How to Actually Get Hired in Architecture and Interior Design
Summary
Stephen Drew shares practical advice from a Kingston University session on getting hired in architecture and interior design, covering CVs, portfolios, direct outreach, interviews and graduate visa conversations.If you are trying to get hired in architecture or interior design, sending the same CV and portfolio to every studio is not enough.
In this Kingston University session, Stephen Drew shares practical advice for students, graduates and early-career designers trying to land roles in London and the wider UK architecture market.
The session covers:
- How to stop relying only on job boards and reach studios directly
- What to include in a 10 to 15 page sample portfolio
- How to write a direct email that busy directors are more likely to read
- When students and graduates should start applying
- How international graduates can talk about the graduate visa clearly
- What to bring to interviews so you stay in control
Read the episode notes: How to Actually Get Hired in Architecture and Interior Design
Watch on YouTube: How to Actually Get Hired in Architecture and Interior Design
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Chapters
- 00:00 Stephen's route from architecture into recruitment
- 05:17 Sample portfolios and grabbing attention
- 10:16 CV details, grades and contact information
- 15:09 Software skills and how to present them
- 20:02 Portfolio images and presentation quality
- 25:02 ATS myths and making your CV readable
- 30:10 Showing process in portfolio work
- 35:08 Applying directly and building enough volume
- 40:05 Skipping the job board queue with direct outreach
- 45:01 Market conditions, persistence and application volume
- 50:17 International graduates and visa conversations
- 55:08 What employers value in graduates
- 60:19 Start dates, availability and interview questions
- 65:21 Targeting practices without overthinking it
- 70:10 Writing emails that focus on the employer
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