An architect’s portfolio is not just a series of impressive pictures. It is an insight into what an architect knows, who they are and what their concerns are.
Your portfolio can demonstrate your ability and prove your experience much more powerfully than words on a CV. But it is also a chance to show that your values and interests coincide with those of the practice you would like to work for.
Tell a story in each portfolio project
“At interview, we use the portfolio as a tool to get candidates to talk about their experience,” reveals Ann Lakshmanan, director of Shepheard Epstein Hunter (SEH). “We want to know that you understand the process of what you have been doing and see it demonstrated. We want you to tell a story.”
When recruiting, Lakshmanan will ask job applicants to send a CV and, initially, just a sample portfolio. This sample of work can be just a couple of sheets of paper (and ideally not in a huge format): at most just a few pages covering a small selection of projects.
At interview stage, Lakshmanan will ask candidates to present a more expanded portfolio than the initial sample. She suggests that, for each project, two or three detailed sheets are enough to demonstrate that you understood the design principles, how the building was constructed and, importantly, what you yourself did.
Focus on the project: how and why it works
“Today almost anyone can produce a beautiful CGI render,” Lakshmanan suggests. “But this does not necessarily tell you much about a candidate’s ability as an architect.”
“What we really like to see are hand drawings and sketches, particularly when a candidate is a recent graduate. There are different processes involved in hand drawing or modelling: it is about showing how a building works, whether via details or at street level.”
Images are one thing, but being able to talk through the projects confidently and informatively is crucial. During a job interview, candidates may well find themselves with 20 to 25 minutes allocated to discussion of their portfolio.
“Irrespective of the design brilliance of an image, you still have to be able to talk about the thinking that went into it and how it works. You need to provide a narrative, and not rely wholly on visuals.”
An interviewer will typically want to hear about the design and technical aspects of projects and how problems were overcome (such as planning issues or Building Regulations compliance).
Mistakes you made and lessons learned can be referred to, so long as you have reflected on them and considered how you would do things differently next time.
Be selective and keep your eye on the time
“Time management is key when presenting," warns Rhea Shepherd, Senior Architect at HTA. "You must ensure you allow yourself enough time at interview to get through the right portfolio projects."
"Showing everything you have done is much less effective than presenting your best, most relevant work.”
Given that many interviews are now taking place online, making sure that you can navigate your portfolio has become important. Make sure it is formatted to suit an on screen presentation. Candidates should make sure they can easily display their screens and flick between projects. They can experiment with image sizes and any small details they wish to zoom in on.
“In a face to face face office environment, showing portfolio projects on huge sheets of paper can sometimes make a dramatic impression," Shepherd reminds us. "But online, you lose that. If you have put together your portfolio with A2 or A1 boards in mind, that will probably not translate well to an online interview.”
It is therefore helpful to email a portfolio through in advance, Shepherd suggests, which also allows you to flag up particular projects or specific aspects of them.
“An interviewer can then see what you are going to present beforehand. This not only might make a favourable first impression, but it also ensures we will definitely see what you want us to see.”
“The most common mistake is trying to show everything. Competition entries can be interesting if explained, but I do not want to see fifteen of them. It is much better to explain what you have learned from one of them,” says Lakshmanan.
There is really no excuse for candidates not to carefully test their presentations in advance. Most of us have easy access to computers and mobile phones to see how we come across as interviewees: how we look and how we sound. It has never been easier for a candidate to practice their presentation with a friend or family member.
Tailor your narrative to the practice
The projects you show should be as relevant as possible. Your portfolio should be working with you to give an appealing account of why you are sitting there.
It is understood that not every candidate will be a perfect fit in terms of relevant experience. You might be trying to move into a different sector, for instance. But you can address this by taking the interviewer through your projects articulately, provided you have done your research on the practice in question and can show understanding of its work.
“We want to know why you are coming to us,” Lakshmanan states. “Employers do not want to think that a candidate is applying for any job going: you do need to be familiar with the work we do and be able to explain why you want to join us.”
It is not just your own portfolio that you need to be able to talk about, but that of your potential employer too.
Thanks to Ann Lakshmanan, Director, Shepheard Epstein Hunter; and Rhea Shepherd, Senior Architect at HTA.
This feature is one of a series that supports architects in building career resilience. The series helps architects at all professional levels with advice on career progression, advancement, promotion and learning.
The RIBA is interested in hearing from members about their own career challenges and successes. Please send us your own experiences, feedback and ideas.
Find out more:
- How to impress in a job interview
- Do you have the right technical and practical experience?
- Seven design tips from architects for compiling your Part 1 portfolio
- How to impress a potential employer with your first architecture portfolio
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