Succeed in an Architecture Job Interview
With the demand for new commercial and residential places, many companies are hiring architects to fulfill the job needs. Architecture jobs require lots of creativity and imagination. For securing a good position in an architectural firm be sure you have in-depth knowledge of designing and planning of buildings including commercial as well as residential. In addition, you should have a bachelor's or master's degree from a credible institute.
Steps
Things to prepare before the interview
- Prepare your portfolio: The most important component of an architecture job is your portfolio. Prepare a soft as well as a hard copy of the portfolio. Search online to find out creative ways to make your short and precise portfolio. Many famous architecture websites and blogs provide information regarding portfolio making. Be sure to have a “star portfolio” with you during the interview. It is best to take your portfolio with you for the interview. It doesn't matter if they have asked about it or not.
- Prepare for frequently asked questions: Learn about famous architects, construction companies, and constructors. Use internet and books to learn about upcoming famous projects nearby that city in which you are giving the interview as well as in other countries. The Internet can help you with frequently asked questions in an architecture job interview.
- Prepare your experiences and degrees documents: For this job, specifically, you need an experience including the details of the internships you did in any firms. Place all your experiences and your documents including your degree details in a file folder to present in the interview if asked about.
- Be sure of the subfield you want to do your job in: As architecture firms hire people of different fields for example structure, landscape architecture, architecture history, Urban planning etc. Be sure you know your specialty or your area of expertise and apply certainly in that area only and have complete knowledge of that field.
- Get dressed: Dress to impress the interviewer to ensure that you are capable of being hired. Wear something nice and simple that fits you properly. Not too loose not too tight. Men: Full sleeves collar shirt with a tie and dark colored shirt or a suit if you have any. Cologne shouldn’t be overpowering and should be less than normal. A fresh haircut and a shave. Women: knee or below knee length formal skirt with a light long sleeve collar shirt. Decent size heels. Proper hairstyle, minimal and moderate jewelry with no controversial associations.
What to do during the interview
- Good proficiency in oral, written communication and computer knowledge: Try to keep the interview conversational apart from the argument based. Engage the interviewer in your answers. Don't drag the answers too much as well. Keep them precise and to the point. Don't oppose interviewer’s argument unless it is necessary.
- Think before answering interviewer’s questions: While answering for interviewer question ask yourself these question by putting yourself in his place Why is he asking me such a question? What should he have answered if he was at my place?
