Question:
I will be looking to get a job with an architectural firm either this
summer or fall and have a question about my resume. I have been told
that as an arch. design student I should "design my resume" but in the
past I have been told that it should be rather straightforward and
normal, as seen in books, formatted in desktop publishers etc. Anybody
who has had experience with this please feel free to let me know your
opinion or share your experience.
Answer:
- one solution to design problems is to try it several ways and see what
works...consider doing your best of both types: artsy and conventional and
maybe one in between...as an intern-type you'll need to send out a lot, to
different firms...anything you can do to stand out, inlcuding sending them all
3 resumes, work in your interests...i think very few firms would look down on
almost anything you try, besides, if they are that worried about such things
you could probably do better...good luck, start early!...what city are you
trying for?
- Each job is an individual. Look at your resume each time you send it
out and ask yourself is this what I want to tell the perple offering
THIS job?" What job are they offering. What skills can I offer? Am I
selling the right aspects of my personality for *this* job?
- It's alright to put a little creative into it, but the important thing is
the information that you put forth. Is everything spelled correct?
Grammar? Is the formating the same throughout? Is the information correct?
Don't try to embellish too much, its easy to see through. Don't put much
into non architectural type jobs, nobody really cares if you were a
hamburger fryer and BK for two years.
Or babysat the same kid for five years. Keep it to ONE page. Use a cover
letter to add the personal touch, When I was just starting out, I had a
representation of projects photographically reduced to 8.5 x 11 (about 12)
to send along.with the resume. It was very effective, got interviews from
75% that I sent out. Don't be afraid to alter the resume to highlight your
strengths in the areas that the job is for.
- Keep in mind a resume is only a tool to get you an interview,
where you will show an outstanding portfolio to get the job.
I get a lot of unsolicited resumes sent to my web site (Sorry, I'm not
hiring, please don't send any more)
And while most are well written and include excellent training they ussually
overlook the fact that a recent graduate will be expected to start at the
"entry" level jobs in any firm.
In the architectural field "entry" does NOT mean conceptual design and 3D
rendering--which are a lot of fun and high paying and therefore done by the
principals of the firm, not the guy right out of school.
By all means list these skills on your resume, but indicate a willingness to
do, and understanding of "construction detailing", "building sections",
"material specification", "operation of blueprint machine and plotter" and a
lot of boring hack-type jobs which is what the guy doing the hiring wants you
to start on.
Including a clearly printed sample of a building section/detail
drawing--doesn't have to be to scale (look at "Architectural Graphic
Standards" by Wiley) with your resume will get more responses than a flashy 3D
rendering--
