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Create an Architecture Resume
in 5 Simple Steps

  • Step 1: Add Contact Info

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  • Step 2: Include Work Experience Details

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  • Step 3: Provide Education Details

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  • Step 4: Select Your Skills

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  • Step 5: Fill in Your Background

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Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Architecture Resume

Banish writer’s block with our LiveCareer Resume Builder and prewritten text suggestions. Certified resume writers have created sample text designed to take the guesswork out of writing your architecture resume. These category-specific suggestions highlight your skills and experience. Plug them into your architecture resume exactly as written or tweak them to fit your unique background.

Here are just a few examples of text our builder may suggest for your architecture resume:

  • Rendered schematics for 50 personal designs in AutoCAD to produce 2D and 3D models.
  • Incorporated sustainable designs into over 15 commercial projects.
  • Consulted with roughly 20 clients per year to determine functional and spatial requirements of new structures.
  • Assisted with designing and drafting 12 major project blueprints.
  • Collaborated with two senior leads to create job bids for new projects.
  • Managed drafting and design for over 115 projects from concept through delivery.

8 Do's and Don’ts for Writing an Architecture Resume

  • Do use metrics for impact. Stand out from the pack by relaying your architectural industry skills and experience in concrete terms. Instead of noting that you “reduced company expenditures,” for example, explain that you “reduced company expenditures and loss by 35% by implementing proactive maintenance procedures.”
  • Do list your technology skills. From computer-aided design programs to database management systems, experience using technology is imperative for many architecture jobs. If you are proficient with programs as such Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D, Apache Hadoop, Amazon Redshift or Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management, be sure to include them on your resume. On the flip side, if you have manual drafting expertise, that’s a skill that’s worth noting in today’s architecture job climate, too.
  • Do use the right resume format. The chronological resume format is great for job seekers with years of experience in the architecture field. It employs a timeline format that allows a project coordinator, for example, to chart accomplishments such as transitioning over 20 projects from the estimation and preconstruction phases to well-defined project execution plans.For applicants who are relatively new to architecture, however, a functional resume format is often a smarter choice because it focuses on skills over experience. Mid-career job seekers who fall somewhere in-between may find that a combination resume format is a better option. As the name implies, this resume format generally devotes equal space on the page to a job seeker’s skills and work history.
  • Do write a compelling professional summary. A professional summary is your chance to make a strong first impression with a succinct description in two to four sentences about your professional story. It should note your current position and highlight some of your biggest accomplishments or most valuable skills. For example, “Versatile architect accomplished at designing commercial and residential structures of varying styles and purposes. Career spanning 6 years with record of sound, sustainable design that meets or exceeds LEED standards.”
  • Don’t choose a creative resume template for a conservative job. The resume template you choose should reflect not only your professional style as an architect but also the industry in which you’re applying. If you’re a CAD drafter applying for a position at a design firm that prides itself on modernity and innovation, a creative template is appropriate. If, however, you’re an architectural intern applying for your first position with a large, well-established organization, a more traditional resume template is likely the better option.
  • Don’t use the exact same resume for every job. Study the job ad and customize your resume for the position each time you apply. If a job listing places emphasis on leadership skills, for example, be sure to enumerate yours in your resume. Also, tailor your supporting details to the specific position for which you’re applying.
  • Don’t lead with your education. If you’re new to the architecture field and don’t have much work experience, it may be tempting to begin your resume with your educational background — especially if you hold a master’s degree in architecture or graduated magna cum laude. Resist this urge and instead focus on quantifying the transferable skills you learned in school, such as how you “assisted senior architects in managing 12 projects from concept through delivery” and “attended meetings with a team of eight architects and project managers to review projects and resolve any issues.”
  • Don’t forget to proofread. Attention to detail is vitally important in architecture. Typos or grammatical errors in your resume don’t say “Hire me!” Proofread your resume carefully for mistakes or, even better, ask a trusted friend or associate to do so.

Beat the ATS With These
Architecture Resume Skills

Employers often use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen potential hires. Before a hiring manager ever lays eyes on a stack of resumes, an ATS whittles the crop down to only the documents that include the keywords and phrases the employer seeks. While this practice is more common with larger companies that do a great deal of onboarding, even some smaller architecture and design firms may use an ATS as part of their hiring process, making an ATS one of the biggest hurdles that job seekers may face.

That’s where our Resume Builder comes in. Professional writers provide the precise mix of skills to include in your architecture resume. This can increase your resume’s odds of passing through an ATS and into the hands of an actual human being. Those ATS-friendly skills may include the following:

  • Site investigation reports.
  • AutoCAD.
  • Material application knowledge.
  • Scaling guidelines.
  • Proposal creation.
  • Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Code compliance.
  • Manual drafting expertise.
  • 2D and 3D renderings.
  • Commercial architecture.
  • Bidding procedures.

Architecture Resumes for Every Professional Level

Entry-Level
Architectural Intern Resume Example Functional Build my Resume

Architectural Intern

For job seekers new to the architecture field, a functional format like the one pictured above is often a good fit. Functional resumes focus more on skills and less on work experience. Here, the applicant zeroes in on three of her most valuable skills as a potential hire and provides details for each. More importantly, she expresses those proficiencies in measurable terms, such as “generated 8 design models and associated visuals.” A brief, or even nonexistent, work history doesn’t mean you should skimp on the concrete details. Build my Resume

Mid-Career
Engineering Manager Resume Sample Chronological Build my Resume

Engineering Manager

Mid-career job seekers often benefit from using a combination resume format, which combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes. In this example, the resume shows both that the applicant has a substantial work history and a solid skill set. Note the use of relevant specific details, such as “performed over 200 on-site field surveys” and “managed capital funding requests of up to $75 million.” Build my Resume

Executive-Level
Architecture Chief Engineer Resume Example Chronological Build my Resume

Chief Engineer

A chronological resume format is an excellent way for experienced architecture professionals to showcase the breadth of their skills and achievements. In this example, the job seeker moves from his professional summary directly into his extensive work history. He highlights career accomplishments in measurable terms, such as “reduced company expenditures and loss by 35% by implementing proactive maintenance procedures.” Quantifying his responsibilities and successes in this way leaves little to question about his qualifications and demonstrates his attention to detail. Build my Resume

More architecture resume samples

Find resume examples for your desired architecture career. Get access to expert writing recommendations, do’s and don’ts and everything you need to write a perfect resume.

architectural internarchitectural sales representativearchitectural technologistchief architectentry level architectfreelance architectgraduate architectJunior Architect

Resume Success Stories

Statistics and Facts About Architecture Jobs

Median Job Pay (2018)

Annual salary$79380
Hourly rate$38.16
050K100K
Source: Indeed

Gender Diversity (2017)

Male84.2% 2370,000(84.2%)
Female15.8% 446,000(15.8%)
0102030405060708090100
Source: DataUSA

Average Salary by Gender

Male$88927
Female$71527
010K20K30K40K50K60K70K80K90K100K
Source: DataUSA

Common Job Titles

  • Architect
  • Senior Architectural Designer
  • Architectural Project Manager
  • Senior Planner
  • Design Architect
  • Specifications Writer
  • Principal Architect

Source: O*Net

Typical Level of Education Required

Bachelor’s Degree56%
Master’s Degree19%
Professional’s Degree15%
0102030405060708090100
Source: O*NET

Average Age of Workforce (2017)

Female39.8 years
Male43.4 years
0102030405060708090100
Source: DataUSA

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