What does a planning internship do?
When it comes to planning an internship, an intern's duties will depend on the directives of supervising staff or a manager. Typically, an intern's responsibilities will revolve around performing clerical tasks such as processing documents, producing reports and presentations, responding to calls and correspondence, and managing schedules. There are also instances where an intern must share ideas and insights, attend meetings, maintain records, update databases, and assist staff in various tasks while under more experienced colleagues' supervision.
Planning internship responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real planning internship resumes:
- Manage and post the feeds on Facebook for the clients
- Manage and operate the space utilization software (CAFM) and develop space planning layouts utilizing AutoCad.
- Manage and coordinate activities between the ACM CEO and board members, VIP sponsors, and charity groups.
- Research and analyze various investment reports and products: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, manage accounts.
- Maintain expansive parkland data sets using ArcGIS software to attain accountability for government databases.
- Create informative InDesign books of past projects.
- Experience with SQL, running attribute/ spatial queries
- Develop a yearly calendar that organize posts for Instagram account.
- Support end users leveraging the ERP ecosystem in their daily operations.
- Select and interpret various SPSS programs for use in faculty research.
- Research, collect data, and prepare packets & PowerPoint presentations.
- Code web base core modules and base SQL queries as per specification document.
- Create digital display and search campaigns through Google Adwords and Facebook ads manager.
- Monitor and verify data accuracy within the ERP system and sales forecast tools.
- Sketch design concepts, research city planning frameworks, research methods on community outreach processes
Planning internship skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Planning Interns are proficient in GIS, Data Collection, and ArcGIS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Leadership skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Planning Interns that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- GIS, 10%
Researched and developed economic templates utilizing GIS systems to be used for future environmental project considerations.
- Data Collection, 7%
Coordinated community survey and data collection exercise in collaboration with the University of Arizona College of Public Health.
- ArcGIS, 6%
Maintained expansive parkland data sets using ArcGIS software to attain accountability for government databases.
- Data Analysis, 5%
Prepared data analysis and spreadsheet reports on inventory and product movement using the company's information systems.
- Project Management, 4%
Assist Senior Landscape Architect in clerical and project management
- Photoshop, 4%
Mapped partial & incremental attraction replacements chronologically using Adobe Photoshop.
"gis," "data collection," and "arcgis" are among the most common skills that planning interns use at work. You can find even more planning internship responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a planning internship to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what planning interns do because "urban and regional planners analyze information and data from a variety of sources, such as market research studies, censuses, and environmental impact studies." Additionally, a planning internship resume shows how planning interns use analytical skills: "monitored and verified data accuracy within the erp system and sales forecast tools. "
Leadership skills. Many planning internship duties rely on leadership skills. "urban and regional planners must be able to manage projects, which may include overseeing tasks and planning assignments.," so a planning internship will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways planning internship responsibilities rely on leadership skills: "provided business development and strategic planning support to senior leadership allowing for more accurate data driven decision making. "
Communication skills. This is an important skill for planning interns to perform their duties. For an example of how planning internship responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "urban and regional planners must be able to communicate clearly and effectively because they interact with colleagues and stakeholders, prepare research reports, give presentations, and meet with a wide variety of audiences, including public officials, interest groups, and community members." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a planning internship: "researched best practices in employee communication and presented findings to the vice-president of hr. ".
The three companies that hire the most planning internships are:
- Union Settlement
6 planning interns jobs
- Bosch USA4 planning interns jobs
- City of Philadelphia3 planning interns jobs
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Compare different planning interns
Planning internship vs. Urban design consultant
An urban design consultant is in charge of many projects, and so they have to oversee tasks and plan assignments. They are skilled in creating interior design solutions, space planning, sketching, and product selection. They have to analyze information and data gotten from market research studies and censuses. They also have to do presentations and prepare reports.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a planning internship are more likely to require skills like "arcgis," "data analysis," "project management," and "photoshop." On the other hand, a job as an urban design consultant requires skills like "urban design," "landscape architecture," "design guidelines," and "adobe photoshop." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Urban design consultants tend to make the most money working in the telecommunication industry, where they earn an average salary of $63,199. In contrast, planning interns make the biggest average salary, $41,003, in the professional industry.The education levels that urban design consultants earn slightly differ from planning interns. In particular, urban design consultants are 28.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a planning internship. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Planning internship vs. Community development planner
A transportation planner takes responsibility for developing transportation strategies encompassing transportation needs. Transportation planners work along with government agencies for the selection and development of plans organizing mass transit. They communicate through social media in written, visual, or oral forms. It is part of their duty to design leaflets and questionnaires to communicate and receive feedback from the public. They also take part in meetings more often for note-taking, scheduling, and attendance. They need to be well-versed in algebra, geometry, calculus, and arithmetic.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, planning internship responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "arcgis," "project management," "photoshop," and "transportation planning." Meanwhile, a community development planner has duties that require skills in areas such as "site development," "cdbg," "hud," and "economic development administration." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Community development planners tend to reach higher levels of education than planning interns. In fact, they're 5.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Planning internship vs. Transportation planner
An urban renewal manager has a multitude of roles he/she performs in the organization he/she finds himself in. They conduct detailed economic and statistical analysis of market trends. They also develop initiatives to support pricing, brand positioning, and other marketing communications efforts. They may have to design and develop commercial strategic platforms for development planning. They may also need to hire and train new staff.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from planning internship resumes include skills like "photoshop," "transportation planning," "indesign," and "market trends," whereas a transportation planner is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "logistics," "powerpoint," and "transportation projects. "
Transportation planners earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $81,344. Planning interns earn the highest pay from the professional industry, with an average salary of $41,003.Most transportation planners achieve a higher degree level compared to planning interns. For example, they're 5.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Planning internship vs. Urban renewal manager
Types of planning internship
Updated January 8, 2025
