Designing Your Architecture Job Application Package: CV, Cover Letter, and Portfolio

As a recent graduate with a master’s degree in architecture, I’ve spent the last 6 months traveling, building my business, creating content, and resting up. But now I’m ready to take the next step in my journey to become a fully qualified architect – by applying for part two architectural assistant roles.

The process of becoming an architect in the UK is broken down into three key stages:

1. Part 1: Completing your bachelor’s degree in architecture.
2. Part 2: Earning your master’s degree in architecture and gaining 12 months of practical experience.
3. Part 3: Completing a one-year advanced diploma in professional practice and passing the final exams.

I’m currently at the part two stage, having already earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Now I need to secure a part two architectural assistant role in order to gain the necessary 12 months of practical experience before moving on to part three.

In this post, I’m going to walk you through my process of designing the key components of my architecture job application package – my CV, cover letter, and portfolio. I’ll share the decisions I made, the strategies I employed, and the lessons I learned along the way. Hopefully, this will provide you with a helpful guide as you navigate your own architecture job hunt.

Crafting an Impactful CV

Your CV is often the first impression a potential employer will have of you, so it’s crucial to get it right. Rather than simply listing your education and work experience, I wanted to create a CV that would visually engage the reader and effectively showcase my skills, personality, and ambition.

Here’s a look at my existing CV, which I used for my previous application as a part one architectural assistant:

As you can see, I’ve taken a more graphic and creative approach to my CV design. I believe this helps it stand out from the typical text-heavy CVs that employers are often inundated with.

Some key elements of my CV design include:

• Prominent name and job title: I’ve made my name and the role I’m applying for the focal point at the top of the page.
• Education highlights: I’ve clearly highlighted my educational qualifications, including the classification of my degrees.
• Visually engaging graphics: Rather than a standard headshot, I’ve incorporated a hand-drawn architectural illustration to add personality and creativity.
• Structured work experience: I’ve used concise bullet points to outline my relevant work experience, focusing on the skills and software I’ve developed.
• Awards and nominations: I’ve showcased my achievements and industry recognition through a dedicated section.
• Skills and references: I’ve included a skills section to highlight my technical proficiencies, as well as a references section.

When updating my CV for the part two architectural assistant role, I made a few key changes:

• Refreshed graphic: I updated the hand-drawn illustration to one of my master’s degree projects, maintaining the visual consistency.
• Expanded work experience: I added more detail about my self-employment experience as a content creator, highlighting the transferable skills I’ve developed.
• Enhanced skills section: I provided more descriptive information about my skills, rather than just listing them.

The goal was to create a CV that not only looks visually appealing but also effectively communicates my relevant experience, skills, and suitability for the part two architectural assistant role.

Crafting a Compelling Cover Letter

The cover letter is your opportunity to provide more context and depth to your application, beyond what’s included in your CV. It’s a chance to really sell yourself and explain why you’re the ideal candidate for the role.

For my cover letter, I wanted to strike a balance between highlighting my personal qualities and demonstrating how I’d be a valuable asset to the practice. Here’s the structure I followed:

1. Why I’d be a good fit for the company: I started by expressing my genuine interest in the practice, outlining what I admire about their work and ethos, and explaining why I believe I’d be a great addition to their team.
2. My relevant skills and experience: I then delved into the specific skills and experiences I can bring to the role, referencing relevant projects or situations where I’ve demonstrated those capabilities.
3. My work experience: I provided more detailed information about my previous work experience, both within architecture practice and in my self-employed content creation roles, highlighting the transferable skills I’ve developed.
4. My portfolio and qualifications: I concluded by briefly mentioning the work samples included in my portfolio and reiterating my educational qualifications.

Similar to my CV, I aimed to maintain a consistent visual style throughout my cover letter by using the same header graphic. This helps to reinforce the cohesiveness of my application package.

Check out the full cover letter design here.

Crafting a Standout Portfolio

The portfolio is often the most important component of an architecture job application, as it allows you to showcase your design skills, technical abilities, and creative thinking. It’s crucial to curate a selection of work that effectively demonstrates your capabilities and aligns with the practice you’re applying to.

