At Part II level, the CV and portfolio have to do more than look polished. They need to show judgement, responsibility and the kind of architectural work you are ready to take on next.
Who this helps
Part II architectural assistants, recent MArch graduates and candidates preparing for stronger practice applications
The practical answer
The best Part II applications show progression. A practice wants to see what you can do, but also how you think, how much responsibility you have held and where you still need support. The CV should frame that clearly and the portfolio should prove it.
What to do next
- Lead with your current level, project types and the role you want next.
- Choose portfolio projects that show design thinking, technical awareness and process.
- Explain your contribution on each project, especially where the work was collaborative.
- Show enough technical and construction understanding to be credible without pretending to know everything.
- Remove weaker pages that dilute the main story.
Common mistakes
- Treating the portfolio like a university submission rather than a job tool.
- Showing beautiful images without explaining your role.
- Making the CV too academic for a practice hiring decision.
- Applying for every role with the same portfolio order.
Architecture Social view
Architecture Social is candidate-first, but honest. Stephen’s view is that Part II candidates usually improve fastest when they stop trying to show everything and start showing the right evidence for the role.
Useful next links
Next step: Use this guide to tighten the application, then compare live jobs and salary expectations before applying.
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