Getting a job in architecture 2nd ed by Pelin

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GETTING A JOB IN ARCHITECTURE First In Architecture www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk

The information contained in this guide is for informational purposes only. I am not a careers or recruitment advisor, so any advice given is based on my opinion or experience. This guide contains links to third party websites. Third Party Materials comprise of the products and opinions expressed by their owners. As such, I do not assume responsibility or liability for any Third Party material or opinions No part of this publication shall be reproduced, transmitted or sold in whole or in part in any form, without the prior written consent of the author.

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CONTENTS Introduction !

Part 1 - Be Everywhere

Part 2 - Application

Part 3 - Portfolio

Part 4 - Interview

18 www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk

INTRODUCTION ! Firstly, thank you for downloading this guide. I hope that it will give you all the resources, tips and information you need to successfully find the job you are looking for.!

I wrote this because the job market is tough, now more than ever. I know the feeling of fear that approaches as you near the end of your studies and have to start thinking about getting out there into the working world, and you wonder if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ever be able to find work. The tips and ideas in this guide are techniques that I have used to find employment and I hope they will work for you too.!

Unfortunately many aspects of applying for a job/placement/internship are very dependent on individual tastes and ideas. So while one practice may like a particular style of portfolio, another practice may not. So this guide is aimed at giving you some ideas to work on, some things to think about - that will help you market yourself, and give you the best chance of getting the best job for you.!

Having said all of this. Sometimes its just about being in the right place at the right time. You just have to do your best to make sure you are in that place, at that time! So, what does that entail you ask? Read on.!

If you want to ask any questions, then donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to contact me. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m on Twitter (@archi1st), or the Facebook page First In Architecture, or email emma@firstinarchitecture.co.uk. I wish you all the success in your search for employment. !

Emma

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PART 1 BE EVERYWHERE... www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk

Where To Start? The first thing you have to think about is making sure you are one of the first to know when a new job is being advertised, or there are new opportunities available. This means getting yourself signed up with recruitment agencies, email lists, job sites, graduate programs and anything else that might connect you to your new job.!

Recruitment Sites

Check out the following sites as a starting point, and customise your email alerts to include jobs you are interested in and the areas you are prepared to work in.!

BD Jobs! AJ Jobs! Dezeen! Adzuna! RIBA Appointments! CIAT Jobs! There are more out there - so don’t limit yourself to just these. Always keep on the look out.!

Graduate & Student Sites

Milkround! Prospects! Target Jobs! Graduate Jobs! We Connect Students! Does your university offer any type of graduate schemes? Check it out, go to graduate opportunity fairs, careers advice office etc. !

“Just because you are doing an architecture degree, doesn’t mean you HAVE to be an architect.” !

There are many other opportunities out there to consider. With a degree in architecture under your belt you will have picked up skills like:! • • • • • • • •

time and self-management design skills concise and accurate writing/communication skills organisational skills identify and predict trends and patterns interpret and evaluate events, information, and ideas computer literacy up-to-date knowledge of the latest legal developments in your field

These skills are transferable to careers such as:! • • • • • • • •

careers that require mathematical precision, such as finance, accounting and computer programming roles in the armed forces, civil service, or education business and management finance fire prevention and safety law management consulting urban and rural planning

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Practice Sites

Contact firms in your local area to see if they have any positions available. In times like this, offering your skills on a contract basis may often be more appealing to a practice than taking on permanent staff. Check your favourite practices regularly - know what they are working on, and keep an eye on their recruitment pages to see if any jobs come up.

Social Media

Yes, you can use social media for more than stalking friends and ex's if you are smart it can be a useful tool for finding work. Just make sure you are careful…

Connect via Facebook and Twitter to practices you admire or hope to work for. Get involved in discussions with them to show that you are really engaged with the profession.

Get Face to Face - Connect! Whether it be an event that your university is holding where there may be some potential employers, or an event that a local firm is holding that you would be keen to work for - either way, get to know people. Networking is something I really don't like to do, but most of my work, leads and interesting projects have come through networking, connecting and maintaining links with people. It is vital, if you want to stand out, to put in some time networking. So whether its a guest lecture, social event, university event, get connecting and socialising with architects in practice so that you can stand out from the crowd.

