Archinect - The Architect's Guide

Where To Apply For Architecture Jobs Online

2015-08-22T20:20:23-04:00

A recent article on Archinect.com discussed how there are now "tons of architecture openings" but firms are having trouble filling these positions.

“It’s officially time to embrace the reality of 2015: full-time positions in architecture are plentiful.”

So where are all of these positions? Well fortunately (or unfortunately?) most are online.

So where should I look for an architecture job online?

While there are dozens of ways to get your foot in the door at an architecture office, for this post I am going to specifically discuss applying through online job posts and the pros and cons of this approach. There is a common belief this is like sending your resume into a black hole, however I have got the majority of my jobs through applying online, including both my current position and previously at a “starchitects” office.

There are hundreds of job sites, but here are a few I have used in the past with varying levels of success:

Archinect!

The Archinect employment page is one of the best res...

The Two Page Architecture Portfolio

2015-08-13T14:50:03-04:00

When applying to any architecture job I advise applicants to use the shortest portfolio possible. I have successfully applied to the top firms in the world with only a resume and a TWO PAGE portfolio. Most people are surprised by this, since the typical portfolios I see are in the 20-40 page range. To be clear I am only talking about the initial introduction to a firm, not the in person interview. For that I recommend a full length traditional portfolio.

For the first contact architecture application I recommend a “sample portfolio”, usually two to five pages long. Just like the resume, it is only a snapshot of your greatest work and experience.

Getting into a portfolio discussion is difficult because a lot of the final product is creativity based. Yet, I will cover several general guidelines to follow below when preparing and submitting a sample portfolio.

1. You did what?

This is extremely important and it is a mistake I see all the time on job applications and portfolios. Working i...

4 Reasons Why You Need a STAR Portfolio

2015-08-03T12:57:00-04:00

Perhaps the most important component of any architecture job application is the portfolio. The key is to tailor the portfolio not only to the position to which you are applying but also to the correct stage in the application process.

As I covered in a previous article, The Two Page Architecture Portfolio, your first contact with an architecture firm should include a “sample portfolio” as a part of your application. This is usually two to five pages long and just like the resume it is a snapshot of your greatest work and experience. This is the approach I recommend at the outset, while at the other end of the application process - the interview - I advise a different approach. This is where the STAR Portfolio comes in.

What is a STAR Portfolio?

If you’re not already aware, STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. The STAR Portfolio is a short document containing bullet points and images on how you dealt with a specific problem on a specific project. This is usually around te...

Top 5 Architecture Job Interview Questions

2015-07-29T14:29:00-04:00

The architecture profession has been steadily recovering since the downturn of 2009. The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards has released “NCARB by the Numbers ,” their annual report featuring a positive trend for the architecture profession. This means more jobs for architects, assuming you can get through the interview of course...

So you have made it through initial job screening to make it to this point. Congratulations! The interview questions I discuss below come up in almost every profession. However, as an architect I am primarily focused on how to best respond to these common questions in the context of an architecture interview. As you go through each of the questions below, think about your response. WHY is the interviewer asking this question? Put yourself in his or her shoes. This will help you to understand that they are not trying to stump you but rather get an idea if you will be a good fit within the firm. If they do throw you a curve ball with a que...