Elena Prokopets
Claire Briggs Webber, CPRW
Architects are responsible for designing homes and industrial buildings that are both inspirational, and functional. You should treat resume writing in a similar fashion. Your resume should conveniently provide all the necessary information about your skillset and inspire hiring managers to look at your portfolio, and call you for an interview.
It takes an artful approach to design a great resume for an architect. So before you start putting the blocks together, check out the tips we’ve provided here and use our architect resume example as a guide.
Use a Simple, Yet Sophisticated Format
There are plenty of creative resume templates that you can find online. These are great if you intend to be an art teacher, for example. However, for an architect’s resume consider letting your artistry and creativity show through your experience. Choose a resume design that emphasizes professionalism and sophistication. Reserve your creativity for your portfolio.
Put a Selling Point in Your Summary
The average candidate will highlight the years of experience, passion, and area of specialization in their resume summary or objective statement will say. Those are all important points to make, but if that’s all you write things can fall a little flat.
Consider adding a simple, yet impactful selling point. It could be an accomplishment or a competitive trade skill. For example:
“Urban architect with 5 years experience, and a passion for historical cityscapes. One of only three licensed architects in the state who is also certified in green design. Recently completed the design and construction of the Arthur Memorial Greenway entrance and Visitor Center.”
Sounds enticing? That’s because this summary sounds more like an elevator pitch than a mere skills synopsis.
Highlight a Range of Skills and Accomplishments
Being an architect means more than designing supporting structures, putting down floor plans, or building 3D models. Architects are also expected to communicate effectively, train junior architects and evaluate their work, make accurate calculations, and adhere to a large number of regulations.
It takes a wide range of technical skills, artistic abilities, and soft skills to be a marketable architect. Share all of these on your resume to ensure the hiring manager has an accurate view of your qualifications.
Here are several sample skills for an architect resume:
- Revit Architecture
- SketchUp
- AutoCAD/ArchiCAD
- Design to Delivery
- Drafting and drawing
- Converting scale from blueprints
- Critical thinking
- Architectural Rendering
- Model making
- Project management
- Budgeting
Share Your Passion Through Your Education
Two students each received a master’s degree in architectural design from a prestigious University. Both graduated with honors, and they both but successfully completed internships at top architectural firms.
On the surface, they seem as if they are nearly identical to one another. In fact, if they simply listed their University, degree, and GPA on their resume you couldn’t discern one from the other. That’s why it’s important to use the education section of your resume to show your passions and interests.
Here’s an example:
University of Ohio – Columbus
Master or Architectural Design
May 2014
Summa Cum Laude
GPA: 4.0
- Volunteer: Construction Site Assistant Foreman, Habitat For Humanity
- Internship: Blythe Industrial Architecture And Civil Engineering, September – November 2014
- Executive Secretary: Future Industrial Architects And Designers of America
Architect Resume Sample (Word version)
Download resume example (.docx)
Architect Resume Example (text version)
Professional Summary
Recent graduate with degrees in Architecture and Urban planning. More than three years of experience in new construction management. Winner of the 2020 New England Urban Design Competition. Eager to bring creativity, passion for urban architecture, and practical experience to the table.
Skills
- Autocad
- Revit
- 3-D Modeling
- Project Management
- Structural Design
- Municode Library
- Written Communication
- Collaboration
- Budgeting
- Urban Green Design Principles
Work History
Ninja City Design
Assistant Site Manager And CAD Operator
January 2018 – Present
- Ensures that on-site construction staff executes designs accurately.
- Works with inspectors and other local agents to verify that all work is done to code.
- Creates custom blueprints based on input and documents from senior architects.
- Assists in building 3-D models to communicate design concepts to clients and investors
Land Reallocation Authority
Volunteer Team Leader
March 2017 – Present
- Measuring and surveying city owned or abandoned real-estate.
- Providing accurate reporting of the condition of each property
- Working with local firms, investors, and residents to facilitate the acquisition and restoration of abandoned properties.
- Conducting inspections to ensure all work follows city guidelines.
Education
Master of Architecture and Urban Planning
January 2021
Magna Cum Laude
GPA: 3.85
- Vice President: Society For Sustainable Urban Architecture
- Internship: Echo City Urban Planning Commission June – August 2019
Awards And Certifications
- Certificate of Completion: Sustainable Architecture Design Principles
- Illinois State Architecture Society: Associate’s License
- Gold Medal Designee: Inner City Restoration Conference
Final Tip: Get Your Portfolio Ready
Take a second look at your contact information. Chances are you’ve provided an up-to-date address and phone number, you’re using a professional email address, and you’ve provided your LinkedIn contact information. Great! There’s just one more thing to consider.
Don’t forget to provide a link to your portfolio. This is a key part of your application package, and cannot be left out! You can host your portfolio on a personal website or on a professional social network for creatives such as Dribbble or Behance. In both cases, you get extra exposure for your projects and can draw potential employers towards you, rather than the other way around!
