If you’re looking for someone to build a sandcastle, you can settle. If you’re hiring an architect for a building people will live and work in, good isn’t good enough. If you find a good architect, you’ll save money, time, and stress that you don’t need. This is true whether you’re hiring for your business or a personal project.
A good architect has the technical skills to design beautiful and structurally sound buildings. With good people skills, an architect can work together with clients, keep to schedules and budgets, and get along well with coworkers and contractors.
To find a good architect, you need to ask thoughtful interview questions that help you learn about their past jobs, skills, and professional values. So how do you find an architect who you can trust to take you from the plans to the finished building? Here are some important questions you can ask and some ideas about what they might say in response.
Finding the perfect architect for your project requires careful consideration and a thorough interview process. This guide delves into the top interview questions you should ask to assess a candidate’s hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills, ensuring you find the ideal fit for your team.
Hard Skills Technical Expertise and Software Proficiency
- What architecture software are you familiar with, and which are you most comfortable using?
- This question assesses the candidate’s technical knowledge and ability to utilize industry-standard software like AutoCAD, Vectorworks, or Revit. Familiarity with the programs your team uses is a plus, minimizing training time.
- What steps do you take to ensure a new building project meets code?
- This evaluates the candidate’s understanding of building regulations and their ability to ensure projects are compliant, minimizing costly errors and legal issues. Look for knowledge of local zoning laws, building codes, and meticulous attention to detail.
- Name a contemporary architect whose work you admire. What about it interests you?
- This reveals the candidate’s knowledge of architectural history and their design preferences. Look for mentions of specific styles, periods, or techniques, indicating a broad knowledge base. The candidate’s answer can also offer insights into their own design style.
Behavioral Intelligence Learning from Experience and Handling Challenges
- Tell me about your least favorite project in your portfolio. What did you learn from this experience?
- This question explores the candidate’s growth and ability to learn from past projects. Look for signs of improvement in technical skills and taste, and an acknowledgment of mistakes as learning opportunities.
- Tell me about a time when you had to interact with an unhappy client. How did you resolve the situation?
- This assesses the candidate’s client management skills and ability to address concerns effectively. Look for a client-centric approach, willingness to meet demands within reason, and strong customer service skills.
- Describe a time when you came up with an innovative solution to a problem you encountered at work. What was the result?
- This evaluates the candidate’s problem-solving skills and ability to think outside the box. Look for evidence of flexibility, adaptability, and a strategic approach to innovation, considering time and budget constraints.
Soft Skills Organization Leadership. and Passion
- How do you stay organized and track your projects?
- This assesses the candidate’s ability to manage multiple tasks and ensure project completion. Look for specific tools or processes they use to stay organized, indicating a value for professionalism and attention to detail.
- In your opinion, what makes a good leader in your field?
- This reveals the candidate’s leadership style and their ability to manage teams or collaborate with various stakeholders. Look for signs of trust in team members, willingness to delegate, and strong leadership qualities.
- Which projects of ours drew you to our organization?
- This assesses the candidate’s research and interest in your company. Look for familiarity with your portfolio, signs of inspiration from your projects, and excitement about joining your team.
Additional Resources:
- LinkedIn Talent Solutions: Learn how LinkedIn can help you find qualified architects.
- Related Job Titles: Explore other relevant positions like electrician, construction manager, or civil engineer.
By asking the right questions and carefully evaluating the candidate’s responses, you can identify the architect who possesses the necessary hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills to excel in your organization. Remember to tailor your questions to the specific requirements of the role and your company’s culture to ensure you find the perfect fit for your team.
Evaluate the Architect’s Hard Skills
Certain technical skills, or hard skills, will be necessary depending on your needs. Architects will first have to make plans and make sure that all state and local building codes are followed. An architect may also have to find new clients, manage relationships with current ones, set budgets and timelines for projects, and keep an eye on engineers and construction workers.
In the interview with the potential architect, ask them about the skills and methods they’ll need to do the job. For example,
- What computer-aided design (CAD) software have you used before? Have you worked with 3D modeling? It would be great if the candidate knew which software your company uses and could show off their 3D modeling skills to clients on their first day on the job. But a smart architect can pick up new skills and software quickly with a little help.
- How involved are you usually in the building process? Do you oversee the work on-site and keep track of the budget and schedule? The best answer to this question depends on what you need. Are you looking for someone to just draw the plans or someone who can oversee the whole building process? Ask them if they’d be willing to fill in the blanks.
- Tell me about three of your favorite projects from your portfolio. What was your plan? Look for someone who can clearly explain their projects and plan. Architects need to be able to talk to clients and coworkers about their plans and explain why they made the choices they did.
Ask the Architect Interview Questions That Showcase Their Soft Skills
An architect needs certain interpersonal skills, or soft skills, to be successful. An all-star architect is a strong communicator, a fast problem-solver, and can work independently and with a team. Also, they need to be responsible, trustworthy, and pay attention to details because a small mistake could lead to a big problem.
People who are applying for a job might say they have all of those soft skills and more, but do they really? To find out, ask behavioral interview questions that make them think about past jobs and projects and how they’d handle situations in this one.
Here are a few architect interview questions that show a candidate’s soft skills in action:
- Please tell me about a tough client you had to work with. That’s not good. You want to hire someone who is calm, professional, and doesn’t burn bridges all the time. A good answer would be something like, “I worked on a home renovation with a client who wanted to make a change that I knew could go wrong.” I helped them make a similar floor plan that would be safe for the building. ”.
- Who are your strengths and weaknesses according to past clients? Find someone who has the strengths you value most and who can talk about a real weakness (not that they are a perfectionist) and how they are working to improve it. They might be taking classes to learn new skills and tools, or they may have hired an assistant because they couldn’t spend as much time visiting clients as they used to when their business wasn’t so successful.
- What would you do if you thought you were going to go over budget? The first thing they should do is talk to their boss or the client about it right away. Next, they may suggest ways to lower the cost of the project, such as using different materials or just making small changes instead of a full gut rehab.
ARCHITECT Interview Questions And Answers! (How To PASS an Architecture Interview)
FAQ
What makes you the ideal candidate for this position as an architect?
What are your strengths and weaknesses in an architecture interview?
