Architecture and Design Graduates – How to Secure Your First

Position – Part 1

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Archinect Jul 14 '11 1 7 Follow  

Photo via jennniferscreams.com

by James Long/Ellicott Long

Finding your first architecture or design job can be a daunting experience. It is the
culmination of all those years of hard work and study and the chance to go and
get some real experience in the industry. Throughout my time recruiting within the
design profession I have seen a lot of graduate level CV’s and design portfolios
and I have met a lot of candidates looking to take that first step into a design firm.
This article hopes to provide some useful guidance on how to maximise your
chances of success in securing that initial role and draws on examples that I have
myself experienced both in the UK and Asia.

As there is quite a lot to focus on so this guide will be published in 3 parts:

Part 1 (this article): Writing Your CV, Writing a Cover Letter

 Part 2: Assembling a Portfolio, Applying for Positions
Part 3: Interviewing Successfully, Accepting An Offer

Writing Your CV

There are numerous articles and sites giving advice on how to write a CV. Most are tailored for those with a
number of years experience working for companies and there are very few guiding graduates in the design
industry. Graduate CV’s however will not generally have work experience to add so it’s important to highlight
other areas.

Firstly, it’s worthwhile creating a graphical CV. This should be something which visually shows some of your
creativity whilst also ensuring that you include as much information about yourself as possible.

Focusing on the visual side, I’d recommend being creative but subtle. Often, graduate CV’s will try to
counteract a lack of practical work experience by overloading the pages with images, colourful flourishes and
a visual barrage. Be careful here, it’s important to have a balance which gives just enough of a flavour of your
design skills but also allows for the written information to be easily accessible and not hidden in a mass of
drawings. I recommend that you start out by using a common CV structure and then add creative touches
around the written content to complement the content i.e. start with a simple written CV and then design
around that. I shall therefore outline the structure and written content that I think you should include.

Start with your personal information, full name (English and other language), contact details etc. A photo is
not necessary but sometimes asked for by companies – this is a matter of personal taste. If you use one,
please ensure it is not too artistic or fanciful, a simple portrait image, about the size of a passport picture
should suffice. I have seen some extreme examples but none more so than the hopeful graduate who sent a
CV which had a photo of him in a chicken hat and funny glasses…a talking point perhaps, an aid to him
finding work? Perhaps not!
Following on from your personal information, it’s worth writing a brief personal profile. Outline your strengths,
skills and any experience you may have. Also highlight your personal characteristics and any aspirations. Be
slightly careful on the aspirations – highlighting “a desire to work with a big name architect” only to send your
CV to a small studio can send conflicting messages. Therefore do not be afraid to tailor the profile to suit the
application you are making and make sure you keep track of the CV’s you send to different companies. Also
mention any significant languages spoken.

Next you should outline your education. This should detail your years of study both as undergraduate and
postgraduate, the institutions and grades achieved (expected). Briefly outline your significant projects and
grades here – you will go into more detail on these shortly. There is no need to list all your school
grades/exams – simply provide an overview. e.g. 11 GCSE’s grade A-C. You should also include any
awards/medals you received during your studies here – you can go into more detail on them in the following
parts.

I would now recommend highlighting your university project experience in a bit more detail. As most
experienced design CV’s will take the time to highlight professional projects undertaken, so should a
graduate’s CV focus on the projects completed, albeit at university. Include both individual projects and those
completed as part of a team. This should only include your significant projects and does not need to include a
1 week design study (unless of course it’s extremely relevant). Outline the project brief, your approach, how
the design developed and the end result, including any grades/awards. If working as a team, highlight your
contribution to the project specifically. This may be the part of your CV where you include some sample
images – remember be subtle and relevant. You don’t need hundreds, save that for the portfolio.

