Conversation is a very valued skill for an Architect. It is via conversation that you spread knowledge, make useful contacts, convey and sell designs. Architectural interviews are avenues where an aspiring architect would need to deploy these skills. The trick here is to not approach the interview as a competitive arena but to look at it as a place for a conversation that genuinely adds value to your disposition.
Here are 11 questions, the likes of which you may come across in an architectural interview. What follows the questions are methodical approaches to answering them.
Q.1 Why Architecture? / Why do you wish to become an Architect? / What about Architecture makes you want to pursue it?
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This is your chance to speak your heart out about the field, about its very vast scope and how meaningfully it has impacted your life. You could begin with what it was that initially interested you or with your journey and moments of realisation while studying that made you understand architecture more. Use these moments to describe how you envision the world of designing, planning, construction, journalism, etc.
Architecture is a lot of things for many people but what makes it special for every single architect is their story about it. All architectural marvels are products of a really passionate architect that believed in the depth of their relationships with Architecture itself.
Q.2 Would you like to change anything about the architectural industry?
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The architecture industry is an ever-evolving product of constant change; a change that is brought by the conscious work of numerous pioneers. Be respectful while referring to somebody else’s projects and surely do not bad-mouth them.
Think of all your collective experiences that made you think of something you disliked in Architecture or of something that gave you a lot of trouble to deal with due to its shortcoming nature. This could be related to technology, designing or rendering software, architectural education, or an architect’s outlook in general.
Q.3 How would you deal with the work load in an office?
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The response to this question also lies in the years of experience you have had as an architecture student. The current architectural educational curriculum focuses on all-round development focusing on multiple core subjects. All architecture students are familiar with high-functioning schedules that revolve around tight deadlines. A similar architectural mindset of constantly doing something or the other and keeping the creative juices flowing largely helps in dealing with the multi-faceted work in the offices and firms. It is easier to do well in the workplace if one carries forward the habit of getting things done and keeping the productivity up.
Q.4 What are some architects’ work you like?
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As an Architect, you are expected to know about the history and current affairs of the architectural world. Over the years, you may have found common grounds with the work of various architects. It could be their structural work, their literary contributions or their design philosophies that you resonated most with. It is advisable not stick to just one architect and praise their work. It shows more understanding if you refer to more than a couple architects, maybe compare their work or even dissect their own work and mention the nitty gritty that caught your interest. Remember, details are everything.
Q5. What do you think are some problems you might face as a young architect?
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Architects are required to work with multiple other professionals on singular projects. It is common to come across structural vs. design or space vs. style disagreements. It could also be overwhelming to keep up with the very many things to keep track of and to have a respectable demeanor whilst working hard. A lot of students face trouble in keeping up with the professional world as they are used to a more casual environment in college. However, it is pretty normal to go through these and perhaps even necessary for your growth as a professional. With a persevering architect’s outlook, one is set to face any challenge in the world.
Q6. What can you tell us about your skills? How can you be valuable to us?
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Look back at all the group activities and teams you were part of. Try to find commonalities with your interests and work patterns across these groups. Try to figure what role you were assigned the most, what role asked for your expertise or what roles you actively asked for. No matter how small a skill, it usually proves to be of use in activities that involve groups, which is what every architectural firm essentially is - a group of people doing multiple skills and carrying out multiple activities to achieve multiple goals.
It would be smart to look up the company’s work culture and methods of operation and to explain where and how you think you could be useful. Make sure you maintain a modest tone but still manage to make your talents known.
Q7. What according to you are the most valuable trends in architecture at this point?
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While the most common answer here is technology and its infinite use in architecture like with BIM, other rendering software, parametric construction software, AI and whatnots, try approaching this question from a more primitive perspective. Think about the various discoveries in materiality that led to original innovative structures. Look at allied fields of Architecture like Photography, Graphic Design or Architectural Journalism that have now connected more people with design and art and continue to affect lives in all sorts of ways thereby expanding the architectural community and its relevance.
Q8. What are your thoughts on the energy crisis, the sustainability movement and construction in general?
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It is crucial to address this topic most sensitively as it tells a lot about your architectural attitude and relevantly so due to the urgency of the subject in the current world. There are multiple definitions of what sustainability actually is but it is advisable to stick to what you believe is realistic enough and yet not controversial.
For us to go on, we must keep building. Even though we have multiple space restraints, we can always go vertical. In a field that is about building, it makes more sense to learn from the past and build better than to not build at all.
Q9. What would you become if not an architect?
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You could say Aircraft Engineer, Postman, Therapist; there is really no wrong answer for this as long as you sound passionate. Moreover, Architecture is an amalgamation of the arts and sciences. A degree in architecture makes you eligible for numerous jobs in the arts as well as the technical sectors.
Q10. Why this particular firm?
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It is absolutely necessary to do your research about the company you interview for. Know the basics about the who’s who of the office. You must know the background of the clients, the projects are undertaken, and the history of the company itself. Not only will this show that you have done your homework, it will also give you an idea about where you could place yourself and be useful.
Refrain from giving standard responses that simply praise the company and sugar-coat your intentions. Be honest about your position and about your reasons to work for the company. The sooner you establish transparency, the better it is for your professionalism.
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State your long-term goals. It is impressive if you state, with precision, what you wish to do within Architecture. The more detailed you make your future plans sound, the more confident you will come out to be. The people who interview you could also look at you as an asset to the company.
Once you have made your long-term goals known, talk about how you intend to learn to cooperate and work with the team to achieve the short-term goals that the company sets for you.
It is not important to prepare exclusively for the questions you might be asked in an interview but to prepare the right mindset for one. You have the choice to let your attitude speak on your behalf.
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Text provided by Elsa Dominic-
“Architecture is one of the most fundamental yet complex forms of expressed art. Many of us find it hard to perceive the beauty around us which is much more than just bricks and blocks and buildings. Our daily lives can turn out to be much more wholesome and interactive if we start appreciating the art that is architecture and the architecture that is art.”
Elsa is an architecture student and intends to be a medium that tries to explain the thoughts behind years of space-development which has culminated into what we see around us today, their nitty gritty and the impact it has on us every day of our lives. As she has come to believe, words have acted not only as her best pals but also as the simplest vessels that connect people with spaces.
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