! !“It’s not what you know it’s

Get on Linked In. Connect with people, follow practices you admire, get involved in group discussions. Build your network. There are also jobs advertised on Linked In.

Stand out This may be going too far for some people but just think about this. Maybe to have a little practice at your 3D rendering skills why don't you have a go at modelling a project that a firm you admire has completed. Then, send them your cv/application letter, with the attached 3D visual of their work - I think that would be pretty flattering and certainly make you stand out.

! ! !

“Have you thought about work or study abroad?” ! Don’t forget your options aren’t just limited to work in this country. There are countless opportunities elsewhere. For example:! Study abroad on a short term placement. There are many different programs available - head to Study Abroad to get started. Study Abroad Obviously you need to do your research to find a program that is right for you - but an opportunity like this can widen your skill set and increase your development, both professionally and personally. Go on a work placement abroad. Placement schemes can be competitive but that’s not to say you shouldn’t give it a try. World Architects How about volunteering abroad? There are numerous volunteering projects, in particular construction based, that would give you a rewarding hands on construction experience never to forget.! Prospects

WHO you know!”! www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk

PART 2 APPLICATION www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk

Your Cover Letter Writing the covering letter is one of the hardest things to do, in my opinion. It doesn’t have to be though, just follow this guide to point you in the right direction.!

The cover letter is your opportunity to demonstrate your enthusiasm and suitability for the job they are advertising. It is easy to spot a generic one size fits all letter, so you need to adapt your cover letter to be relevant for each application.!

The Structure

Cover letters can easily be a bit long, and lose focus - and remembering that the person reading it will probably have a pile of other letters and CVs to go through try to make sure it is succinct and interesting. !

The letter should be about 4 paragraphs, of short simple sentences, that take up no more than one page.!

Section 1 - Introduction First and foremost, the letter must be addressed to a person (not Sir/ Madam) - ie, get on their website, find out who the director is and address your letter to them (if it is a speculative application) or if the advert doesn’t state who to address it to you can always call them and ask. Don’t write ‘ To whom it may concern’.!

This paragraph should explain the job you are applying for, where you found the position/company (their website, recruitment site etc) and why you are applying for the position. !

If it is a speculative application then make sure you are clear about the type of role you are looking for and your reason for applying. !

Section 2 - The Practice and their requirements In this paragraph you need to explain your reasons for applying to the company. You need to show the potential employer that you have taken some time to find out about their practice. Tell them something about their practice that you find interesting, a project type, or maybe one of their projects you have visited. See if they have been featured in any news articles or industry journals - mentioning this would show them that you actively read and take note of what is happening in the industry.! You then need to be clear that you understand the requirements of the position they are advertising, and what is key to the role. You are essentially trying to gather as much information as you can about the job, and telling the reader that you have identified the main requirements for the role. !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! !

“We want to know that you’ve taken a bit of time to gain an understanding of our practice, and why you want to work here” - Potential Employer !

Section 3 - Why are you right for the job? Paragraph 3 is for you to match the requirements of the role advertised to your skills, and tell the employer why you are right for the job. Be as relevant as possible, elaborate on achievements in your CV.! Be positive and write with a bias to the future not the past and make sure you end on a positive note. Be confident (without sounding arrogant) and possibly include information that is not on your CV but would be useful to know specifically for this role. !

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Section 4 - Conclusion The main function of the final paragraph is to make sure that the letter concludes strongly and ends on a positive note, reaffirm your enthusiasm for the position. ! Close with something along the lines of “I very much look forward to hearing from you in the near future” etc. signing off with “Yours sincerely” if you wrote the letter to a named addressee. Then sign your letter, with your name printed underneath.!

! ! ! Checklist:! !! ! • Read through several times! ! • Spell check! ! • Check company name, details, name of person you are ! addressing the letter to! ! • Justify the paragraphs so they look neat! ! • Try to keep the font in the letter the same as in your CV! ! • Align your address to the right, and the company’s to the left! ! ! ! References

Some applications ask for references to be included. This is often a difficult area if you don’t have much work experience. Character references are often satisfactory, if from mature professionals such as doctors, teachers, managers etc. Try to get a reference from you University tutor too. !

“Make sure you keep a list of who you applied to and when, then you can follow up each one if you haven’t heard anything.”!

