A Part I architectural CV should feel professional, but not inflated. The reader needs to understand your level, education, project evidence and potential quickly.
Professional presentation is not about making the CV look like a poster. It is about making the information clean, credible and easy to pass on.
Watch: starting your Part I job search
This Architecture Social episode is a strong fit if your CV is part of your first serious Part I job search.
Listen: Part I job-search advice
Prefer audio? This episode covers early job-search decisions, including how your CV supports the first application.
You can also open the related Architecture Social podcast page.
Start with your level
Say clearly whether you are looking for a year-out role, placement, internship or first Part I architectural assistant position. Do not make the reader guess.
- Current course or recent graduation status.
- Location and availability.
- Portfolio link.
- Relevant software with real project context.
- Academic and any practice experience.
Related audio: early-career experience
This related episode adds context on presenting limited experience honestly and usefully.
You can also open the related Architecture Social podcast page.
Make the presentation professional
Use enough visual care to show design judgement, but keep the CV readable. A practice should be able to scan dates, role titles, education and project evidence without decoding a layout.
A short profile can help if it is specific. Mention the kind of work you are interested in, the evidence you can show and the type of practice you are approaching.
Improve the evidence
- Replace vague personality lines with project examples.
- Explain whether work is academic, personal or professional.
- Mention scale, brief and software where useful.
- Keep experience bullets short and factual.
- Use the portfolio to prove the strongest claims.
Common mistakes
- Writing a profile that could describe any design student.
- Making the typography too small.
- Listing every software tool equally.
- Not explaining group work honestly.
- Sending a portfolio link that is hidden, private or broken.
Architecture Social view
Stephen’s recruiter view is that Part I candidates do not need to sound senior. They need to sound clear, interested and ready to learn, with enough evidence to justify the interview.
Next step
Compare your CV against the Part I Architectural Assistant guide, live Part I jobs, the architecture CV guide and the portfolio guide.
For practical next steps, compare the architecture salary guide, browse current architecture jobs, set up architecture job alerts or contact Architecture Social for tailored advice.
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