Following on from your university experience, I would now outline any practical RELEVANT work experience
(paid or otherwise). In that I mean include any design work you have done for a company but not necessarily
the bar work you did whilst on a gap year in the Andes! This should include your dates of employment, the
company, your position and an outline of your role. A brief project breakdown is good to add – make sure you
outline what you did specifically on these projects, even if it was detailing toilets. Don’t worry if you haven’t
got lots to add to this section – simply focus on adding more to your academic project/practical experience.

Following your work experience, it’s time to detail other specific skills. For example your CAD competency, IT
knowledge, hand drawing ability etc. Outline each software package you can use including a level of
proficiency for each. A lot of firms are looking for new package experience with the likes of Rhino, Maya and
Revit being of particular interest – do make sure you include any specialist software here but equally be
honest about your proficiency. Also, do say if you are strong at hand drawing and add them to your portfolio
for interview. This is the section to outline your language proficiency – if you are only English speaking it is
not necessary to have this as a skill (it should be obvious by the CV you have written!) but do include any
other languages you speak at a decent level of proficiency, indicating the level of proficiency.

Finally it’s time to talk about your interests or any other relevant information. Here you should include things
such as team membership at university, any leadership positions you have had or extra-curricular activities
undertaken. Mention if you have been travelling but obviously you don’t need to include all your holidays!

You can include reference information here if you wish. As a graduate this is normally a university tutor/s and
any work experience referees.
The information above should form the written basis of your CV and as a graduate should probably be
around 1 ½ pages to 2 pages long. It does not need to be any longer than this. Once this written basis is
complete, you can add the graphics which give it your creative touch and allow the person reviewing it to get
a feel for how you present your work. If you plan to email your CV to companies then perhaps add some
additional sample images in the form of a sample portfolio to the end of the CV – please do be careful with
the file size though as most firms have a limit on the email attachment size that they can receive.

Writing a Cover Letter

Once you have written your CV it is important to also write a cover letter to include with any applications you
make. This guide will help you put together a generic standard format cover letter but for reasons I will outline
later, you should ensure you personalise each letter you send out.

Firstly, a cover letter should be addressed to someone. Taking the time to find out who the right point of
contact is at a company, their position and a bit of background information can make a big difference. A
generic “To Whom It May Concern” or a “Dear Sir/Madam” can show that the letter is generic and non-
specific. I will go into more detail about submitting your applications in Part 2 of this article, Applying For
Positions.
Next you should express your interest in their company (name the company) and if relevant, refer to the
advertised position you are applying for, including any reference number. This again personalises your cover
letter.

The next stage is to write a brief outline of your current status. i.e. you are a recent graduate looking to take
on their first position in a leading….etc. You should also write a brief background which should not just be a
carbon copy of your CV profile. Again, depending on who you apply to, this should be tailored to the target
company. For example, if you have some experience working on a high-rise project and the company you are
applying to has a high-rise specialism, make sure you include this. Less relevant would be to apply to this
company saying you have experience in transport schemes. Just try to tailor your experience to the company
you are applying to. It shows you have done your research.

Next highlight (briefly) the key skills and achievements from your CV. This could be a description of any
awards you have won and should also include your language proficiency if applicable.

That’s it! It should be fairly short, to the point and relevant to the company you are submitting the information
to. You can construct a standard format and tweak a couple of sentences here and there to fit each
application.

End the letter with something positive along the lines of “I look forward to hearing from you” or “I welcome the
opportunity to interview with you to discuss my experience in detail” and close the letter with “Yours sincerely”
if you find the name of the person to contact or “Yours faithfully” if you don’t.

In Part 2 I will give advice on putting together a portfolio and actually applying to positions. Part 3 will focus
on interviewing successfully as a graduate and how to handle the offer.
Assembling a Portfolio

In this section I will focus on putting together a portfolio. As a graduate, this is likely to be made up of around
90% university/education work and 10% practical experience. I think it’s important to keep the practical and
academic experience separated with the focus being on the work that YOU have undertaken as a designer.
As your career develops, the percentage of the portfolio that is academic based should decrease as the
practical/professional experience takes precedence.