Common Mistakes

Don’t let your application be another to go straight into the bin - avoid these common mistakes so that you are in with a better chance of making it to the next step!!

! • • • • • • • • • •

No Spellchecking! No proof reading! Not including name on work sample attachments! Typos! Bad graphic layout! Poor writing! Errors on dates of employment! Name mistakes for firm or name of employer! Generic cover letters! No reference to the advertisement or role advertised

Remember:!

Always send a covering letter when applying for a job - whether is is by post or email. Don’t just attach your CV and hope for the best!!

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Cover Letter Examples: 01 Here are a couple of examples of the kind of thing you can write in your covering letter.!

! This letter is for a new graduate:! !

If you would like to get in touch to discuss my application and to arrange an interview, you can contact me via [INSERT PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS].! I look forward to hearing from you soon. !

Dear [INSERT NAME],!

Yours sincerely  [INSERT NAME]!

Regarding the [INSERT JOB TITLE] position currently advertised on [INSERT WHERE YOU FOUND THE JOB], please find attached a copy of my CV for your consideration.!   I have recently graduated with a [INSERT GRADE] in [INSERT SUBJECT] from [INSERT UNIVERSITY] and I am keen to gain experience in the architectural field. The course covered many topics, and I was particularly drawn to [INSERT SPECIFIC TOPIC]. I am looking to develop specialist skills in this area and build a successful career.! INCLUDE IF YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN WORK EXPERIENCE  I have put my course theory into practice in a variety of ways, most effectively as a [INSERT JOB TITLE] at [INSERT COMPANY NAME] where I [INSERT KEY ACHIEVEMENT].! IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD WORK EXPERIENCE MENTION AN ACHIEVEMENT OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT MAY BE RELEVANT.! Having extensively researched your company’s projects and values, I was especially interested in [INSERT COMPANY ASPECT/PROJECT THAT ATTRACTED YOU].I feel it would be the ideal place for me to begin my career and I believe I can be an excellent addition to your team.!

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Cover Letter Examples: 02

This letter is for a prospective application - that is, a role that is not advertised but you have decided to try your luck and send in your CV anyway. This is often how practices employ their staff as it is expensive to advertise and they always have a steady flow of CVs coming in. With that in mind, you need to try and stand out and make the practice see that you are a bit different, and worth inviting in for an interview:!

Dear [INSERT NAME OF DIRECTOR/ETC],! I am [DUE TO GRADUATE IN **] in [ARCHITECTURE/ TECHNOLOGY ETC] from [UNIVERSITY NAME]. I am writing in anticipation that there may be a position available in your practice.! As a student I have attained good grades throughout the course and I am currently awaiting my overall results. [MENTION WHAT YOU ENJOYED ABOUT THE COURSE]! Having extensively researched your company’s values and projects, I was especially interested in [INSERT PROJECT THAT ATTRACTED YOU].I feel it would be the ideal place for me to develop my career and I believe I can be an excellent addition to your team.! Please find attached a copy of my CV along with some examples of my work.! If you would like to get in touch to discuss my application and to arrange an interview, you can contact me via [INSERT PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS].!

More Cover Letter Tips:!

• These examples can give you an idea to the structure of the letter. However, don’t just follow them word for word like so many other people do. It will be boring for the potential employer to read, and chances are they won’t think you sound very interesting. ! • Try and get a bit of your personality across in the letter - show them your enthusiasm for the job.! • If you are applying for a job that is in a different area to where you live you may need to explain this in your covering letter ie, you are relocating, returning from university etc.! • Don’t copy statements directly from your CV and into your cover letter. Try to rephrase or expand on particular bits of information.! • Always make sure your letter is personal to the practice you are applying to. In some way try and let them know that you are interested in them, and have taken some time to find out a bit more about them.! • If you are applying for a specific job, try and pick out some points they make and refer to them in your letter - for example, they are looking for someone who is good at working to tight deadlines. Use this as an opportunity to explain how your university assignments have taught you great time management etc.! • Don’t worry if you don’t have relevant work experience. Try to use examples from part-time jobs, extra-curricular activities and academic work as these all help to demonstrate how you have used and developed skills such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, organisation, time management and commercial awareness.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. ! Yours sincerely  [INSERT NAME]! www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk

Your CV Everyone has an opinion about CVs. Often, everyone has a DIFFERENT opinion about CVs. So you need to know from the start, whatever you choose to do when it comes to writing your CV, you can’t please everyone. That’s just the way it is.!

