Part II Assistant CV and Portfolio Workshop

A Part II assistant CV and portfolio should balance design sensitivity with practical evidence. The work needs to look considered, but the reader also needs to understand what you did and how you might fit into a practice.

This is where many applications become too visual and not specific enough.

Watch: Architecture CV bootcamp

This Architecture Social CV bootcamp is useful for Part II candidates who need stronger structure before improving the portfolio.

Listen: full CV bootcamp episode

Prefer audio? This episode covers the CV structure and presentation points that matter when applying for architecture roles.

You can also open the related Architecture Social podcast page.

Show your level clearly

A Part II candidate is usually expected to show more maturity than a Part I candidate, but not to pretend to be a project architect. Keep the level honest.

• Part II status and education.
• Practice experience and project stages.
• Software and workflow evidence.
• Design process and judgement.
• Portfolio proof for the strongest CV claims.

Related audio: CV review discussion

This related discussion adds a practical review angle on how architecture CVs can be improved.

You can also open the related Architecture Social podcast page.

Balance design and practicality

Design sensitivity is valuable when the practice can understand the decisions behind it. Use captions to explain the brief, site, constraints, role and outcome.

Practical evidence might include coordination, drawings, Revit work, planning material, technical thinking, consultant communication or client-facing exposure.

Make the workshop edits

• Rewrite vague bullets into evidence-led lines.
• Move relevant projects forward.
• Cut portfolio pages that repeat the same skill.
• Label academic and professional work clearly.
• Prepare talking points for interview.

Common mistakes

• Letting visual style replace explanation.
• Not showing enough responsibility.
• Hiding technical or practice experience.
• Making the sample portfolio too long.
• Writing a CV that does not match the portfolio.

Architecture Social view

Stephen’s recruiter view is that Part II applications should show judgement. The practice needs to see not just what you made, but how you think and how you work.

Next step

Use this with the Part II CV and portfolio guide, live architecture jobs, the CV guide and the portfolio guide.