Architect Resume Sample Explained in Detail

Many people would say that an architect’s resume is no different from any other resume. Yes and no. Any other resume alike, you must present your skills and employment history, showcasing your achievements. However, things that make an architect unique are not duties copy-pasted from the job description; it’s the approach to the process, tools, and techniques they use while designing.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, pegs the average architect’s salary at $80,180 per year and $38.55 per hour.

Any person can draw a house, but only a few of those drawings get built. Any person can create a resume, but only a few of them get noticed. To make employers interested, it’s your knowledge, skills, projects, and operations that should be highlighted in your resume.

Still hesitant about your Resume?
Get a Free Review

How to Format an Architect Resume?

To format your resume sample for an architect, give your preference to a reverse chronological design. ATS algorithms easily recognize such an order and put you higher in the system. Also, this architect resume format helps place your biggest wins and achievements first.

When you format your resume, make sure your job application starts with the most striking things about you. For example, don’t start with internships if you have custom projects and years of progressive experience.

General Architect Resume

To understand the main idea behind crafting a winning architect resume, let’s look at a real-life example. We’ve selected a fictional architect to be our role model, chosen a great resume template for architect, and created a resume based on the information we could access.

Let’s go.

But first, take a look at related:

What is a Resume? [The Complete Guide to Resume and how to write it]

3 Top Resume Formats that Get You Noticed

How to Write a Resume in 2021: The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide

cv architect example

JOHN DOE

Contact Information

SUMMARY

A self-motivated innovative thinker with dozens of successful projects in civil architecture who’s looking for the right balance between ergonomics and sustainability. Skilled in bringing the boldest ideas to life, taking ownership of project design and technical direction.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Great V Architect (GVA) – Owner/Lead Architect

  • Own one of the most successful architecture companies in the U.S. involved in creating unique designs for art galleries, libraries, museums, penthouses, and other buildings nationwide and abroad.
  • Lead a team of talented architects, interior designers, landscape designers, and other professionals, fostering collaboration and facilitating teamwork.

Brown School of Architecture – Professor/Director of the Master’s Program in Architecture

  • Advocate for knowledge exchange and direct Yale’s program for students doing their Master of Architecture degrees, ensuring they get a balanced theoretical and practical insight.
  • Work with students in small groups, striving to pass on accrued knowledge and develop their unique perspectives on architectural trends and standards.

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS

  • New York Chapter AIA Design Awards 
  • 3 New York State AIA Design Awards 
  • 3 Interior Design Best of Year Awards 
  • 2 ADA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

CREATIVE STUDENT: Journal of Architecture – Editor

  • Create and edit content for a school-based Architecture magazine aimed to keep students up-to-date with achievements and news in the field.

EDUCATION

B.A. Columbia University

M.Arch Columbia University

SKILLS

  • Building and Construction
  • Design Skills 
  • Project Management 
  • Operational Management 
  • Human Resources
  • Time Management 
  • Attention to Detail 
  • Critical Reasoning 
  • Analytical Thinking 
  • Customer Service 
  • Initiative 
  • Communication 
  • Teamwork 

Architect Resume Objective and Resume Summary

A resume without any summary or objective feels empty. That’s what every recruiter will say. In many cases, a hiring manager needs only 6-8 seconds to understand if they want to proceed with your candidature and invite you to the interview. Most of this time is spent on reading your professional resume summary or objective.

The general architect resume provided above contains a summary, which is a 2-3 sentence presentation of one’s skills and achievements. An architect resume objective, instead, is shorter and states what occupations are of interest for a job seeker.

Architect Resume Summary

There are no do’s or dont’s when it comes to writing a summary. After all, it’s you who decides what you should write at the top of the page.

However, successful summaries in architect resume samples usually look the following way:

  • A self-motivated innovative thinker with dozens of successful projects in civil architecture who’s looking for the right balance between ergonomics and sustainability.

The summary in the general architect sample resume also stresses the success of his work, which is based on harmony between approaches, materials, and designs.

At the same time, the job market would object to a summary like this:

  • Responsible for improving the world by creating beautiful buildings.

Architect Resume Objective

If you choose to go with an architect resume objective instead of a summary, you should know the best way to word it. So, here is a real-life resume example for you:

  • An objective is to land a job in a federal architecture institution to serve the population of the U.S. by inspecting and checking the safety of designs and creating new ones.

The wrong one would look as follows:

  • I want to land a seat in a training program to boost my design skills.

Related:

How to write an objective for resume [Resume Objective Examples]

Experience Section in Architect Resume Examples

A great architect sample resume is usually project-based. Your achievements and design projects actually make you successful. So, when writing your architect resume, do not forget to list several of the most recognizable projects you completed.

If there is a temptation to describe your duties on a sample architect resume, mention those you find unique and outstanding. Recruiters know what architects usually do.