I’m going to list out some things that I think are important when writing your CV, some basic ideas and guidelines. I would however, recommend that you have a look at some websites that offer CV advice, so you can decide on a style and layout that is going to work for you, and ultimately, show your personality.!

What to cover Introduction/Profile

Give a brief introduction to yourself, what kind of person you are, and what kind of work you are looking for. Explain how you approach your work, and a few of your best work related qualities.!

Education

Outline your education history, achievements and grades. I wouldn’t say its necessary to go back to GCSEs but its up to you. Also, any achievements at university. I always think its best to work in chronological order, starting with the most recent, the same for experience.!

Experience

Outline your work experience with dates and details (company name, location), duties, achievements, responsibilities. This can be tough if you haven’t had much experience. A good one is any student representative work you may have done, or any tasks where you have had responsibility. Try to avoid gaps in your dates, as people may wonder what you’ve been up to.!

! !

Skills As an architecture student I think its really important to list out your skills in a separate area - for example a “Skills” box. This looks really good for potential employers as they can see straight away all the software you can use, and imagine you slotting straight into their office. Don’t put in Microsoft Word/Excel, you are expected to be able to use that!!

Interests

This is a controversial one. I always think it’s nice to include your interests…if they are interesting! If you are going to write watching TV, going to the pub, then don’t bother. If you play sports, captain a team, were in societies at uni, or are a keen musician it will give the potential employer a flavour of you as a person. Don’t make stuff up though, you may get asked about your interests in an interview, it could be embarrassing if you don’t know what you’re talking about. !

Versions

Don’t be afraid to have different versions of your CV depending on where you are sending it, or for what job you are applying for. There is nothing wrong with tailoring your CV to each job application, it takes a bit of time but can be well worth the effort. I would suggest that if you are applying for a specific job, particularly with a large company that has an HR department, to send out a formal CV with an attached portfolio booklet. Whereas if you are sending out a speculative application, send out one document – your CV, which includes some images as a flavour of your work.!

Make sure it is crystal clear

If your CV is difficult to read, poor print quality, a jumbled mess, it will go straight in the bin. First impressions are made very quickly, so you want the first impression of your CV to be that it is written by someone who is organised and clear. Use a clear font, readable font size, and don’t be afraid to use bullet points so that employers can scan quickly through your CV to find the information they are looking for.!

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Images?

Stupid email addresses

Another tricky one that is debated often. To add images or not? We were really pushed to add images to our CV at my uni. However, since then I have come across people that send out a formal, plain CV with an attached portfolio booklet, which can be quite effective. I particularly like it when they stick to a theme between the two and have given themselves a unique branding. I guess its up to you to decide - again maybe vary it according to job type/practice you are applying to.!

It may have been cool/funny at school to have a ‘crazy’ email address like princess_me@www.com or big_dog_dave@www.com. It may provide a laugh for the HR department, but it will not provide you with an interview. If necessary, create a new email address for formal emails, which is essentially your name, use middle initials or a few numbers – NO stupid nicknames!!

References

Make sure you state somewhere that references are available on request. If you don’t have a vast employment history ask one of your tutors if they wouldn’t mind being a reference for you. Some people like to include their references in their application. People have quite different opinions about this. I would say that if you have a couple of amazing references, surely it can’t do any harm to include them - it might take you one step closer to getting your foot in the door!!

Pages

Make sure your CV is no more than two pages, ie two one sided A4 pages. Anymore than two, your potential employer will get bored, less than two, they may be concerned you don’t have much to offer. If you need to you can pad out with images, but don’t make that too obvious.!

What to avoid! Spelling mistakes

This is so obvious but it happens all the time! You may have trouble with spelling, that’s fine. Get someone to check it for you, and someone else to double check it. Spelling mistakes on a CV give a very bad first impression, and they are easily avoided. Make sure they don’t creep into your CV.!

Incomplete information

It is very frustrating reading through a CV that has information missing. Make sure you put in all the relevant details about your education, grades and importantly dates. Another common mistake is not providing full contact information including address, telephone number and email. Try to provide all of these things as different employers like to contact potential employees in different ways, so don’t make it difficult for them.!

