs and ceilings, the drainage and plumbing systems, the movement and flow of air and light and how all those were curated and creatively designed. On site, you watch a design slowly come to life and it is a great feeling. One of my great moments was seeing my tile layout design on site, etched on to the ground forever. It may not be a whole building but it is still a milestone.

On site, you see the details in person and…in detail. You see how that detail you copied from Pinterest from that one pin-up looks like. You also have a better visualization of how the space on the blueprint translates in real life. For example, to expose myself, I designed a community center last year and there was an area of about 1400 square meters that had a ceiling height of 3 meters and floor-to-ceiling windows only on one side. In my head it worked perfectly, but when I saw what 1400 square meters actually looks like on site...I would not have entered that room unless there was gun held to my head. It would have been very claustrophobic despite being ventilated. That said, I would like to express my formal apologies to the lecturer who expressed concern about the heights and who received very convincing arguments in return. I see your point, you were right.

5. You learn different software

I don’t know about you but my laptop sounds like I am starting a mini-airport in my room when modelling or creating renders. It has served me well but I really appreciate being able to use the desktops with better specs and with quieter fans. There’s also the opportunity to learn new software. Each professional has their preferred software to use for modelling and rendering and you get to learn all of them and soon enough you’ll have your own preferences.

6. You learn how to work with people

In school, offices and in the field, you meet a plethora of personalities that come with all the different people you meet. They come in the complete spectrum, from kind people to those who are downright mean and you learn to work with all of them while maintaining professionalism. I have been lucky to meet more warm and welcoming people than not and even then, there have been conflicts to resolve. One of my mentors told me that you have to develop some multiple personality as an architect because there is need to compartmentalize between the personal and the professional relationship; to have a balance between being assertive and stern with the work being done and being personable and friendly outside of the project.

7. Networks

The people you work with- your fellow attachees, interns and the professionals you meet become your networks so you already are there.

8. You learn other parts of the construction process that are not design

I realized that design is a very miniscule part of a project. The rest of it is in project management and as an architect, you are involved in all stages of it: from procuring the necessary official documents and approvals to organizing the project team to work together to meet the project goals to constant site supervision etc.

The to-do list is miles long and you get to experience them all, from the fun to the boring. You may love construction but hate the design process so you might decide to specialize in the project management only or you may love design but hate everything that comes with it which might lead you to specialize in drafting or graphic design solely. The attachment period is an opportune moment to discover where your strengths, weaknesses and interests lie which will help you specialize in future.

9. Payment

Most firms do not pay attachees so do not get your hopes up. Being on attachment is expensive, especially if you have a commute so be ready for that. Most bosses will agree to a refund of your transport expenses though so if you can negotiate for that, good luck!

In conclusion, I would accept a job as a PR manager for attachments because I see their benefits. For people who have been on attachment, what did I miss? For the ones about to start, good luck and hope you have a good time learning!