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You have worked on various architectural projects and learned many skills. But in the end, your portfolio didn’t make it. Why? Because you forgot to present your skills to your recruiter. It is difficult to capture the gist of your architectural project in your portfolio, but as hard as it is, it is also imperative. While the NEP 2020 design has opened more doors for architects in the industry, it is the final portfolio presentation that will help determine your selection at your desired organization.
And if you are willing to build the best portfolio out there, you need to make sure that you don’t only own the skills but also know how to pick out your best architectural project. You should know how to present your achievements. So, what should you do to get the best portfolio out there? We have listed tips to help you understand.
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6 Key Points to Make Your Architectural Portfolio Stand Out
1. Audience Matters
While crafting your architecture portfolio, you need to remember what job profile you are applying for. You should keep the skills and achievements the job description is looking for. If you are applying to an architectural firm, then you need to keep in mind what that firm is looking for. Another thing you need to remember is that sending the resume alone won’t get you anywhere. You must ensure that you have your previous work report and cover letter. It doesn’t matter where you got the degree; you need to ensure that you have all the skills.
2. Presentation Matters
You have all the skills that are needed for the job you are applying for, and you also have the right experience. So why did your portfolio fail to make it through the final round? Well, one of the many reasons can be that you didn’t make your portfolio visually appealing. There are hundreds of people with skills you own; you are not the only one. You need to capture the recruiter’s attention on the first page of your portfolio itself. Because only a few recruiters go beyond page one of your portfolio, you must show them what they need to see in just one glance of your portfolio.
3. You Don’t ‘Have to’ Mention Everything
It is expected that if you are looking for a job, you have a lot of experience under your sleeve. And you probably have had innumerable opportunities and done numerous projects. But what you don’t know is your recruiter won’t accept your portfolio if he doesn’t find a similar experience as the job description. You need to look through all your knowledge and find the most appropriate ones from your list. You can also choose to show how your skills have increased.
4. Don’t Overdo Yourself
Have you heard of the concept less is more? Well, that fits here. You don’t have to talk about every little thing in your resume. Let them have an overview of each project, some hints about the design challenge, the creative process, and the outcome, using clear, concise writing complemented by relevant, high-quality images. The fewer words readers must read to comprehend your concepts, the better. Instead of carefully dissecting each phase of the creative process, label the photographs with concise statements that describe your intentions before the visual content.
5.Tell More About Theoretical Knowledge
You can’t judge your architectural potential without your theoretical projects. If you don’t know when to start adding things to your portfolio, there can’t be a better place than your university. When fully developed, research on architectural history or a related field reveals vital expertise for everyday projects. Show that a method is intelligent and possesses more advanced analytical skills. An understanding of theory is essential because architecture is increasingly about research. Showcase information about different architecture styles, a gist about the best rendering software used for visualizations, layout details, and more. It should be clear from how your work is presented, obviously and simply.
6. It’s all About Credibility
While you know that you can’t simply win hearts by presenting a basic rundown of your projects, you need to market yourself in a better way. Using customer testimonials is one approach to achieve that. Request a 1-2 phrase testimonial from your favorite clients so you can post it on your website. To demonstrate that you carry experience and a solid reputation, add these to your About page or scatter them across your homepage. When individuals search for architects, they are expected to search for someone who will be able to comprehend their demands and someone they can rely upon and trust. And the best way is to read evaluations from other customers and get in touch with them if you can.
Conclusion
There is nothing better than an organized portfolio to fit every job opportunity that you may come across. Your portfolio becomes a persona of your architectural achievements and experiences. So when you design it, you need to remember that, to be honest, they will find out anyway, and lying can do more bad than good. Another important thing is remembering to update your skills regularly to fit your personality and the job description.