Inconsistent text and formatting

For an architecture student, this is inexcusable. Make sure your formatting is consistent, size, font and layout should flow over the page/ s. It looks terrible if you flick from one font to another, or have random font sizes that are clearly not intentional.!

And a couple more things

• When emailing your CV - try to keep the file size below 2Mb (large emails can be blocked and therefore not seen)! • Only include a snapshot of your portfolio - just a flavour, not the whole thing.! • Always send your CV as a .pdf! ALWAYS. Word documents can lose formatting or look messy when emailed = unprofessional.! • Be careful with text over images, it can be hard to read and may put people off.! • DONT WRITE YOUR CV IN CAPITALS!

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• Make sure all attachments you send have your name on them, so that they don’t get mixed up once printed out.!

! CV Letter Examples: 01 !

Although there are some basic CV templates on Word or Pages they do tend to be very formal and standard. They are good to use to start getting the structure and content together for the CV. !

!! !! Name !! Name !! ! !

Hello.

PROFILE

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EXPERIENCE J O B T I T L E , C O M PA N Y N A M E ; C I T Y, S TAT E 2 0 1 2 – P R E S E N T

The example below shows a simple template CV, but the green colour block demonstrates an area where you could put a selection of small portfolio images. To the right, another image placement option.!

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J O B T I T L E , C O M PA N Y N A M E ; C I T Y, S TAT E 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 1

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Name

1234 Main Street Anytown, State ZIP

! !

T 123.456.7890 M 123.456.7891 no_reply@example.com www.example.com

J O B T I T L E , C O M PA N Y N A M E ; C I T Y, S TAT E 2 0 0 6 – 2 0 0 8

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J O B T I T L E , C O M PA N Y N A M E ; C I T Y, S TAT E 2 0 0 3 – 2 0 0 5

IMAGES HERE

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J O B T I T L E , C O M PA N Y N A M E ; C I T Y, S TAT E 2 0 0 0 – 2 0 0 2

Profile

Experience

! !

Job Title, Company Name; City, State – 2012–Present

Job Title, Company Name; City, State – 2009–2011

Job Title, Company Name; City, State – 2006–2008

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Job Title, Company Name; City, State – 2003–2005

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Job Title, Company Name; City, State – 2000–2002

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Education

University Name; City, State – Degree, Year

Skills

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References

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E D U C AT I O N U N I V E R S I T Y N A M E ; C I T Y, S TAT E — D E G R E E , Y E A R

SKILLS

REFERENCES

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123-456-7890 PHONE

1234 MAIN STREET ADDRESS

A N Y T O W N , S TAT E Z I P

W W W. E X A M P L E . C O M

URL

www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk

The example here shows a simple template CV, but the blue colour block demonstrates an area where you could put a selection of small portfolio images.!

NAME NAME

After getting your basic content and structure, you need to think about the more visual side so I have put together some ideas on Pinterest that show that you can push the boundaries and come up with something a little different with not much effort. Some people have done some pretty cool stuff to try and stand out, but be careful not to overdo it. Probably the most difficult thing to do but, try and find a balance. See below examples (from Pinterest) of style and design.!

123-456-7890 no_reply@example.com

1234 Main Street Anytown, State ZIP

Find us on Pinterest

Profile Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, ligula suspendisse nulla pretium, rhoncus tempor fermentum, enim integer ad vestibulum volutpat. Nisl rhoncus turpis est, vel elit, congue wisi enim nunc ultricies sit, magna tincidunt. Maecenas aliquam maecenas ligula nostra, accumsan taciti. Experience Job Title, Company Name; City, State — 2012–Present Sociis mauris in integer, a dolor netus non dui aliquet, sagittis felis sodales, dolor sociis mauris, vel eu libero cras. Faucibus at. Arcu habitasse elementum est, ipsum purus pede porttitor class, ut adipiscing, aliquet sed auctor, imperdiet arcu per diam dapibus libero duis. Enim eros in vel, volutpat nec pellentesque leo, temporibus scelerisque nec. Job Title, Company Name; City, State — 2009–2011 Ac dolor ac adipiscing amet bibendum nullam, lacus molestie ut libero nec, diam et, pharetra sodales, feugiat ullamcorper id tempor id vitae. Mauris pretium aliquet, lectus tincidunt. Job Title, Company Name; City, State — 2006–2008 Porttitor mollis imperdiet libero senectus pulvinar. Etiam molestie mauris ligula laoreet, vehicula eleifend. Job Title, Company Name; City, State — 2003–2005 Repellat orci erat et, sem cum, ultricies sollicitudin amet eleifend dolor nullam erat, malesuada est leo ac.

