Architects combine art with functionality. Their resumes should do the same. An architect’s resume should detail their skills and experience, while also being aesthetically pleasing. This will help it act as a tool of its own by displaying your affinity for design. This resume format will highlight your professional experience while also grabbing the attention of a recruiter.
Architects are responsible for the design of buildings and infrastructure. They create construction plans that are used in every building you see. Architects need to display a capacity for creativity, technical skills, industry knowledge, and project management. Architects possess a unique quiver of knowledge because they have to collaborate with many different industries and fields when making considerations for a design.
This resume has a clean and professional design. The hierarchy of information is great for an architect because the eye is drawn first to the areas of expertise section, where an architect’s hard skills can be displayed. In our example, we use this section to highlight tech and design tools, which are important for most architecture roles.
After the areas of expertise section, the resume moves right into the professional experience. The language used in the work experience section of our example highlights how diverse and accomplished this individual is. It uses quantified achievements, where we can see dollar amounts, size, and function of their projects, giving the reader an idea of their scale.
At the bottom, there is a section for coursework. Including information like this is important for some technical industries. It shows recruiters that they have received professional training and gives insight into how current their knowledge is. When adding courses, only consider the most vital or niche.
Decide what your top 4-6 skills are as an architect. This could be the use of a design program, a specific certification, industry knowledge, or a task that you are highly proficient at. Add these to your area of expertise section.
Add numbers to your descriptions to help show value. The difference is instead of saying you can use CAD, you say, “Applied expert level of CAD to produce designs for 36 public buildings, 14 private infrastructures, and 7 residential designs”. The numbers show that you possess the skill at a level that can be repeated and used effectively.
The professional experience section of your resume should have the most information under your current or most recent job. As you move down the list, you can include less. This will show professional development throughout your career and also prioritizes the most relevant experience.
Add a section for coursework if it feels relevant to your job search. When choosing courses to include, find ones that show that you meet standards of knowledge for your industry, plus any that show you go above and beyond.
Architects should take special care to tweak the formatting and design of their resume so it sells your abilities in the field. Architect resumes should appear clean, organized, and pleasing to look at.
Architects need to possess a diverse set of skills in order to create designs that are realistic and achievable among all industries involved in the build. It’s important to include all of those skills in your resume so you can be recognized for what you are capable of. Include these skills on your resume if you have experience performing them:
2D and 3D CAD
2D and 3D drawings and models
The names of specific design software
Design concept knowledge
Understanding of building codes and regulations
Project management
Communication
Collaboration
Summary example
Architect with 15+ years of experience and expertise in architectural ventures, through conceptual stages and construction to completion, creating cohesive, sustainable communities and complexes. Excellent architectural design and drafting skills complemented by ample skill in both supervisory and team capacities. Expertise in AutoCAD, Revit, and 3D Modelling on multi-million dollar residential and commercial projects. Fluent in English and Arabic; working knowledge of Russian.
Employment history example
Architect at GLOBAL WARMING PREVENTION, Toronto
2018 - Present
Design multi-story buildings, including but not limited to, residential buildings (20+ four-story townhouses), childcare schools, and a six-story condominium. Projects range from $20-$30M. Conceptualize projects from client ideas, and escalate to pre-execution with Building Plans, Sections, Elevations, and Construction Detailing. Assemble working drawings, details, schedules, site plans, zoning calculations, and grades for construction. Revise shop-drawings during construction. Liaise with sub-contractors and town authorities.
Assisted fellow architects by leveraging technical expertise to prepare solar aspect view renderings and other 3D perspectives.
Executed architectural drawings and technical detailing for Custom LEED Houses with market value of $2.5M, a profit of $1.5M.
Design Planner at CITY OF KITCHENER, Toronto
2014 - 2018
Consulted with clients to develop concepts; partnered with sub-contractors to identify applicable materials. Oversaw reviews, corrections, and guidelines with design teams as Supervisor. Performed site inspections and surveys. Engaged with local authorities and attended necessary technical meetings.
Economic Development Department, City of Kitchener project:
Prepared site plans, floor plans, elevations, conceptual internal layouts, cross sections, massing models, design concepts, visualizations and 3D modelling, and construction details.
Formulated project planning for urban and city levels, including transportation planning, sustainable development, infrastructure services and future studies, zoning calculation, and grades.
Multi-Phased Mixed-Use Development (high density):
Three city blocks, including multiple retail complexes (up to 20-story), residential tower (16-story, 56 units), and multi-level parking areas, including underground and surface parking (over 2K parking spots).
Three city blocks provided housing for 630 residents, an estimated 140 jobs in the commercial areas, and 432 employers in the office floor space.
Architect at SOMFAY MASRI ARCHITECT INC., Kitchener, Canada
2010 - 2014
Created plans, elevations, 3D modelling, design specifications, and construction schedules, and identified building materials, and budgets. Prepared urban and city level project planning, including sustainable development, transportation, grading, infrastructure services and future studies, and zoning calculations.
Took two 12-story student-residential buildings from concept to design, including one-story ambulance parking.
Developed 14, 35-story commercial and residential buildings.
Designed large-scale landmark project, to include a heritage club, theatre, museum, library, mosque, playground yards, residential houses, village on water, and marina.
Education example
Bachelor of Science (Honours), Engineering and Architecture at Khartoum University
Pathway into Sustainability and Energy at Humber College, Toronto, Ontario
Skills example
AutoCAD 2015
Revit
Microsoft Office
Adobe Creative Suite
3D Max Modelling
Ontario Building Code
Arabic (fluent)
Russian (proficient)