Architects are primarily responsible for creating designs for commercial and residential construction projects. The architectural field is highly competitive, with jobs usually requiring applicants to go through a lengthy application process. Alongside a strong resume and portfolio, a strong architecture cover letter is a great way to boost the impact of your application and land you in the next stage of the application process!
Essentially, an architect cover letter is a one-page letter that summarizes your skills, experience, education, and other qualifications that make you the ideal candidate for a job. A strong architect cover letter should go beyond rewriting your resume in a letter format and should instead use the space to elevate the content of your resume and form a connection with your employer.
Writing an architect cover letter can be a challenge, but it is worth the time as it can give you the edge against your competition. This article will break down the parts of an architect cover letter, and provide some key tips and tricks that you can use to take yours to the next level! We will also provide some sound samples and an architect cover letter template at the end to give you some perspective for writing your own.
Let’s begin by going over some great examples of architecture cover letters!
Josie Summers
Architecture Associate
1111 Front Drive
Las Vegas, NV 19282
112-345-7788
[email protected]
November 1, 2022
Christopher Hughs
Hiring Manager
Arkitek
22 Back Street
Las Vegas, NV 12445
I am writing to express my interest in the Senior Architect position at Arkitek. With 12 years of experience in the architecture and design industry, I believe that my skills and experience make me an ideal fit for the position and can be applied to bring immediate value to your company.
I hold a master's degree in Structural Engineering and Architectural Design. Your job description indicates that your company is looking for an individual that is experienced in both design and project management. Over the course of my career, I have been able to acquire these qualities, alongside developing a high level of professionalism and creative attention to detail. Some of my key professional accomplishments include:
Please take a moment to review my attached resume and portfolio. I look forward to jumping on a call with you and describing in greater detail how my skills and experience will bring value to your company. I can be contacted at any time via my email [email protected], should further clarifications be required. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Dear Mrs. Summers,
As an undergraduate Architect student, I was ecstatic to come across your internship opportunity as it appears to perfectly align with my personal and professional developmental objectives. I believe that my skills and qualifications make me an ideal candidate for the Intern position and will bring immediate value to your company.
As a senior at the top of his class, I have applied myself to learn everything about the rapidly advancing field of architecture. I am most interested in your digital design department, which I have heard focuses heavily on teaching and using the latest architectural software to generate designs at faster rates. I am experienced in design software such as AutoCAD and CATIA and have extensive technical knowledge in designing interiors and exteriors for commercial and residential builds.
Coupled with my aforementioned qualifications, I believe that my collaborative and team-oriented work ethic are strong contributors to my candidacy for this internship program. I am confident that my creativity and meticulous attention to detail will aid me in excelling in this program.
Please take a moment to review my resume and recommendations. Should you need further documentation or clarification, I can be contacted at any time via my phone number 123-456-7890. I eagerly anticipate sitting down with you to sit and discuss precisely how my acceptance into this program will be mutually beneficial to your company and the development of my professional skill set. Thank you for your consideration.
As a recent graduate holding a bachelor’s degree in Architecture, I wish to professionally enter my field of study and apply all that I have learned. The junior architect position at your company, as described in your job listing, appears to be perfectly aligned with my immediate professional objectives.
During my studies, I vigorously applied myself to excel in every area of my studies. I worked as an intern for a leading Chicago architectural company, where I was assigned to a mentor who guided and provided me with experience that allowed me to learn a critical skill set, including software such as AutoCAD and CATIA and technical knowledge in the designing interior and exteriors for commercial and residential builds. During this time, I also built a strong team-based work ethic and a keen eye for detail. I am confident that these qualities, coupled with my creativity and professional skill set will allow me to meet and exceed the demands of this position.
Please take a moment to review my resume and recommendations. I can be contacted at any time via my email address, [email protected], or my phone number, 443-405-3440, should further documentation or clarification be required. I look forward to sitting down with you to sit and discuss how my skills and knowledge can be applied to add value to your company. Thank you for your consideration.
Writing a strong architecture cover letter can be simple! This section will break down the structure of an architecture cover letter and provide everything you need to know!
A complete architect cover letter will have the following parts! Make sure that you include all of them, as each section contributes unique and essential information to your overall cover letter!
A complete cover letter header should be used in an architect's cover letter, at all times. Generally speaking, your architect's cover letterhead should follow the standard letterhead format. This includes your name and contact information, as well as the name and contact information of the hiring manager or employer to whom you are writing.
A good way to boost the effectiveness of your architect cover letter in the context of connecting with your employer is to personally address your letter at every available instance. On your letterhead, for example, taking the time to find out the information of your addressee and personally writing to them helps to form a connection from the get-go!
Similar to the cover letterhead, the salutation of your architect's cover letter should be personally addressed whenever possible. Formal salutations are the way to go in an architect cover letter, and here are some great examples!
In the event you are unable to source the name of your addressee, these nonspecific salutations are also great!
The opening paragraph of your architect cover letter should briefly introduce and describe why you want the job. Remember, your architect cover letter is an extension of your personality and life experiences, so personalize this as much (or as little) as you feel is necessary!
The body paragraphs of your architect cover letter are where you sell yourself. This section details your architectural experiences and qualifications and forms the link between your cover letter and your resume.