Your university portfolio is in essence what shows a potential employer how you approach a design problem
and the design solution you come up with. Therefore it should be fairly detailed including work from earliest
design briefs and sketches through to more detailed drawings and any models constructed. It should tell the
story of a project and be easy to follow and most importantly show the employer your strengths and what you
could bring to their company. A lot of design portfolios simply include pretty 3D renderings of the final design.
These are important but only show a small part of the process you have completed. If you have spent a year
working on a design project, show a year’s worth of work. Compile the portfolio in reverse chronological order
starting with your most recent work first and working backwards. Include some written descriptions if
necessary but remember this is a visual tool. Also make sure you include any drawings you have done with
specialist software to reaffirm the information on your CV (e.g. Rhino, Maya, 3D Max, Environmental
Modelling Software)

A lot of people ask me here how big their portfolio should be in terms of amount of content. I am of the
opinion that you should almost take along too much work and then from your research prior to interview (and
feeling at interview) decide which parts of the portfolio you will spend most time on – if you take a large
portfolio, remember you don’t need to go through all of it, allow the interviewer to feedback and guide you if
you are unsure. I will go into more detail on presenting the portfolio during the Interviewing Successfully part
of this article to follow next week.

I am also asked how big physically the portfolio should be. I would say that 90% of the portfolios I see are A3
size. This is usually the easiest size to transport to and from interviews and is usually enough to present a
high enough level of detail. The best portfolios are those that are presented in a binder/folder and can be
flicked through like a book during interview. Take the time to organise the portfolio in a folder or bind it – there
is nothing worse than someone scrabbling through loose sheets of paper trying to find a drawing. And then
you have to reorganise it for every interview.
This leads on to whether you should show a hard copy (paper) portfolio or an electronic (PDF/Power
Point/etc) portfolio. I think that most companies still prefer to see hard copy printed portfolios. However, in the
age of more specialist software tools and 3D renderings it can be useful to have an electronic copy as well. If
you do take along an electronic portfolio I’d recommend taking your own laptop – an employer may not have
the ability to read a CD or USB memory stick in the interview room. Make sure the laptop is fully charged and
if necessary turned on when the interview starts. Organise the portfolio efficiently ideally into one
presentation file as a PDF or equivalent. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to locate an image in
the midst of hundreds of folders – it’s akin to sifting through a pile of loose papers as outlined above. It’s ok to
have some separate files to show, just make sure you can access them easily and quickly. For example you
may have created a video fly-through to show alongside your image portfolio.

Any work you have done at a design company should also be included in your presentation. After all, this
shows a client what you have actually done in a work environment previously. Don’t worry if you don’t have
lots to show here, you are not necessarily expected to. However, do make sure that if you have spent 6
months working for someone, you show that work. Any practical design drawings should again tell a story
where possible. Don’t just put in pretty 3D renderings of projects or completed photos, include working
drawings, technical designs, sketches, details and anything you think relevant. Yes, even include those toilet
details. The more you can present, the more the client can see the value you can add to their company.

Finally, once you have completed a portfolio ready to present at an interview, I highly recommend creating a
condensed, email-able selection of work samples to send with an initial application. This does not have to be
as extensive as the full portfolio but should give a flavour of your design experiences. I think that 10-20 PDF
pages/slides is more than sufficient and generally speaking try to keep this file size below 5MB so it can pass
through most email systems.

Applying for Positions

Now your CV, cover letter and portfolio are almost ready, it’s time to start applying for positions. The important
thing here is to take time to prepare before sending anything out. Make sure you speak to your fellow
graduates, tutors or anyone you know in the industry to understand where your skills may fit best and start to
decide the type of company you wish to work for. Most graduates I have met are fairly open to options which
is fine, but it is still worth generating a list of companies and putting together a plan of how to approach each
of them. The key thing about applying for positions is to make the recipient of your application feel like you
have specifically targeted them and the company personally over all others. Too many graduates (and
candidates in general) send out a load of generic applications hoping that quantity will win out over quality.
The truth is there are usually many more graduates looking for work than there are available positions so you
have to make your application stand out over all the generic ones. At this stage it is about getting your foot in
the door with a company and giving yourself the opportunity to meet someone face-to-face.

