Editorial
How to Land Your First Architecture Role
A practical guide to landing your first architecture or interior design role, with advice on portfolios, direct outreach and job-search systems.
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Landing your first architecture role is not just about waiting for the perfect advert. You need a clear sample portfolio, a tidy CV, a target list and a way to contact studios properly.
This episode is useful because it turns the job search into a process. That matters when you are trying to get noticed in a competitive early-career market.
Watch: how to get hired faster in London
This session is a practical playbook for early-career architecture and interiors candidates who need a cleaner route into work.
presto-player:video_id=592
Listen: first architecture role playbook
The podcast version goes deeper into direct outreach, sample portfolios, email structure and keeping the job search organised.
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Start with a focused sample portfolio
A sample portfolio should be short enough to open quickly and strong enough to earn a conversation. Do not send a full archive of everything you have ever made.
- Lead with your strongest relevant work.
- Keep the file size sensible.
- Explain your role and the brief.
- Show range, but avoid repetition.
- Make contact details easy to find.
Use direct outreach properly
Direct outreach works when it is respectful, targeted and easy to respond to. A short email with a clear role fit is usually better than a long message trying to explain your whole life.
Watch: how to get hired faster in London
This session is a practical playbook for early-career architecture and interiors candidates who need a cleaner route into work.
presto-player:video_id=593
Common mistakes
- Only applying through job boards.
- Sending a huge portfolio with no explanation.
- Using the same email for every studio.
- Forgetting to track who has been contacted.
- Not following up politely after a sensible gap.
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Before sending your next application
Check the basics that make a busy practice more likely to open, read and reply.
- Sample portfolio is concise and relevant.
- Email says why this studio makes sense.
- You have logged the contact and follow-up date.
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Next step
Watch or listen, then build a list of ten studios and prepare one clean sample portfolio before you contact them.
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For related career support, compare the architecture salary guide, browse current architecture jobs, set up architecture job alerts or contact Architecture Social for a recruiter’s view.
Keep the conversation going
What stayed with you? Join the Architecture Social community to share your experience or ask a question.