Architecture CV and Portfolio Starter Guide

An architecture CV and portfolio starter guide should help you build the basics properly. You do not need to sound senior. You need to make your level, potential and evidence easy to understand.

For early-career candidates, academic work can be valuable. The key is explaining the brief, your contribution and what the project proves.

Watch: getting started with architecture applications

This Architecture Social video is useful for early-career candidates trying to get their CV and portfolio in front of more relevant practices.

Related audio: early-career architecture applications

This related episode adds advice for candidates who are building experience and need to present it honestly.

You can also open the related Architecture Social podcast page.

Start with the essentials

• Current course, level or role.
• Location and availability.
• Portfolio link or PDF sample.
• Education and relevant dates.
• Software used in real projects or academic work.
• Two or three strongest projects.

Build the sample portfolio

Your sample portfolio should not be an archive. Choose a small number of pages that show design thinking, communication, drawings, models, process and project judgement.

If a project needs a long explanation to make sense, tighten the caption or choose a clearer example.

Write the CV honestly

• Do not overclaim practice experience.
• Explain academic projects with context.
• Show software confidence without exaggerating.
• Make placement or part-time experience easy to find.
• Connect the CV to the portfolio evidence.

Common mistakes

• Trying to sound more senior than you are.
• Using too many pages in the first sample.
• Leaving captions vague.
• Not explaining group work.
• Sending files that are hard to open.

Architecture Social view

Stephen’s recruiter view is that early-career candidates do not need to pretend. Clear evidence, curiosity and honest positioning can be stronger than polished vagueness.

Next step

Use this with the Part I architecture portfolio guide, the architecture CV examples guide, live architecture jobs and the free professional and student membership.