Check our sample architect resume and make sure your architect resume is ticking all the boxes. 

Entry Level Architect Resume Explained

Of course, at this point, beginner architects have lots of questions already. It’s easy to create a resume for an experienced architect without mentioning any job responsibilities, only projects. But what should newbies do?

A resume for architect with no experience should be skills-based. Do not copy-paste duties from the job description. Instead, think about how you can contribute to the company’s corporate objectives with the skills you have. Hiring people will love this approach.

Entry Level Architect Bullet Point Sample

If you want to increase your acceptance rate and get to an interview, make your entry-level architect resume about your career goals. Look at the extract from a real-life resume example:

  • Offer advanced knowledge of MATLAB and AutoCAD to design complex projects and detect consistency issues in ready-to-use designs.

Be creative; let yourself dream of your future job. Great architect resume examples will help you. The wrong point, however, will list the following:

  • Ready to design, draw, and create drafts under supervision.

Put the right way your experience on a resume! Does it feel frustrating? Don't worry, our online resume writer near me will cover it for you!

Education Section

Another section to list in your resume is your education. Regardless of your level (entry or pro), education is equally important. The general architect resume sample also has it. 

First of all, think about the requirements a job posting has. If your degree matches, that’s a win. If not, consider adding it anyway. If you have a background in design, programming, or math, that’s also worth adding. As for professional training and certifications, include them only if they are relevant.

Education and Certifications Section Example in Architect Resume 

To make your education section stand out, you don’t really have to reinvent the wheel. Just mention your degrees, relevant coursework if needed, and professional training that you undertook.

Our architect resume may be a great sample, but that doesn’t mean you should copy it. Check other architect resume samples that can help you showcase your unique professional growth.

CORRECT

Computer Science course at Coursera 2018

AutoCAD certification 2017

B.A. Columbia University 2016

WRONG

Cooking courses “TastIt” 2014

Want to increase your chances of landing a job? Cover letter! Employers love it! Does it feel overwhelming? With a help of best cover letter writing services you'll get it with no efforts!

How many mistakes are acceptable on a resume? Are you at risk?

Skills on a Resume for an Architect

Whatever profession you belong to, your skills are the main keywords that applicant tracking systems look for. That’s why it’s a really bad idea not to put any architect resume skills on your document.

Analyze job postings, find the qualities they all tend to seek in successful candidates, and add a skills section that makes you a strong candidate. You should include both hard and soft skills in the list, for instance: 

  • design skills;
  • knowledge of building and construction;
  • analytical thinking;
  • attention to detail;
  • critical reasoning;
  • initiative;
  • communication skills.

Related:

Performed Best Resume Skills Examples by Industry

Skill Section in Architect Resume Examples

Here are skills sections from real architect resume samples. Use these examples to create your own killing resume. One big tip: include only relevant skills.

CORRECT

  • Design Skills 
  • Building and Construction
  • Attention to Detail 
  • Project Management 
  • Time Management
  • Critical Reasoning 
  • Analytical Thinking 
  • Customer Service 
  • Initiative 
  • Communication 
  • Teamwork

WRONG

  • Accounting, English Literature, Cooking, Reading, Writing

The good idea is to mention software that you know you are competent with. Again, it should be relevant to the field of architecture.

A Few Tips to Get Your Architect Resume Noticed

Skills shouldn’t be the last section on your resume if you have more achievements to tell the world about. You can add extra architect resume sections for it to reflect your personality and make your document comprehensive.

For example, start with volunteer work. If you designed something for social organizations or churches, it should go to your resume. Don’t hide this information and add more resume sections. If you are a member of any professional organization, do mention it too.

Other Sections in Architect Resume Examples

So, if you have some achievements that don’t fit experience or education sections, expand your professional architect resume. Yet, don’t forget that this is a resume for architect jobs, so these accomplishments should be relevant.

This is how extra sections look on the resume sample we provided.

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS

  • New York Chapter AIA Design Awards 
  • 3 New York State AIA Design Awards 
  • 3 Interior Design Best of Year Awards 
  • 2 ADA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

CREATIVE STUDENT: Journal of Architecture – Editor

Things to Keep in Mind

Knowing how to write a architect resume comes with practice. However, here are a few tips for those who feel intimidated by writing:

  • find great samples online;
  • check the main resume writing rules;
  • analyze targeted job descriptions before you start working on your resume;
  • think of the skills that characterize you best and add the most relevant ones.

If you’re still unsure about your resume writing skills, you can delegate this task to SkillHub professionals who take a customized approach to work. They will tailor the document to your needs and maximize your chances to land an interview. Don't forget to add your experience and skills to your linkedin profile! You can always count on our professional linkedin resume services! We are here to help make resume you!

Is your Resume ready to compete?
Get a Free Review