Architectural Graduate Resume Example

Lead with your portfolio link: Place a prominent, clickable portfolio URL near the top of your CV. Recruiters decide within seconds whether to read further, and a well-curated portfolio is your strongest asset at this stage.

Highlight software proficiency clearly: List tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, Grasshopper, Adobe Creative Suite, and any BIM experience in a dedicated skills section. Entry-level hiring decisions often hinge on technical tool fit.

Showcase academic and internship projects: Describe studio projects, dissertations, and any placement work with brief project descriptions - programme type, scale, your specific role, and design intent. Quantify where possible (e.g. 2,500 sqm mixed-use scheme).

Include awards, competitions, and exhibitions: RIBA prizes, university awards, open architectural competitions, and published work signal design ambition and recognition beyond the standard curriculum.

State your Part status and progression timeline: Clearly indicate your ARB/RIBA Part I, Part II, or equivalent qualification stage, and whether you are pursuing Part III. Firms plan resourcing around candidate trajectories, so make yours explicit.

Omitting a portfolio link or linking to outdated work: Submitting a CV without a current, accessible portfolio link is the single most damaging mistake at graduate level. Check that every link works, that the portfolio loads quickly, and that projects shown reflect your current skill level rather than first-year studio work.

Listing software without indicating proficiency level: Writing 'AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, Photoshop' as a flat list tells recruiters nothing useful. Differentiate between tools you use daily at a professional standard and those you have only briefly touched. Overstating skills leads to awkward conversations in interviews.

Including irrelevant work experience without contextualising it: Retail or hospitality jobs are not inherently disqualifying, but listing them without explaining transferable skills (client communication, time management under pressure) wastes space that could be used for academic achievements or design activity.

Using a poorly formatted or visually cluttered CV: Architects are judged partly on their visual sensibility. A messy, inconsistent, or over-designed CV (illegible fonts, clashing colours, no white space) sends the wrong signal. Aim for clean, professional typographic hierarchy.

Failing to mention any extracurricular design engagement: Architecture schools expect involvement beyond coursework. Not referencing any societies, competitions entered, workshops attended, or self-initiated projects suggests low initiative and limited passion for the discipline outside assessed work.

Showcase your portfolio prominently: Include a link to your digital portfolio or attach sample project sheets. Employers hiring graduates expect to see studio work, thesis projects, and design explorations that demonstrate spatial thinking and drawing ability.

List your software skills explicitly: Name every tool you have used, including AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, and Adobe Suite. Graduates are evaluated heavily on technical readiness, so a clear skills section saves recruiters from guessing.

Highlight academic achievements and competitions: Mention any dean's list recognition, design awards, or architecture competitions such as ACSA or AIA student competitions. These signal ambition and peer validation early in your career.

Include internship and work experience, no matter how brief: Even a summer internship at a local practice counts. Describe your specific contributions, such as drafting construction documents or building physical models, rather than listing duties generically.

Tailor your objective statement to the firm type: A boutique residential studio and a large commercial firm look for different things. Write two or three sentences that reflect awareness of the firm's work and how your background connects to their projects.