How To Approach Making Architecture Portfolios - Employers Perspective + Important Mindsets

Kevin Hui and Andrew Maynard shares with you the important mindsets, tips and tricks when it comes to approaching making your portfolios from employers’ perspective.
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[@simeonjamison3034]

Finishing my architecture degree last year I needed to find a job. As a new architect in South Africa during the worst of covid, my prospects weren't good. Even though I was one of the top students that year, I sent over 80 emails to architecture firms across the country. All of them in that polite, verbose format. No one was looking for a new employee. Finally at the end of my wits. I started resending all those emails, but this time with a single sentence telling the company who I am and what I want, and a greatly simplified portfolio of only a few pages. The response was instantly better and I had a company ask me to come for an interview that very same evening that I wrote those emails. Been working at that company now for close to a year and loving every second of it!

[@Archimarathon]

Glad to hear you have decided to change it up to see the difference

[@wrongcreativity]

The part about 'employers have already seen your best work, so they're not interested in talking about it again and want to talk about something else' is absolutely true in my own experience in my last interview. We spoke about my previous work experience, about the roles I was involved, and what was my thought process for certain projects. Had I insisted on a tour of my portfolio, they'd probably be disinterested.

[@Archimarathon]

It’s a prop. And it should some them something else they haven’t seen that would help illustrate those work experiences that is not in your digital folio

[@arnasagen8077]

Andrew’s face after says: “There will potentially be someone there who just wants to play with something…” is the best! 😂 Too few people remember how important it is to understand WHO you are interviewing with. If you want the the interviewer to think you are a good match for their firm you need to find out what makes them exciting and show that you have those qualities or at least have a genuine interest in acquiring/improving those qualities.

[@LearnUpstairs]

Great video guys! Loved how you touched on the various types of portfolios and I agree with so many things. Especially what you said about showing what you want to do in that job position, that is so important, but not always done. Also, appreciate the shootout! Now, I've got 2 things I kinda think the opposite, so I'll leave my input here to get the conversation rolling 😄 1- During the portfolio review series I did with Steven (Show It Better), we looked at thousands of portfolios, of all different kinds. ISSUU, Behance, personal websites, and a lot more. And what I've found is that the ISSUU way (digital portfolio with a "physical" feel where you can turn pages) is the best. You can create a narrative around your projects by taking advantage of a linear process. It's less friction for those viewing as well, as you don't have to think where to click or where to find information. Just flick the page and let the person who has created that portfolio tell you their story. Often times personal websites are messy and aren't neatly put together. Plus a proper hierarchy between images and texts is harder to achieve there as you'll need to dominate web design. Site builders limit you on that creative approach, especially with white space. Not to mention that each device will open the website in a different way. In my opinion, portfolios are all about guiding the viewer's eyes using whitespace. Behance, Instagram, and even personal websites may be a bit limiting in that sense. 2- I'm not so sure about this, but I haven't seen print portfolios anymore (especially after the pandemic) And also a portfolio is always evolving and changing. As students or recent grads, you might out of the blue join an arch competition with friends to practice your skills or take on a new challenge. You can easily update a digital portfolio and include that new project, and not so much with a print version where it's all set in stone, and to change something you need to spend money and print it all over again. Anyways, just trying to create a discussion around this. I learn a lot from you guys, love everything that you guys put out! I'm currently working on a course on Portfolios and InDesign for Architects, and I've been thinking a lot about these things lately 😄

[@Archimarathon]

Physical one for interview is a different thing. Refer to our job interview episode. Also we need you guys make ones about single page portfolio for email. Nudge nudge.

[@Archimarathon]

And yes, often websites are messy, but so are the majority of folios I have seen too. It’s ways of thinking about how to arrange and present information in the best possible way.

[@deedyfenton]

Regarding showing diversity in the portfolio, I learned from the art industry that it's better if you show an expert level of something, plus an intermediate level of what else you can do. It's called the "T" structure. Idk if that applies to architecture as well or not.

[@saharface]

I have been waiting for this video since the very moment you had mentioned it in the previous video. Great timing as i am making my portfolio atm! Thanks guys.

[@gabybordino6024]

Great and important video, guys! I always learn heaps from you. Portfolios are a sensitive topic as most of the time people are more worried about how to "enlarge" them instead of focusing on the important stuff, how to be a better communicator of ideas and that includes portfolios, cover letters, and interviews. Spot on that!

[@timofeianisimov2598]

These gents are the most architect-looking pair of lads I've ever seen

[@urbancolab]

Even after twenty years in practice I still learn from archimararthon. The definition of portfolio is eye opening and will cause me to rethink my company website and presentations.

[@Archimarathon]

We miss you on Discord

[@urbancolab]

I have also drawn on the inside of walls with contractor. It is the best way to win over the contractor through communication.

