Architecture Job How to Prepare for a Job Interview in Architecture. most frequently asked questions!

The first months of the year are precisely those in which many recent graduates are in the job market in search of a placement. And there is the stage that many are faced with the situation which is not enough just to be a good architect for achievements a solid and ideal position in a large company. The job interview, for example, is one of the biggest obstacles that the new graduates face. Advice on how to behave in an interview does not lack, however, a few specifically targeted to the area of ​​Architecture. Originally published by The Architect's Guide, Brandon Hubbard talks about five most common questions in a job interview in Architecture and how to do great on them. Check out:

Let's say you started your quest for places to get here, your interview. Congratulations! The questions I will discuss below arise in almost all of the interviews in several professions. However, as an architecture professional, I will focus primarily on how best to answer these common questions in the context of an interview for a wave of architecture. As you read each of the questions below, think about your answer. Why is the interviewer asking this question? Put yourself in his place. This will help you understand that they are not trying to test you, but rather know if you will fit within the company. If they ask a question you have not prepared yourself, do not be afraid to say "I do not know, but I can seek to know and respond later." The worst thing you can do is lie.

 

Let's talk!

An interview can seem stressful and generate anxiety, especially if you've been preparing for it for days or weeks, but think of the interview as a conversation, where you'll meet someone better, like a chat. As part of this conversation the interviewer (usually a senior architect or director within an office, depending on the size of the company) will usually ask a series of generic questions.

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One of the most important things you can do before the interview is to do a survey about the interviewer and the company. Usually you can know beforehand who will specifically interview you. We architects like to talk about ourselves, you'll probably find information about the person on the company's website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Also find out who is who, so when you find them, you can greet them by name.

The questions below are the ones I've seen most throughout my career in architecture and in many discussions with architects over the years.

1. Tell me about yourself,

Most people hear this and think, "Great, an easy question to answer about my growing up childhood with five brothers and sisters." First of all, by answering something like this, you show that you have missed the point of the question. The real question they are asking is really "tell me about your work experience." You can add personal information just to give the answer a bit of personality, but do not spend more than 30 seconds on it.

To begin with, do not start by just listing projects, you need to treat the interview as if you were telling a story. That's where your research on the company becomes very important. Depending on the amount of information you have collected about the interviewer (years of experience, previous offices, projects) plus you can discuss technical or project specific details. If the interviewer has spent 20 years designing airports, you may want to structure your discussion or portfolio with larger-scale projects if possible. However, this also brings up a key issue. Do not try to be someone you are not. There is a big difference between adjusting your portfolio to emphasize your relevant work and saying "you designed an airport".

Having a clear and written description of the function you expect is very useful as part of your preparation. Treat this description as points for you to address in the interview. Think about how you can list all your relevant projects and experiences that show how you work on a team or how you solved a problem. By structuring your experiences as a sequential story, you will be able to be clear and concise in your response. Architects have the advantage of owning a portfolio to leaf through in an interview. A well structured and thoughtful portfolio makes an interview much easier. Again, if you prepare in advance, your chances of going well will be much greater.

2. Why do you want to change jobs?

If you are not prepared for this question, you can stop your interview. Often, the common reason for leaving is your job is dissatisfaction with salaries, schedules, projects, co-workers, etc. But these should not be the best reasons to list for your potential future employer. Again, this does not mean that you should lie to the interviewer. You should, however, work out your answer so as not to detract from your previous employer. After all, the person on the other side of the table may be your current employer in a matter of weeks.

I realized that the best way to answer this question is to show that the change was not because of you. This is a mistake I made in the past and it is very common. I tried to explain that the reason was myself and that I wanted this new job to leverage my career. Try a specific example like, "I know you have a commercial project that just started, it's in the pre-design phase, and in my previous job I was mostly focused on contests. Most of my experience is with the more advanced phases of the project, so I seek knowledge in a new area. "Saying something like this may further emphasize your adjustment with the company, and you do not talk about negative aspects about your employer previous.

3. What are your weaknesses?

Usually this is the worst question. I try to never ask this question because it usually only results in a strange conversation. The best thing to do is just get ready for it (this goes for all these questions, by the way). What usually helps in thinking of a good answer to that question is just thinking about what you would not want to mention. Examples: not having good work colleagues, not respecting deadlines, arriving late, etc.

The typical advice is to list a strong point, but to say it as a weakness, like "I work too hard" or "I really like architecture." No! Think about it a little. Think of a time when you legitimately made a mistake (but choose a small mistake) and explain what you learned from it. Showing that you had a setback and turned it into a learning experience can emphasize your level of responsibility and honesty.

4. Where do you see yourself in five years?

This is always a delicate matter. Since I'm mainly talking about getting a job in an office, the answer you should normally avoid is "I want to open my own office". I see this quite often in the architecture world and for good reason, most architects intend to open their own company at some point. While this may be your goal some day, the interview is not the time to share.

What the interviewer is looking for is someone to take up the job now, but is also looking for a long-term commitment. Admitting that you would like to jump off the boat and go on your own, at the same time admirable, do not achieve this goal.

Each answer to these questions needs to reinforce your willingness to be part of the company. The most appropriate response could be, depending on the stage of your career: "I would like to expand my knowledge base" or "I want to lead a residential project". Choose something relevant to the job and the company, show that you seek to grow with the company, not far from it.

5. Do you have other job offers? Are you participating in another selection process?

Many architects see this as an opportunity to boast: how many job offers they have. First of all, which is obvious obvious, but the number one rule in an interview is: do not lie. If you have other job offers, it's good to go ahead and say. If not, do not try to leverage your situation. I will discuss a good answer and justification for both answers.

Case 1: You are not participating in another selection process.

Question: Do you have other job offers?

Answer: No, I'm doing a selective search. I do not send hundreds of resumes or look for any vacancy. I'm looking for a good company and what I can bring to it.

Who could be dismissed for this answer? It shows that you carefully think about the vacancy and the office.

Case 2: You are participating in various selective processes.

Question: Do you have other job offers?

I am currently participating in other selective processes. I'm looking for a long-term change, so I want to make sure I make the right decision.

This does not mean a threat, but it helps to explain why you are analyzing various offers and will commit to the company you choose. This is especially true for the younger generation that there seems to be a bit of a stigma jumping from job to job.

In conclusion, I hope these advice will help you find your dream job. Remember that if you have prepared yourself correctly, you know yourself and your projects, you will do well. Just by spending some time gathering your thoughts a few days before your interview is already going to put you way ahead of the competition.

Now good luck in your interview!