Like many architecture firm owners and hiring managers, you likely have busy days, especially if you’re looking to add or replace someone on your team. In addition to everything else on your plate, you have to review applications — and the resumes and portfolios that come with them.
Candidates wanting to interview with your firm have likely put significant effort into writing and designing their architecture resumes and portfolios. In putting their best foot forward, candidates have distilled their work into the essence of their abilities and achievements.
All you have to do is find the resume and portfolio that fits your firm’s brand, culture and needs.
Here’s what to look for.
What to Look for in an Architecture Resume/Portfolio
When reviewing resumes and portfolios, appearance matters. You can expect error-free cover letters and resumes, and the portfolio should be as visually appealing as it is informative.
However, there’s much more to a stellar resume and portfolio.
- It’s all about experience. The brief cover letter, resume, and portfolio go hand-in-hand, and applicants should include all three in their applications. However, the portfolio is the most essential of these three components. The portfolio shows you the candidate’s breadth of experience.
- Content may be king, but presentation persuades. The candidate who puts effort into graphic design when presenting is more likely to understand how to design and structure project presentations for your firm’s clients.
- Look for distinctiveness. Expect the candidate to keep their personal life private, but do look for expressiveness in the presentation. A candidate may include a personable theme or an infographic summarizing their body of work. The best candidates will make themselves stand out — in their resumes and portfolios.
- Less is more. Look for candidates who understand how to showcase their work in a few designs and are confident. Consider quality over quantity; a few terrific designs outweigh endless pages of mediocrity.
- Theoretical projects might be interesting. Avoid the temptation to pass over academic work or speculative projects. These efforts are often grounded in research and the fundamentals of design. As such, they provide invaluable insight into how candidates combine investigation and innovation.
Additionally, candidates should be respectful of their time and everyone’s bandwidth. Knowledgeable candidates attach PDFs of no more than 15 MB of data. They don’t expect you to review a digital portfolio online.
The right candidate is out there. You’ll recognize them by their resume and portfolio. Then, you can confirm your hiring choice once you interview them.
Contact us to discuss your career options or browse our open positions.