[@nnnnoe]

I would have never thought about the email part and it´s actually the first impression a potential employee will get from us. And I loved the idea of a sort of "all in your face" website. I´m so structured and organized that I would probably have made a very categorized website... You're so right with that one! PS it took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize the fireplace was a mac

[@Archimarathon]

You can be structured and organised whilst still think strategically about how to get the information across

[@abeldejene2550]

I like what you did with the chimney, very creative😀

[@yusufisa7576]

Amazing and useful insights as always! Thank you both! 🙏

[@Archimarathon]

Cheers

[@mikebuhayTV]

Great to see another full-length video! Thanks for always being educational and entertaining, Kevin and Andrew. I was willing to show my portfolio however KZbin seems to automatically delete links.

[@Archimarathon]

Yes I don't know how it does that and how to override it.

[@english4architects619]

Great tips and insights. Thank you very much for the video. I have already started sending it out to my students as homework to watch it. 😀 I liked the part about the email and that you should be creative in compiling it. Although too short email only with a link might look like a spam 😆😅

[@rev_dude]

Nice to see another full length video! Thnks for sharing, I especially love your point about designing an email as an introduction to your portfolio rather than a wall of text for 'whom it may concern' to delete immediately. I've never thought about it that way but that is certainly a way to immediately stand out. I'll further emphasize the discord, there are tons of fellow architects and students who are willing to critique portfolios, or just hang out and talk about architecture!

[@Archimarathon]

Glad it was helpful! And YES to Discord!!

[@karugakanyeki]

This is great, I was just preparing my portfolio and This has helped me alot. Thank you very much

[@Archimarathon]

Happy to hear

[@kudzaishemakweta211]

Thank you for the informative video on portfolios. I do concur with you on the issue having a lot of content covering the technical aspects of portfolios but less if not none do delve into the ‘why’ of making one. I love your Mac 🖥️ fireplace 🔥

[@Archimarathon]

Thanks. We love it too.

[@user-tp3eq8zf1z]

Really love your content weel thought and works

[@Archimarathon]

Thanks

[@joekomono]

Great video as usual. The single page email portfolio makes so much sense and you guys broke down the purposes of the different portfolios so clearly. If anyone ever asks about portfolios I’ll send them here 😂

[@Archimarathon]

Thanks Uncle Joe

[@mortenploug9184]

Another great video, thanks guys! Love your work ...Constructive feedback: It would be cool with some visual examples of your recommendations

[@Archimarathon]

Go take a look at Upstairs and Show It Better.

[@jamzyhuh2597]

Another amazing video

[@Archimarathon]

Glad you think so! Cheers

[@elliotpike8101]

Fantastic video! But I do have a question. When cold calling a practice do you think it is important to write up a cover letter to go along with your portfolio? Or should the portfolio do all the talking along with your one - two sentences on what you are looking for?

[@bgdbaby]

In the UK, practices do NOT like links to portfolios. They ask for a PDF only (Sample portfolio is sometimes preferred). Also, I came across employers who barely looked at my CV and just rambled through the interview, with the most random questions and no structure. Extremely frustrating as I put so much effort and motivation into preparing for it. Anyway, I love your email idea, so I'll try to incorporate that in my next job search. 👌

[@Archimarathon]

Check out our interview episode as that is completely different

[@WelcomeToSteph]

Definitely extremely helpful and now seeing all the mistakes I've made over the years 😅 time to update my portfolio!

[@Archimarathon]

Always update your folio

[@WelcomeToSteph]

@@Archimarathon yes boss!

[@zheenahaydari5145]

yeeeey new videoo!! i wish Kevin was my teacher back in uni

[@Archimarathon]

Many people find me scary. Usually ones whom I have never taught directly

[@zheenahaydari5145]

@@Archimarathon nonsense.. You’re such a role model!! I would probably ask for a signiture if i ever see you.

[@codyethan5370]

I watched upstairs yea, quite good.

[@user-yk1cw8im4h]

Is pocket inserts recommended? I don't have to punch through the paper but there's the added glossiness.

[@zacheddy7700]

Just a humble tradie. Thanks for making content. Can you make a lecture series. Make it based on long term sustainability while avoiding the profit motive.

[@Archimarathon]

Have you seen our video on sustainability?

[@zacheddy7700]

@@Archimarathon indeed, i really enjoy the conversation format you offer makes for easy listening.

[@RB-zm4fk]

Miss you guys on KZbin 🙌

[@Archimarathon]

Trying to get back into it

[@ghoulman51]

5.08 was when I realised the fire was an animation on a mac.

[@Archimarathon]

🔥

[@TarkhanovoPark-jq7ed]

Nice video, thanks a lot for the tips. Very interesting and useful to think about the job application emails. Does your advice result in an email with a very short text + the single page portfolio as an image + the larger portfolio as pdf or website link + a cover letter (if we aim to keep the email short, I guess we need it?) ? Isn’t this all a bit too much content, especially with the fact that there will be 2 portfolios, or did I get something wrong?

[@Archimarathon]

As we said, they serve different purposes and scenarios

[@user-td8so9oi5x]

absolutely(o_bu_sa_ryuu_tu_ri)　obsoletely(A-BU-SO-RYU-TO-RI)

[@Archimarathon]

ありがとう

[@benkeane797]

These guys are to architecture what Rob McElhenney and Andrew Maynard are to Wrexham FC