Once you have decided on the companies you wish to apply to it’s time to research. You should
systematically go through each company and try to find the correct point of contact to get your details across
to. This will usually involve going to company websites but information tends to be limited on these (usually to
keep us recruiters away!). The most effective way to get information is to call the company and ask for the
correct point of contact and their email address. This can be quite daunting but is well worth the effort. And
yes, there are some very good gatekeepers out there who will tell you to send your CV to a generic HR inbox
– don’t worry, be persistent (not pushy!) and keep researching. If you want to work for a company enough you
should be able to reach someone who can point you in the right direction.

Tip: If you can find out just one person’s email address in the company and know the name of the contact you
should be applying to, you can sometimes figure out your contacts email address. For example, if you know
someone called Joe Blogg’s working at a firm and know their email is jbloggs@design.com, you can quickly
see that your contact John Doe’s email is likely to be jdoe@design.com.

The reason for targeting your approach to someone specific is simple: A lot of companies HR inboxes can be
like black holes receiving scores of applications daily which are sometimes simply overlooked. The more
direct your approach is, the better you can navigate the HR black hole and again, get your foot in the door. In
essence, take a proactive approach.

The reason I have said things are almost ready above is because this is where you need to start
personalising things. Once you have a contact, you should personalise the cover letter and ensure the CV
and letter are tailored to the company you are applying to. If you are responding to an advert make sure to
include any reference numbers and follow instructions on the advert. If it asks you to quote something in the
email subject, quote it. If it asks you to submit an application in writing and by post only, post it. If it says to
include work samples no bigger than 3MB, don’t send your 5MB attachment. Not following instructions is the
easiest way to receive a rejection email or to not be considered.

Next, apply for the role. If by email, simply write a couple of lines stating you would like to apply for an
advertised position (quote reference numbers) or enquire about any available positions. DO NOT just copy
your cover letter into your email. It is sometimes ok to substitute your cover letter into a cover email but I think
it is best to attach a separate cover letter. Your email should be short and to the point and of course
addressed to the recipient. If applying by post, send in an A4 envelope with a signed cover letter and a print
out of your work samples.

It’s not quite over yet though. If you are applying to a lot of companies, it will be easy to lose track of what you
have done. Therefore I strongly recommend you keep a record of each application you have made and when
you made it. Being organised here allows you to complete the final step of the application procedure, the
follow up. If you have applied to a company and have not heard anything after a period of time (usually 5-7
days) it can be extremely beneficial to follow up your application. This can be by email but ideally should be
by calling the person you applied to. A simple “I wanted to see if you have had the chance to review my
application and have any feedback” will suffice and will highlight you as someone who is proactive and
enthusiastic. It also allows you to keep track of where your applications are. Remember though, be polite and
don’t be pushy. This should just be a quick follow up to put your application on their radar.

What I have outlined so far may sound like a long and complicated process but taking the time now to do
things right will give you the best possible chance to secure an interview. I would say that out of every 10
people that apply for a position, only 1 or 2 will make the necessary effort I’ve described. I’ll leave it to you to
figure out which of the 10 people will be asked to attend interview!
Interviewing Successfully

Having applied to positions you should hopefully start to hear back from companies and some may
request that you come along to attend an interview. Depending on location this could be a telephone or
video conference interview initially but I will focus the advice below assuming a face-to-face interview at
the offices of the company. As a graduate this may well be your first interview so it’s perfectly natural to
be nervous. This guide should help keep the nerves at a minimum.

Essentially an interview is your opportunity to prove to a company that you can firstly do the job and that
secondly you want the job. It is about giving the interviewer confidence in your ability whilst demonstrating
enthusiasm in the role and company. What you may lack in experience you make up for by showing you
are prepared and know about the company and position, demonstrating enthusiasm.

