A strong architectural design CV and portfolio should do one job together: help a practice understand what you can contribute. The CV gives the context. The portfolio gives the proof.
If the design work looks good but the reader cannot work out your role, process or level, the application still feels risky.
Watch: architecture CV and portfolio tips
This Architecture Social video is a strong starting point for tightening the CV and portfolio before sending applications.
Listen: CV and resume advice
Prefer audio? This episode covers practical CV mistakes and the kind of presentation details that slow applications down.
You can also open the related Architecture Social podcast page.
Start with the role you want
Before changing layouts, decide what the application needs to prove. A residential practice, commercial interiors studio, technical team and concept-led design studio will all scan different evidence first.
- Project type and scale.
- Your personal contribution.
- Design process and decision making.
- Software and workflow evidence.
- Technical or delivery exposure where relevant.
Related audio: portfolio bootcamp
This related episode adds more depth on portfolio structure, project order and how to make design work easier to assess.
You can also open the related Architecture Social podcast page.
Make the portfolio prove the CV
If your CV says you worked on concept design, the portfolio should show how the idea developed. If it says you used Revit, show evidence of model coordination, drawings or documentation where you can.
The best applications feel joined up. The CV points towards the evidence, then the portfolio makes that evidence easy to understand.
Improve the first five pages
- Put the strongest relevant project early.
- Add captions that explain the brief, stage and your role.
- Avoid tiny drawings that cannot be read on screen.
- Separate academic, professional, team and individual work honestly.
- Remove pages that look good but do not help the target role.
Common mistakes
- Designing the CV so heavily that it becomes hard to scan.
- Using portfolio captions that describe images but not contribution.
- Hiding the best work too late in the document.
- Making every project look equally important.
- Forgetting that the reader may be comparing several candidates quickly.
Architecture Social view
Stephen’s recruiter view is that visual polish is only half the job. The stronger candidate is usually the one who makes the evidence clear, honest and easy to pass around internally.
Next step
Compare your CV and portfolio with the architecture CV guide, the portfolio preparation guide, live architecture jobs and the interview guide.
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