Part II Architectural Assistant CV and Portfolio

A Part II architectural assistant CV and portfolio should show more than attractive project work. It should help a practice understand your judgement, responsibility, software ability and readiness to contribute.

At Part II level, the question is not only what you designed. It is what you understood, what you did and how that evidence fits the role.

Watch: Architecture CV bootcamp

This CV bootcamp gives practical context for improving a Part II CV before linking it properly to 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.

Start with your level

Make your current position clear at the top of the CV. If you are recently qualified from Part II, returning after experience, or looking for a specific type of practice, say that plainly.

• Current role or course status.
• Relevant practice experience.
• Project stages you have touched.
• Software used in live or academic work.
• A portfolio link that supports the CV claims.

Related audio: early-career CV evidence

This related episode is useful for Part II candidates who need to explain experience, gaps or responsibility clearly.

You can also open the related Architecture Social podcast page.

Show responsibility, not just projects

A Part II candidate does not need to pretend to be senior, but they do need to explain contribution. If you worked on a team project, say what you personally did.

Project captions should name the brief, scale, stage and your role. The reader should not have to guess whether the work is academic, professional, team-based or individual.

Make the portfolio interview-ready

• Put the strongest role-relevant project early.
• Explain design decisions in short captions.
• Show technical or coordination evidence where relevant.
• Keep the sample portfolio tight enough to review quickly.
• Prepare fuller project context for interview discussion.

Common mistakes

• Making the CV sound senior without evidence.
• Using beautiful portfolio pages with no explanation of role.
• Hiding practice experience behind academic work.
• Listing software without showing where it was used.
• Sending the same sample portfolio for every role.

Architecture Social view

Stephen’s recruiter view is that Part II candidates stand out when they show judgement. Practices want to see potential, but they also want evidence that you understand how project work happens.

Next step

Compare your application with the Part II CV and portfolio guide, the architecture CV guide, the portfolio guide and live architecture jobs.