IMAGES HERE

Education University of State, City, State — Degree, Year Skills Varius natoque turpis elementum est. Duis montes, tellus lobortis lacus amet arcu et. In vitae vel, wisi at, id praesent bibendum libero faucibus porta egestas, quisque praesent ipsum fermentum tempor. References Curabitur auctor, erat mollis sed, turpis vivamus a dictumst congue magnis. Aliquam amet ullamcorper dignissim molestie, mollis. Tortor vitae tortor eros   wisi facilisis.

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PART 3 PORTFOLIO www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk

Your Portfolio Your portfolio is a creative expression of you, your skills, your ability to communicate and a general self-promoting tool! It provides a brief snap shot of your talent and gives you the chance to create a great first impression. Therefore, you need to spend the time to get it right! Take from this section what you will, make your portfolio work for you and show everyone how good your are.!

Format

What format will you present your portfolio? If you are applying for a job it might be an idea to create an A4 portfolio booklet that can be emailed or posted that gives a flavour of your full portfolio. A1? Often you have to produce your work at A1 whilst at university, which is all very well but a complete pain hauling an A1 portfolio from interview to interview, especially in the rain! (I’ve been there and its not fun!). So consider an A3 (or A2) portfolio, it is also much easier to present in an interview. We all drag around the big black portfolios you can buy in art shops but will you go for the traditional portfolio style or try to come up with something different (covers and binding options, digital)?!

Purpose of your portfolio

Are you applying for a job, or trying to get into further education. Think about what you are wanting to show off. Do they need to see your development, or do you just need to wow them with your best stuff? Sometimes a chronological portfolio is really interesting as it demonstrates your growth as a designer, and therefore shows your future potential. However, some employers want to skip to the ‘here and now’ and just see your best stuff. Think about first impressions!!

based purely on the images before them. So I always say, give them just enough to leave them wanting more. Show them a few snippets of your work that will impress them, then they’ll want to meet you in person – which is then your time to really shine.!

So, you get the interview. Think about your options. Could you leave a booklet of your work behind so the employer can look over it again and refresh their memory? Or maybe a few samples. Perhaps you can leave them with a business card that then gives them access to your website or online portfolio?! Make sure you know your portfolio. This is something we can easily forget to do. You may be asked in your interview “so, talk me through your portfolio” – be prepared for that. In the past I have actually made notes about my projects and used these notes as a prompt in an interview to make sure I get across the key points of the portfolio. Don’t be afraid to do this – it shows that you are organised and passionate about your work, and the interview! Go through your portfolio and practice telling someone about your work, pick out some key features that you would want to discuss. Be prepared for questions you that might be asked about your work.! While we’re on the subject of interviews, I always found it was useful to take copies of any written references to an interview, and hand them to the potential employer. It was always received well that they didn’t have to ask for them, and didn’t even need to go off and photocopy them.

Interview portfolio ideas

There are a few quirky things you can do to leave more of an impression on potential employers. Firstly, do you send out a mini portfolio with your application? Do you give the potential employer access to an online portfolio which you can link to on your CV. Do you create a mini website showing your work? This is a tricky one. I used to think that you don’t want to give the employer too much information as then they may not ask you for an interview and make their decision

“Don’t be a last minute Mary - it will show!” !

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A note from the employers

Below are some key points made by employers from architectural practices regarding the portfolio. Some comments are contradictory, but that just shows that the portfolio is a subjective issue.! You will not be able to cover each and every point, but you can use this list to inform how you put your portfolio together.!

What do they look for? • Good balance between great design and practical experience! • Illustrations (renders, hand drawings, sketches, photoshop), line drawings and physical models! • A good mix of professional and personal projects! • Digital and freehand drawing skills! • Demonstration of sequence of thought process! • Competent graphic design! • Development through the projects - tell a story! • A cross section of work showing a varied skill set! • If fresh out of study, then show good conceptual work! • Show creativity and ability to think outside the box! • Ability to develop an idea from its concept through to finished work! • How carefully the portfolio has been put together!