As a graduate it is likely that you won’t have lots of professional experience to talk through so you should
make sure you are fully prepared for the interview and show real enthusiasm. This means researching
everything you can about the company. Of course visit their website but go further – look up conferences
where employees have spoken, understand their history, look at their corporate information (financials
etc) and take the time to read up on key personnel. You want to walk into the office on the interview day
feeling confident you can cover most of the questions they may ask you about their company.

Once you have researched the company, make sure you practice the presentation of your experience and
portfolio. As mentioned in Part 2 of this article, try to tailor your presentation to the company you are
meeting. Don’t just practice reciting the whole portfolio, particularly if it is extensive. You have to keep the
interviewer engaged and talking for an hour about every drawing in the portfolio will most likely bore them.
As a rough guide, a one hour interview should usually encompass 30-40 minutes of time spent talking
through your portfolio so try to prepare for that. Pick out relevant projects which you think the interviewer
may find most interesting – they can always ask to see more. Doing this also shows you have done your
research and shows them you really want the job.

On the interview day, make sure your portfolio is in order, any laptop is charged and that you are
presentable. In the design industry it is incredibly hard to advise on dress code. As most of you know,
designers can be more casual than corporate so you do need to try and find out if possible what to wear.
Ask tutors and fellow students who may have interviewed at the company. If you know someone inside
they’re usually the best to ask. As a rule of thumb I would advise erring on the side of caution and
wearing a suit although a shirt (no tie), smart trousers and shoes can be ok. Luckily, designers are less
likely to judge on this aspect but do make sure you are presentable.

On arrival do all the usual in an interview and outlined in most guides – greet with a smile, firm
handshake, maintain eye contact, sit upright and maintain a positive attitude. Most importantly listen to
the interviewer. Interview formats will vary greatly from company to company but most will briefly
introduce the company before asking you some initial questions about your background (both personal
and professional) – this should put you at ease and then the interviewer will start to dig a bit deeper and
look through your portfolio. Listen carefully to questions and try to answer slowly and to the point – it’s
very easy to waffle on and get sidetracked. Present your portfolio confidently and try to gauge if they
would like to see more or less. Ensure you talk about YOUR experience and what YOU have done on
projects, both academic and professionally. They will start to build a picture of where you may fit in the
company and start to see you can do the job. Do show them what you may consider “boring” details or
technical drawings.

The interview will likely come to a close with the interviewer asking if you have any questions. I would
always have some prepared in advance and not just generic questions but detailed questions that really
show your enthusiasm and interest in the company. Use the opportunity to show off some of your
research e.g. “I noticed that you recently opened offices in X, Y and Z – do you have any plans to open
up other offices?”.

The interviewer may also ask you about salary here. Now this is incredibly hard to get right. It is easy to
overprice yourself or worse, undersell yourself. I often recommend a candidate pleads a little ignorance
i.e. you tell the interviewer you’re not certain of your market value but none-the-less are keen to see what
they may be able to offer in line with their current graduate intake.

At the end of the interview, again smile, give a firm handshake and ultimately thank the interviewer for
their time. Reiterate your interest in the role, even if you have some doubts following the interview. You
are much better off getting yourself an offer YOU can decide on rather than dismissing the opportunity at
interview. Ultimately let them know you look forward to hearing from them – they may outline the next
steps; further interviews, decision dates and the like.

Once home from the interview it is always worth sending the interviewer an email thanking them for their
time and again showing your interest and demonstrating your enthusiasm.
Accepting An Offer

By now you should have had an interview or two and start to receive feedback. The ideal scenario is that
your interviews have gone well and you now start to have firms contacting you with offers of employment.
Some companies may call to verbally offer you a position and talk through the details. Others may email
or post you an offer letter. Either way, take the time to understand the information outlined and what you
are being offered. Don’t be pushed into accepting a role on the phone if you are called with an offer – be
really positive and ask them to forward the offer letter/draft contract for you to review.

