In any relationship you form, your first impression is a crucial junction in the on-boarding process, and your Resume/CV along with your Portfolio is your business card in Architecture.
In order to better understand how to format and present your professional experience to the decision makers at a company, you must better understand what they are looking for in an ideal Resume/CV. We asked a wide range of our Host Company Partner companies to provide their insight into what they see as red-flags in a Resume/CV.
1. What are firms looking for in the ideal candidate?
The concern that was brought up the most by decision makers within firms was an applicant’s «lack of skill for the relevant job position» (82.7%). In a similar vein, the second most mentioned concern on a resume is the “lack of applicable experience” (59.6%).
Thus, you can see the value that top notch skills and challenging experiences provide you with when applying to a new firm. With over 80% of decision makers saying the main factor they look for is a candidate that can properly take on the position.
2. How does your presentation of projects and eye for detail impact your odds of getting hired?
Both “poor grammar/spelling” (42.3%) and “lack of software skills” (40.4%) were brought up at a similar rate. If the top four concerns from architecture firms are all concerns and red-flags that have to do with skill and experience. These are all things that you can personally improve on. The good news is that you have the time to improve in these areas and try to make your resume/CV stand out more than before.
3. What factors are important outside of skill and experience?
It is not just about skills and experience. In fourth place came “lack of personality traits” (38.5%), which shows the importance that your attitude and preparedness to lead and adapt have on your ability to succeed. Your attitude and how you work in a team are very important, and in some cases we’re valued over university titles.
4. How important is the quality of your education and career progression over time?
An interesting outcome we saw was the slightly higher valuation that decision makers had on career growth and progression (17.3%) versus quality of education and titles (13.5%). Many firms view your skills and technique as more important than the prestige of your university or where you come from. So if you have a can-do spirit and do not get discouraged, then keep working on yourself and your craft to reach the goals you set out.
Please make the effort to improve yourself and be a dynamic individual that can understand your own flaws and weaknesses and work on them to become better. The red-flags that firms highlighted are all largely factors that are in your control, and that you can take the action to improve.
When considering your next career move, plan proactively and create Portfolios that include your best work. Consider looking into finding a mentor with Architect-US, and improving your Portfolios with our Portfolio Plans and Career Advice Program. We provide coaching and personalized mentorship, so you can have a professional and experienced take on your next steps in your career, as well as a great team to confide in.