How the portfolio is presented is considered to be an extremely important aspect to the interview process. It needs to be clear, with no spelling mistakes, simple and organised that makes easy reading for the employer. It gives an overall first impression on your organisation and design skills.!

What should be included in the portfolio? Employers have said that they want to see a thoughtful and concise selection of a broad range of skills. This is key, make sure you show off all aspects of your ability. Some suggest including 2 or 3 featured

projects that are well developed, then perhaps some brief additional projects. Select some of your best work, and give each item a couple of pages rather than showing mediocre work on one page each.!

Digital or Old Skool? These days there are more and more options for how we present our portfolios, one of them being the digital option. The jury is out on this, as some prefer the old style portfolio in the interview, and to be able to turn through the pages. However, others are looking at digital as being a preferred option. Either way, if you go old skool, I would suggest you try and reduce the size of your portfolio down from A1 - which is a nightmare to carry about, and can often be difficult to present if your interview room/table is small. I prefer A3, its much more portable, less bulky but still big enough to give a good overview of work. !

If you decide to go digital and take a laptop or ipad, just make sure everything works properly, the device is fully charged - don’t rely on a power point being conveniently located in the interview room. Likewise, don’t rely on WIFI, make sure the portfolio is located on your device offline. Practice showing the portfolio at full screen - and make sure that the screen is clean and clear and shows your work off to its best. Dirty screen....no thanks!!

! ! ! ! ! !

What is the portfolio pages magic number?! Try and stick to 15 pages, but no more than 20 pages or 40 sides!

Who Did What? If you include work that you did in collaboration with your colleagues make sure you are clear to the employer about who did what. They will appreciate your honesty and it will show that you are a good team player who credits your peers for their input.

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Setting out your portfolio

Before you start putting your portfolio together have a think about how you actually want it to look. What will the layout be - how will I keep it consistent. I sometimes start off by sketching out my layouts before actually sitting down at the computer to put it together. ! These are just a few ideas to start you off - obviously there are hundreds of ways to present your work, and you must choose a format that suits you and the message you are trying to get across.!

Image Placement Options

Title Block Positions

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The Mini Portfolio

So far we have looked at the portfolio you would take to an interview. How about a work sample booklet you may send out with your CV? This is a good option. Do a fairly standard CV, perhaps with a couple of images, but with the CV send some samples of your work. This way you can give the potential employer a flavour of your work, with a bit more detail and hopefully encourage them to contact you for an interview.!

The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mini portfolioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that you put together to send out with your cv will of course be different to your main portfolio. !

Your mini portfolio could consist of a couple/few A4 pages, that ideally tie in with your CV.!

Again keep a theme/brand going throughout your cover letter, CV, and portfolio to demonstrate that you are professional, and also to show off your individuality. The employer will be looking at how you would represent them, so appearance of your work, and organisation of the images will be important. !

Remember that this is generally going to be emailed out and therefore the size must be kept below 5mb to be safe. Don't forget, always send out your CV and mini portfolio as a pdf.

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PART 4 INTERVIEW www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk

The Interview The preparation doesn’t start on the day of the interview, it starts when you get the call or letter asking you to come in for the interview.!

Preparation Research

Prior to the interview you need to do a bit of research and preparation to make sure the you are as ready as possible for the interview. !

Make sure you find out who you will be meeting with, so on arrival you ask for the right person and give a good first impression.!

Study the job spec and match the requirements to your own CV. Pick out specific points that demonstrate you are suitable for the role.!

Find out as much as you can about the practice. Do they have any particular projects that you are keen on, or have you visited any of their work? Be ready to talk about this.!

Find out who will be interviewing you and find out what you can about them. Are they on LinkedIn? If so, get a bit of background information about them. Research the latest news about the practice, check their website, Facebook or Twitter pages.!

If you plan to take a computer to the interview to present your work and you have any special requirements, make sure they have the facility for you to do so in advance.!

Confirm where the practice is, how you will get there, and how long the journey will take.!

! ! ! !

Practice There is a good chance you will be asked to “Tell me a about yourself”. Be ready for this question and have a think about what you will answer in order to sound interesting, and professional.!