An offer should include details on job title, basic salary, any bonuses (discretionary or otherwise), holiday
entitlement, probation period and any other benefits (healthcare, insurances etc). It may have a
provisional start date which is nothing to be concerned about and can be confirmed or agreed at a later
date. Generally speaking a company will send an offer letter, by email or post, rather than a contract –
there will usually be somewhere for you to sign your acceptance and then a company would send a
contract for you to read/sign or have one ready for you to sign on your first day.

If you are unsure about anything, seek advice either from friends and tutors or don’t be afraid to ask the
company for clarification on anything you are unsure of. If you are not certain if the salary is at the right
level, again, ask the advice of people you know and try to benchmark where the offer stands in the market
in general. If you find it may be lower (and be careful here) you can go back and ask for an increase if you
are confident it is undervaluing you. Ideally you will have a couple of offers to consider alongside each
other so you can make an informed decision as to the best opportunity.

As a graduate it is unlikely there will be a great deal of information about the position you will take. This is
simply down to workloads being flexible and graduate candidates generally being assigned where needed
on projects. Therefore don’t be surprised if, when you receive an offer, the company is unable to go into
detail regarding the projects or team you may be joining. This is nothing to worry about and perfectly
normal in the design industry and most companies will quickly see where your strengths lie and position
you accordingly.

When considering an offer, take some time if you need to but not too long. Don’t forget there are generally
another 5-10 people in consideration for a graduate role, ready to step in if you decide to go elsewhere or
take too long deciding. If you are happy with a company and an offer by all means accept on the spot. If
you need to take a couple of days to make sure that you have all the offers available to you then do so.

Take into consideration the company and opportunity you are being offered. You may have an offer from a
big name design firm but think carefully about the type of experience you may get. Sometimes (although
certainly not always) you may take on a smaller role in a bigger design name. If you have offers which
you think may give you greater hands on exposure and learning potential but are not with a recognised
name, do seriously consider them as you can often develop through the next stages in your career more
quickly when compared to your peers. If you see the chance to work on a project from early concept right
through to completion then this is also very valuable graduate level experience to gain and will stand you
in good stead in the future.

Ultimately go with the option that feels right to you. Sometimes the place you enjoyed interviewing the
most may not have the biggest salary or best package but may be the place you’ll ultimately enjoy
working at the most, and this is equally important. Make the most of the first opportunity – there will be
many further career decisions to take in the future but everyone remembers their first job so enjoy it,
celebrate getting a new position and know that you have done extremely well to receive an offer/s of
employment.
 gsd career services
w w w . g s d . h a r v a r d . e d u /c a r e e r
Cover Letters and Other Job Search Correspondence
In addition to your resume, two other forms of business correspondence are necessary during your job
search: cover letters and thank you notes.

9 Cover letters serve to introduce you to a potential employer. Take this opportunity to state your
specific interest in a particular firm or organization and to highlight aspects of your background which
make you the best candidate for the job. This is your chance to direct the employer's attention to your
specific skills and abilities and to encourage a thorough reading of your resume. A well written cover
letter can result in a phone call for a personal interview.

9 Thank you notes are not only a matter of protocol and politeness, but also an opportunity to reiterate
your interest in the job. It is a second opportunity to highlight how you could contribute to the firm and
specific ways you would be of benefit to them. Send thank you notes within a few days of your
interview, via the postal service or email.

Some Basic Guidelines for all of Your Written Correspondence

• Personalize each letter as much as possible. Never send out a form letter. It can be easier to
prepare a template and then customize from there.

• Keep the letter brief and to the point, preferably three paragraphs. Remember that the reader
might just want to scan for important points.

• Address letters to individual people by name whenever possible (ensuring you have the
correct spelling). Take the time to call and find out the full name and title of the appropriate
person. Avoid "Dear Hiring Manager" or "To Whom It May Concern". If more than one person has
interviewed you, write separate thank you letters to each person. Send thank you letters by postal
mail or email.

• Avoid too many sentences beginning with the word "I". The focus should be on the firm or
organization. What skills and experiences do you have that will be of value?

• Communicate confidence and professionalism. Any written correspondence serves as a

reflection of you and your writing skills.

• Keep copies of all your written correspondence in an organized manner so that you can
easily refer to them when an employer calls.

Please see the following examples of cover letters, job acceptance and declining letters to help you get
started in drafting your own job search correspondence. Visit the Career Services Library in Gund 422
to review more samples in books such as:

¾ Winning Cover Letters by Robin Ryan

¾ Dynamic Cover Letters by Katharine and Randall Hansen, PhD
¾ Cover Letters that Knock ‘em Dead by Martin Yate

Bring your cover letter drafts to Career Services for feedback and fine tuning.
Please call 617-495-4296 or email career@gsd.harvard.edu to make an appointment.
We’re glad to help!
Guidelines for a Cover Letter

Date

Company contact
Title
Firm name
Street address
City, State, Zip code

Dear Mr./Ms.:

First paragraph
In your initial paragraph, state the reason for the letter, the specific position or type of work for which
you are applying and indicate from which resource (GSD Career Services, professor, alumnus/a) you
learned of the opening. Refer the reader to the enclosed resume or application that summarizes your
qualifications, training, experiences or whatever media you may be utilizing to present yourself.

Second paragraph
Indicate why you are interested in the position, the firm, the services they provide and, above all, what
you can do for the employer. If you are a recent graduate, explain how your academic background
makes you a qualified candidate for the position. If you had some practical work experience, point out the
specific achievements or unique qualifications. Try not to repeat the same information the reader will find
in the resume. Instead, highlight specific points related to that employer’s needs.

Final paragraph
In the closing paragraph, indicate your desire for a personal interview and your flexibility as to the time
and place. Repeat your phone number in the cover letter and offer in case your resume is separated.
Finally, close your letter with a statement or question that will encourage a response. For example,
state that you will be in the city where the firm is located on a certain date to set up an interview. You can
also ask if they desire additional information or references. Repeat your phone number in the cover letter
in case your resume is separated.

Sincerely yours,

Anna P. Student

[Don’t forget to sign the letter and enclose your resume.]

Sample Cover Letter (1)
These documents are to be used as examples only. It is recommended that you write a resume and cover
letter in your own words as fit your specific circumstances.

April 12, 2009

Mr. Recruiter
Director of Design
ABC Architectural Firm
One Boston Street
Boston, MA 02110

Dear Mr. Recruiter:

I will be graduating in June from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design with a
Post-Professional Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture. Your firm came to my attention through
Architecture Magazine’s profile of your most recent award for best low-income housing design. Enclosed
please find a copy of my resume for your review.

Professionally, I have been involved as a project assistant for the planning and implementation of large-
scale community developments throughout the Denver region. As a project manager I was responsible for
several community projects including Green Valley Ranch and Blue Rock Ranch. While in Dubai, UAE, I
worked on the design development for EI Basra Hotel and Resort Community, as well as for several other
resort projects.

Academically, I have focused on large-scale community projects as they relate to the issue of
sustainability. Currently, my work is focused on the Stapleton Redevelopment Project with Mark Johnson
of Civitas. In the studio, I have focused on how physical design can alter social behavior in differing
neighborhood block patterns. I have also explored alternative mixed-use patterns that further advance
sustainability on a social and economic level. In my previous semester, I was involved with a project
concerning regional issues of the Upper, Galilee, with Professor Carl Steinitz. The environmental,
economic, and cultural implications that a range of population and industrial growth trends could cause to
the region were the object of study in his studio class.

During the week of May 26th I will be visiting San Diego for a number of interviews. If possible, it would
be wonderful to meet with you to discuss job opportunities at your firm. I will call you during the week of
May 1st to inquire about your interest and to set up a convenient meeting time. Please let me know if you
would like to receive additional work samples prior to my stay in San Diego. I can be reached at (617)
555-yyyy or at me@gsd.harvard.edu.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,

Hannah P. Student
Sample Cover Letter (2)

March 1, 2009

William H. Roberts
Wallace, Roberts & Todd
260 South Broad Street, 8th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Dear Mr. Roberts:

Michael Van Valkenburgh is a critic for one of my landscape studios at the Harvard Graduate School of
Design. Through him, I learned that you are seeking a landscape designer with experience and interest in
urban design. I would very much like to be considered for this position. While at the GSD, I have taken
the opportunity to study some of your projects in greater detail. WRT's high standards in the design of
environmentally-sensitive projects that define and create our world are very impressive and inspire my
deep respect.

Enclosed you will find my resume and design sheets for your review. As you will see, after graduating
from Carnegie-Mellon in May of 2004, I spent one year as an intern at the Olmsted Center for Landscape
Preservation in Boston where I drew plans and perspective illustrations. My career at the GSD has
provided outstanding training in the large-scale planning of urban settings and has provided an integrative
approach to design as well. My capabilities with CAD design include 3D Studio Max, AutoCAD and
FormZ. Studio work has included a corporate-sponsored regional plan in the Upper Galilee in Israel with
Carl Steinitz and the Jersey City waterfront development proposal with Art Wrubell.

I look forward to the opportunity of meeting with you in person to review my portfolio and discuss how my
skills and experiences would be of interest your firm. During the week of March 20-25, I will be in
Philadelphia. I will telephone you to see if we might arrange for a meeting during that time. Please do not
hesitate to contact me if you require any additional information. I can be reached at 617-495-xxxx.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Harvey J. Student
Sample Thank You Letter

March 1, 2009

William H. Roberts
Wallace, Roberts & Todd
260 South Broad Street, 8th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Dear Mr. Roberts:

Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me yesterday to discuss your opening for the position
of landscape designer. Our meeting confirmed both my interest in your firm and my impression of WRT's
commitment to high standards and quality design.

Your explanation about the office culture and management was particularly helpful. I am excited about the
firm’s commitment to an interdisciplinary approach. My diverse experience working in teams at the GSD
while interning at the Olmsted Center have provided me with a solid foundation for this type of work
environment. I am confident that I could easily meet your expectations regarding new employees and look
forward to becoming a productive member of your team.

It was a pleasure interviewing with you. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Please contact me if
there is any additional information you may need. I can be reached at 617-495-xxxx.

Sincerely,

Jacob J. Student
Sample Acceptance Letter

May 12, 2009

Ms. Jane Smith

SOM
14 Wall Street, 25th Floor
New York, NY 10005

Dear Ms. Smith:

I am very pleased to accept your offer of a position as an Intern Architect at the annual salary of $xx,000.
I am very impressed with everyone I met during the interview process and I look forward to joining your
staff.

As we discussed, I will report for work on August 1st. During the next month, I will complete my move to
New York City and I hope to have some time to join my family for a vacation on the Cape. If you need to
contact me prior to August 1st, please contact me at (508) 222-xxxx.

Thank you for all of your effort to make the interviewing process such a pleasant experience. I am very
excited to have the opportunity to become a part of SOM.

Sincerely yours,

Jane M. Student
Sample Declining Letter

June 27, 2009

Mr. John Fulton

Gensler
1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 500
New York, NY 10020

Dear Mr. Fulton:

I was pleased that I was able to reach you by telephone this morning. Although I have declined your job
offer, I am grateful that you understand my decision and honored by the thought that I will always be
welcome at Gensler.

Everyone that I met at your firm was wonderful, which made this decision a very difficult one. As I stated
on the phone, I have accepted a position as an Intern Architect with SOM in New York.

I want to thank you again for all your help and support during my job search.

Best regards,

Jared T. Student

Access this handout and other GSD job search resources on the web at:
www.gsd.harvard.edu/professional/career_services/students
©GSD Career Services, August 2009