Hiring architects

While some architects still use paper and pencil to draw up blueprints, most use computer-assisted design (CAD) and building information modeling (BIM) technology for their drawings. The candidate doesn’t need to have experience using every architecture software program, but ideally they’ll be able to use a few.

Architects have to make sure their projects are not only safe for occupancy but also compliant with local laws and regulations. Having a candidate who is familiar with building regulations and takes appropriate precautions while planning and executing a project will minimize costly errors and legal hurdles down the road.

A well-qualified candidate will be attuned to developments in the architectural field and be familiar with influential figures and their styles. How they answer this question will provide insight into their understanding of architectural history and a glimpse into the styles the candidate may gravitate toward in their own work.

In a creative field like architecture, it’s expected that a professional’s architectural style will evolve over time. The candidate’s answer to this question can provide insight into how they’ve honed their technical skills as they’ve moved further along in their career and the ways in which they may be hoping to grow in the future.

For the most part, architecture is a client-based field. Architects aren’t designing for themselves or the firms they work for but the clients who will be occupying or selling the building. It’s important that the candidate has the problem-solving and interpersonal skills necessary to appease the clients’ worries and meet their demands for the sake of business.

In building and construction, unforeseen issues pop up regularly. It’s helpful to have a candidate who’s capable of pivoting on the spot, devising creative solutions, and overcoming obstacles on the job. What’s more, the ability to think up innovative approaches can lead to ground-breaking, original design work.

On any given project, architects have a number of moving parts to oversee. From ensuring that local code and regulations are met to checking in on construction periodically, the responsibilities of the job can quickly become overwhelming for someone who’s not organized, causing important tasks to fall by the wayside. As such, a candidate with good organizational skills is key.

Depending on the role, the candidate may have to manage a team of contractors, or work alongside the municipality’s building department, engineers, expeditors, subcontractors, and other professionals to complete a project. Their answer to this question can provide insight into how the candidate likes to be managed by supervisors, how they manage others, and their collaboration style.

Before the interview, the candidate should have thoroughly researched your organization and made sure it’s a good fit for their career path. If they aren’t familiar with a few of your projects, they won’t know whether their architectural style aligns with your team’s and they may encounter a disconnect between the work they’d like to be doing and the opportunities your organization can provide.