It is wise to have a practice at going through your portfolio and discussing the projects you have featured. Some employers will ask questions and some will remain quiet while you go through it. Be prepared for each eventuality. Make sure each project is fresh in your mind and be ready for questions. !

Consider how your portfolio fits in with the practice you are going to see. Look at areas of the portfolio you will focus on more in light of your research about the practice. By selecting projects that you think the interviewer will find interesting you will be demonstrating that you have done your research and you have an enthusiasm for the role. !

What kind of person is the practice looking for? Consider some of these points:! Are you able to work without constant supervision?! Are you enthusiastic?! Do you get on with other people easily?! Can you manage time effectively?! How do you structure your day?! Can you handle criticism?! Can you work well under pressure?!

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

“Be enthusiastic, inspire confidence, ! be polite”!

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The Interview

Dress professionally, and arrive on time, but not more than 10 minutes early. Give yourself plenty of time to get there so that you don’t arrive in a panic!! Make sure you take with you: a copy of your CV, a copy of your references, a pen and notepad and your portfolio.!

! On arrival remember to be courteous to everyone, and try to smile!! !

• Have at least three intelligent questions to ask the interviewer about the job or practice. (See next page for more on this.)! • Know the salary you want. !

! ! ! ! ! ! !

Upon meeting the interviewer/s carefully try to remember their names so that you can address them throughout the interview.!

! Here are some of the main points to think about for the interview:! !

• Relax and be yourself. Its about finding a good fit between the employer and employee, it goes both ways.! • Take your time listening and answering questions - sometimes nerves get the better of us and we ramble off some random unrelated reply. Think and take your time. ! • If you don’t understand a question, don’t be afraid to say so and ask them to rephrase it.! • Be genuine and open about what you are about.! • Social skills are really important in architecture so try and be friendly and professional.! • Treat the interview like a conversation, don’t be afraid to ask questions and show an interest. ! • Be prepared to answer questions and demonstrate experience that relates to the position you are interviewing for. (See next page for more detail).! • How you present yourself is as important as your portfolio. Take charge of the presentation of the portfolio and talk the interviewer through it.!

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Question Time

?? ? ?

Questions you may get asked • • • • • • • • • • •

Tell us a little bit about yourself.! Why do you want to work here?! Why did you leave your last job?! What do you think is your best skill?! What are your goals for working here?! What are your expectations for this job?! What qualities do you think this job requires?! What have you got to contribute to our practice?! What interests you about our practice?! What motivates you?! How well do you work with others?!

Questions you could ask • • • • • • •

What will my role be?! What promotional opportunities are available?! How long do their employees stay with them?! Does the company provide training?! How is success in the role measured?! Why is the job vacant?! Who would I be working with and who would be my boss?!

After the Interview

After the interview make sure you follow up. Take the initiative to email the interviewer, and tell them how nice it was to meet them, thank them if they showed you round the office. Thank them for their time and tell them how much you would like to work there. !

If you didn’t get the job If you were unfortunate and didn’t get the job, ask for feedback. Contact the interviewer (or HR department) and find out if there was any reason in particular why you didn’t get the job. Ask if there were any aspects of the interview that could have been improved upon. It is all a learning process, and you will improve and gain more confidence each time.!

In Conclusion

The job application process can be long and painful. Often you find that you are lucky to get a response from potential employers, let alone an interview. If don’t get responses, be tough, it’s not personal and something will come eventually. ! In the meantime take the initiative. Put yourself out there, and don’t expect a job to just fall at your feet.!

Work hard preparing to get a job. It will pay off.

Ask the interviewer:! • How did you decide to join the company?! • How long have you worked at the company?! • What do you like about working here?!

At the end of the interview:! • Do you have any concerns about my experience or qualifications?! • When should I expect to hear from you?! • What is the next step?!

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GOOD LUCK ;) Thank You! I hope you have enjoyed this guide and found it useful.

I appreciate every one of you for taking the time to read this, and if you have an extra moment I would love to hear what you think about it.

! Please send me an email emma@firstinarchitecture.co.uk !

This ebook took a lot of time to put together, so I would ask you, please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t redistribute or share this guide with others directly. If you think it would be useful for your friends or colleagues, please direct them to the website where they are able to purchase it themselves.

Thanks again, and I wish you every success for the future!

Emma www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk