Architect CV Example

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Professional CV example for Architect

Architect

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[John Smith]

[Architect]

[123 Architect Street, London, UK | +44 1234 567890 | johnsmith@email.com]

Personal Statement

Highly skilled and creative architect with over 7 years of experience in designing and executing various projects using AutoCAD, Microsoft Project, and Civil 3D. Proficient in creating technical plans and scale drawings, as well as coordinating projects to ensure client satisfaction and timely completion.

Experience

Senior Architect, ABC Architects, London, UK (2018 – Present)

• Managed a team of 5 junior architects to complete 10+ projects within budget and on time
• Designed and prepared technical plans, blueprints, and model buildings for residential and commercial projects using AutoCAD and Civil 3D
• Analysed and optimised project designs, resulting in a 15% reduction in construction costs for clients

Architect, XYZ Design, Manchester, UK (2014 – 2018)

• Collaborated with clients to envision and design 20+ custom residential and commercial projects using AutoCAD and Microsoft Project
• Prepared and presented scale drawings and project plans, ensuring client satisfaction and approval
• Coordinated with contractors, engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure projects were completed on time and within budget

Education

Master of Architecture, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK (2012 – 2014)

• Grade: Distinction

Bachelor of Architecture, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK (2009 – 2012)

• Grade: First-class honours

Skills

• AutoCAD
• Microsoft Project
• Civil 3D
• Technical planning and blueprints
• Model building and scale drawings
• Project planning and coordination
• Design and analysis

Certifications

• RIBA Chartered Architect (2015)

Languages

• English (Native)
• German (Fluent)

CV Vocabulary & Writing Tips

Getting the right words on your architect CV is of utmost important. Using the correct key words and terms commonly used in the architectural world, you will be giving the recruiter reading your CV the impression that you know your stuff.

In addition, since many companies use ATS to sort out CVs, having the right keywords on your architecture CV may help you get through the initial stages of selection.

Nevertheless, make sure to do this with moderation. Remember the recruiter is looking for a skilled expert in your field whilst not being an architect. Therefore, make sure that while you use some of the key phrases we outline below, you still list your skills and expertise in a comprehensible way.

Words to Use

• Structures
• AutoCAD
• Adobe Illustrator
• Microsoft Project
• Civil 3D
• Technical plans
• Blueprints
• Model building
• Scale drawings
• Sketches
• Graphical images
• Safety
• Aesthetics
• Landscape
• Environment
• Energy efficiency

Action Verbs

• Plan
• Project
• Design
• Create
• Listen
• Draft
• Draw
• Research
• Recommend
• Mentor
• Train
• Envision
• Prepare
• Analyse
• Coordinate
• Organise

Architect CV Tips and Ideas

Architects are currently in high demand in growing cities across the UK, Scotland, and Ireland. Professionals of architecture plan and overlook the contruction or restoration of buildings and its surroundings. Architects also help and advise companies on aesthetic, safety and environmental aspects of these spaces.

This quick guide will provide you with the know-how to build an architectural curriculum that convinces HR representatives by showcasing your talent. You will also learn exactly how to structure your architecture CV while highlighting your experience and accomplishments with examples that range from a Senior Architect to an Architecture Intern.

In the following sections, you will learn simple strategies you can use to quickly and effectively tweak your Architect CV to make it stand out from the competition. Just use these ideas along with our CV builder tool to create a job-winning Architecture CV in minutes.

Format

Reverse Chronological

Design

• Break up larger text into bullet-point lists for readability
• Balance negative space and text on the page
• Use clean fonts and big headings
• Write in a legible size 12 font

Photo

Not required

Sections

Required:

• Contact details
• CV summary
• Work experience
• Skills
• Education

Optional:

• Awards
• Courses and certifications
• Conferences and seminars
• Hobbies and interests

CV Length

1-2 A4 pages (21cm x 29.7cm)

Format

The format of an architect’s CV needs to present the skills that the employer is looking for in the most attractive and results-oriented way possible. In the case of an architecture role, it is essential not only to list recent work experience but to also include a professional portfolio of recent projects you have worked on.

To get your most recent professional experience in the right place on your architecture resumé, it is best to use a reverse chronological CV template. This format places emphasis on your career history, making it easier for this fundamental data to be noticed by HR staff right away.

Design

As an architect you already have an eye for design, so designing your architecture CV may not be as challenging for you as it may be for professionals in less aesthetic fields. Nevertheless, it is important to achieve a balanced clean design while including all the relevant information to get an HR person to call you for an interview.

So, how can this be accomplished? Firstly start by using a well-structured template that balances the amount of text and negative space on the document. Make sure all the headings are prominent enough to make the most important details easily identifiable at a glance.

To maximize your architectural CV’s readability, use a clean and clear font. Visit the employer’s website to get a feel for their style, the fonts and colours they use and try to customize your CV accordingly. Depending on the firm you are sending your CV to, you may want to stick to classic fonts such as Times New Roman and Arial or venture into newer typefaces. Either way, keep it as simple and readable as possible to help HR staff skim your CV.

Many firms currently use applicant tracking software (ATS), and an architect CV with clear fonts with no custom graphics are likely to perform better during this initial phase of the selection process.

Our recruiter-approved CV formats can help you by simplifying the process of creating a laser-focused document that turns heads in minutes. Our professional architecture templates are already optimized for optimum performance with ATS while being easy to fill out and customize.

Photo

From Landscape Architects to Urban Planners, what recruiters are most interested in is evidence of your skillset and expertise. Therefore, a photo is generally not required. In fact, CVs with photographs of the candidate can even sometimes be rejected due to UK anti-employment discrimination laws.

Sections of a Architect CV

Regardless of the type of architecture job you are seeking, it is best to include, in your architect CV, the fundamental sections that HR staff need in order to know you are a great fit for the position and contact you.

The key information recruiters evaluate when skimming through an architecture CV is your professional experience, your skill set, your qualifications and, of course, how they can get in touch with you.

This can be expressed by including the following essential sections in your Architect CV:

• Contact information
• Work experience
• Education
• Skills

Another useful strategy is to include a CV summary that convinces by showing your experience. This can work as an engaging and brief introduction of you, as a candidate. Alternatively, it could also include a snapshot of your professional goals, as long as they align with the job offer.

Highlighting the features that make you unique as an architect can also help hook HR staff’s attention. This can be achieved by including the following optional sections:

• Awards
• Languages
• Certifications and courses
• Conferences and seminars
• Hobbies and interests

CV Length

A CV needs to be short and easy-to-read. The ideal length of an architect CV is normally of 1 A4 page. If you absolutely cannot fit all of the information that is relevant to the offer in a single page, then you could exceptionally extend your CV to a maximum of 2 A4 pages.

As an architect, it is important to include a professional portfolio to showcase your latest and most relevant projects. Sending an architecture portfolio alongside your architectural CV can be taken advantage of to help you avoid exceeding 1 page for your CV while still conveying you are ideal for the position you aspire for.

Architect CV Section Headings

A well-written Architect CV should include this sections:

Work experience

A well-rounded work experience section in your architect CV can make a huge difference in the eyes of an HR person. Determine which of your previous projects or jobs are most relevant for the offer you are applying for and list the following details:

• Your job title
• The company that hired you
• The dates of employment
• The company’s location

Remember to tie each work experience as an architect with quantifiable achievements and the skills the employer lists in the job offer. This will create impact, and give you expert positioning as an architect that gets results and exceeds expectations.

Strategically include numbers such as budget-adherence, cost reductions, and client recommendations.

If you are an architecture student or junior architect with little to no work experience, you can tie any of the following, so long as they are relevant to the offer and help showcase your achievements:

• Freelance projects
• Articles you have contributed to renowed magazines in your industry
• Awards or competitions you’ve won
• Internship experience

Skills

Working in architecture requires a very broad range of abilities and your skills section needs to reflect your expertise with hard skills, soft skills, and technical skills.

In order to make employers eager to reach out to you after reading your architect CV, tie your work experience with some examples of the following skills as well as the skillset listed on the job offer:

Hard Skills

• Math
• Design
• Finance
• Budgeting
• Sketching
• Engineering
• Specifications
• Model making
• Sketchup Pro
• Hand drafting
• Building codes
• Computer Skills
• Business knowledge

Soft Skills

• Planning
• Flexibility
• Listening
• Patience
• Creativity
• Empathy
• Punctuality
• Leadership
• Confidence
• Organisation
• Collaboration
• Detail-oriented
• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Perceptiveness
• Problem-solving
• Creative thinking
• Decision making
• Strategic thinking

Technical Skills

• CAD
• Revit
• Legal
• ArgGIS
• Drafting
• AutoCAD
• 3D Design
• Estimating
• Renovation
• Scheduling
• Restoration
• New construction
• Project management

Education

Aside from including your graduate and master’s degrees in the education section of your CV, in order to land interviews and get hired, it is advisable to also include your registration with the Architects Registration Board, if you are registered.

For each qualification you mention in your architecture CV, remember to add relevant information such as:

• Name of the qualification
• Grade achieved
• Name of academic Insititution

Furthermore, if you have taken extra courses or obtained additional certifications, you could add them to the education section, or create a separate section to list them. If you have a great number of course or certifications, just focus on the ones that are most relevant to the offer you are applying for, so you can still fit your architect CV on one page.

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