For my part two architectural assistant portfolio, I wanted to strike a balance between showcasing my most recent and relevant work, while also providing a glimpse into my earlier projects and the evolution of my design skills. Here’s the structure I followed:

Project Overviews

I started each project section with a brief overview, outlining the key details of the project, such as the brief, site, and my role. This helps to provide context for the viewer and sets the stage for the drawings that follow.

Range of Drawing Types

Within each project, I aimed to include a variety of drawing types to showcase my diverse skill set. This included:

• Model photographs: To demonstrate my 3D modeling and physical model-making abilities.
• Mapping and analysis drawings: To highlight my research and site understanding skills.
• Axonometric and perspective visualizations: To showcase my spatial reasoning and communication skills.
• Technical drawings: Such as plans, sections, and elevations, to demonstrate my proficiency in technical representation.
• Rendered and composite drawings: To highlight my visualization and presentation skills.

By including this range of drawing types, I was able to paint a well-rounded picture of my design process and technical capabilities.

Consistency and Cohesion

To maintain a cohesive and professional look throughout the portfolio, I carried over the same header graphic used in my CV and cover letter. This helps to reinforce the idea that these application materials are part of a unified package.

I also paid close attention to the layout and spacing of the drawings, ensuring they had room to breathe and were presented in a clean, organized manner.

You can view the full portfolio design here.

Finding the Right Architecture Jobs

With my application package designed and ready to go, the next step is to find the right architecture jobs to apply for. There are several avenues I’m exploring in my job search:

Job Boards

Job boards can be a great resource for finding open positions, as they often provide detailed job descriptions and requirements. Some of the job boards I’m focusing on include:

• Jobs.archi: This platform has a great way of categorizing different types of architecture jobs, making it easier to find the right fit. They also offer free CV templates, which can be a helpful starting point.
• Dezeen Jobs: As a leading architecture and design publication, Dezeen’s job board is a go-to resource for finding opportunities at top firms.
• LinkedIn Jobs: LinkedIn’s job search functionality can be a powerful tool, especially for leveraging your professional network.

Social Media

Keeping an eye on architecture firms’ social media channels, particularly Instagram, can be a great way to spot job postings that may not be listed on traditional job boards. Many practices use their social media platforms to share open positions and encourage direct applications.

Cold Outreach

In addition to applying for advertised roles, I’m also planning to send speculative applications to practices I’m interested in, even if they don’t have any open positions listed. This involves tailoring my cover letter to each firm, highlighting why I’d be a good fit for their team and the work they do.

By exploring a variety of job search avenues, I’m aiming to cast a wide net and increase my chances of finding the right part two architectural assistant role.

Lessons Learned

Throughout the process of designing my architecture job application package, I’ve learned a few key lessons that I believe will be valuable for other job seekers:

1. Prioritize visual engagement: In a competitive job market, it’s important to create application materials that stand out from the crowd. By incorporating a more graphic and creative approach, I was able to showcase my design skills and personality.
2. Demonstrate a range of skills: Architecture is a multifaceted profession, so it’s crucial to demonstrate a diverse skill set in your portfolio. Make sure to include a variety of drawing types, from technical to conceptual, to paint a well-rounded picture of your capabilities.
3. Tailor your application: While it’s tempting to use a one-size-fits-all approach, taking the time to customize your cover letter and portfolio for each practice you apply to can make a significant difference. Showing that you’ve done your research and understand the firm’s work and values will make your application more compelling.
4. Leverage your unique experiences: Don’t be afraid to highlight experiences and skills that may not be directly related to architecture, such as your self-employment or content creation work. These can often provide valuable transferable skills that can benefit a practice.
5. Maintain consistency and cohesion: By using the same visual elements and design approach across your CV, cover letter, and portfolio, you’ll create a cohesive and professional application package that reinforces your personal brand.

Remember, the architecture job market is highly competitive, so it’s essential to put in the time and effort to craft a standout application. By following the strategies and lessons I’ve outlined here, I’m confident that you’ll be well on your way to securing your dream part two architectural assistant role.