The closing paragraph of an architecture cover letter wraps up the entire letter and includes a strong call to action that demonstrates your proactivity as a candidate.
Finally, all architect cover letters sign off formally, in a similar fashion to your salutation. Here are some examples of how to do this:
In the introductory paragraph of your architect cover letter, succinctly describe yourself and your intentions for applying to the position. For some context, some good information to add to the introduction of your architect cover letter includes your years of experience, a key qualification you have, your interest in the position, and ways you can add value to the company.
To illustrate our point, here is an example paragraph from an architecture intern's cover letter.
I am writing to express my interest in the Intern position at your architecture firm. I am a junior in the architecture department at X University, and I wish to gain hands-on experience in the craft I am preparing to enter.
In the next paragraph of your architect cover letter, form a connection with your resume by explaining your background and qualifications in the context of the position you are applying for. Your architect cover letter should always aim to explain exactly how you can benefit the company.
Here is an example from a junior architect's cover letter to illustrate this point:
Your job description indicates your desire for successful candidates to have a creative mind and two years of hands-on experience in the industry. Since my sophomore year, I have interned at another distinguished firm where I was mentored by senior Architects in the practical conceptualization, design, and production of 27 residential homes. Three years later, I believe that this experience, coupled with my strong academic background, has equipped me with the necessary skills to meet and exceed the demands of this position.
Build on the description of your achievements in your architect cover letter by elaborating on the skills you have gained throughout them.
Cover letters for architect positions have a broad hard and soft skill set, so specifically including skills desired by the company is key! Don’t forget to consult the JD at every step!
Here is an example of how you can illustrate your skills through your achievements. In this case, we are taking an excerpt from a standard application letter for an architecture job.
In my previous position, in addition to my standard obligations as a project manager for several large commercial projects, I founded an in-company program to teach the latest architectural software to interested parties, which not only increased employee satisfaction by 45% but increased our overall efficiency by 70% through fully electronic mapping and planning in AutoCAD and Revit LT.
Pro tip: although hard skills are a great metric for your potential as a candidate, it is usually not enough. Remember, you are working in a team! Including some soft skills that balance out your professional character will boost your architect cover letter greatly!
In the final section of an architect cover letter, restate your excitement for the job and express enthusiasm in hearing back from them at their earliest convenience. Finally, end your letter by thanking the hiring manager/employer for their time.
Thank you for your time and evaluation. I have attached my resume and portfolio, at your request, for your perusal. I eagerly look forward to sitting down with you to further discuss this exciting opportunity.
It’s your turn! Use this architect cover letter template as a guide to writing your own!
[Your name]
[Your job title/position] (if any)
[Your home address]
[Your email address]
[Your telephone number]
Date
[Name of Employer]
[Job title of Employer]
[Company name] (if applicable)
[Company/home address]
Dear [Mr./Ms./Mrs.][Employer’s last name],
I am writing to express my interest in the [position title] at [company/firm]. [Include a brief reason for your candidacy]. This makes me an ideal candidate for this position and will add immediate value to your firm.
Over the course of my [years of experience] career, I have [elaborate on a few highlights of your career]. Some key accomplishments of my career include:
I believe that my [1-2 soft skills], coupled with my proven [hard skills or experiences], have equipped me with the necessary tools that will allow me to excel in this position.
Please take a moment to review my resume and portfolio. I can be contacted at any time through my [email and telephone information]. [Thank the employer for reading your letter]. [Include a call to action].
[Signature]
[Your full name]
For the aspiring interns out there, this section is especially for you! Here are some key tips on how to write an architecture internship cover letter.
Skills are essential in an architecture internship cover letter, especially since you are probably lacking professional experience. Here are some useful skills to include in your cover letter.
Examples of Hard Skills to include in an architecture cover letter
Examples of Soft Skills to include in an architecture cover letter:
Do your best to connect with your employer in your architecture internship cover letter. A good way to do this is by conducting research on a past project done by the company and mentioning it in your letter.
Example: I was drawn to your company in particular based on my admiration for the 123 Street apartment building project. Your use of texture and color to accentuate the dimensions of the building stood out as unique to me, and I wish to learn from a firm whose work I admire so much.
Ensure that all the parts of your architecture internship cover letter are included! Refer to the previous sections for reference when writing.
Throughout your architecture internship cover letter, demonstrate that you are genuinely interested in the field and position. Firms looking to hire interns want to invest in those who show passion for their work because it will yield a stronger experience for them, as opposed to an individual simply looking to complete a degree or earn some pocket money.
Make sure that you attach all the documents requested by the employer alongside your architect intern cover letter. Typically, employers will ask interns to submit a resume, portfolio, and 1-2 recommendations, depending on the exact nature of the internship
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Choosing where you do an internship and what you do it in is a critical step in the application process. Consider which firm you want to apply to and why you want to apply. Then, tailor your architect intern cover letter, especially towards that reason!
And there you have it! Remember, a well-written architect cover letter can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection in this highly competitive industry. Here are some key takeaways that you should keep in mind when writing your architect cover letter:
Ensure that you include an updated resume and portfolio alongside your architect's cover letter! Cake is the best free online resume builder that compile and consolidate all these documents in one place!
--- Originally written by Alexander Coye ---