Architecture Cover Letter: Guide and Examples
It’s a dream come true. You’re graduating as an architect and the world is your oyster. Now all you need to do is secure a job. For that you’ll need a resume and an architecture cover letter.
However, nothing is as easy as it seems and if you’ve never written a cover letter before you might need a little guidance. That’s where we come in.
Today we’ll show you exactly how you write an architecture cover letter that will land you a job.
Here’s what we’ll go through:
- Architecture cover letter examples
- What is an architecture cover letter?
- How to write the perfect architecture cover letter
- Actionable tips for your architecture cover letter
Here we go.
Architecture cover letter examples
Below are two architecture cover letters you can use for your own cover letter. The first one is for a regular architecture job as a junior architect and the second one is for an architecture internship.
Architecture cover letter for junior position
Carlos Davis
20 E. Magnolia Street
Woodside, NY 11377
August 20, 2021
Alice Thomson
Delta Architecture
Dear Alice
As a commercial architect based in NYC I was thrilled when I saw your opening for the junior architect position. My previous architecture experience has sharpened both my design skills and teamwork skills and I am confident that I can put my experience to good use at Delta Architecture.
During my 2 years as an architect intern at Big Company Design I learned and developed skills such as commercial building codes, safety regulations, and the financials involved in construction. All skills that will benefit your company.
My achievements from my time at Big Company Design include:
- Consultation with clients regarding design requirements, project site and budget resulting in 2 signed contracts for major projects (worth $15,800,000+ each)
- Assisting CEO in creating design and blueprint drawings for 2 major projects
- Assisting CEO in coordinating the building process for 2 major projects
I take great pride in what I do whether it’s in assisting my CEO with practicalities or whether it’s completing blueprint drawings or catching up on the latest safety regulations. If given the chance I would put that same work ethic and enthusiasm into the position at Delta Architecture.
I would welcome the chance to meet with you in person to discuss Delta Architecture’s upcoming projects and plans and share how my knowledge and skills will be of use for you.
Sincerely,
Carlos Davis
P.S. I see in your newsletter that you are planning on moving into the Hispanic market. As I am half Mexican I am sure my Spanish skills will come in handy if you decide to move forward with me.
Cover letter for architecture internship
Charlie Leigh
1178 Williams Avenue
New York, NY 10001
August 20, 2021
Alice Thomson
Delta Architecture
Dear Alice
As a recently graduated architect based in New York I felt it was destiny when I saw your opening for the position as an architect intern. As an architecture student I have acquired the latest knowledge within preparation of work drawings, schedules and architectural specifications. I would love to put these skills to use at Delta Architecture.
During my time at NYU I learned and developed many skills and abilities that will fit perfectly into the architect intern role at Delta Architecture. I have made sure to gain real life experience by assisting my professor, John Thomson, with his projects through the past 2 years. This has provided me with a great starting point for launching my career. Among other assignments I have been producing design and construction documents for the environmental design of several projects.
My accomplishments during my time at NYU include:
- Collaborated with Lead Architect on 4 different 3D Revit models
- Completed and evaluated 4 RFIs
- Planned and executed the data strategy and schedule based on Revit’s model
- Developed designs for both commercial and residential spaces
As you can see my accomplishments align very well with the job description for the architect intern position. If I am given the opportunity to prove myself and my skills at Delta Architecture I am sure I will be able to fill the role to your satisfaction.
I would welcome the chance to meet with you in person to discuss Delta Architecture’s upcoming projects and plans and share how my knowledge and skills will be of use to you.
Sincerely,
Charlie Leigh
P.S. I was chosen valedictorian of my year at NYU because of my dedication to classes and extracurricular activities such as my time spent with Professor Thomson. I am looking forward to bringing that same level of passion for my work to you at Delta Architecture.
What is an architecture cover letter?
Before diving into how you go about writing a strong architecture cover letter we’ll need to get a general idea of what a cover letter is and why it’s important to your job search.
A cover letter is the first impression the hiring manager gets of you. She has probably already read your resume - your cover letter is the icing on the cake. It’s here you show your voice, your ability to communicate, and you demonstrate how you plan to add value to the company. Do not repeat the information from your resume. Your cover letter is supposed to show how you’ll fit into the culture of the company. Include extra details about how you work, who you are, what your values are, your work ethics and so on.
How to write the perfect architecture cover letter
Your cover letter is built up with just a few, but important, paragraphs. The ideal cover letter format for your content is this:
- A personal salutation
- Your opening paragraph
- Why you’re the perfect match for the job
- Why the company is the perfect fit for you
- Ending paragraph with a call to action
- Complimentary close
- Optional: a postscript (p.s.)
Let’s go through each section together.
A personal salutation
This one is pretty straightforward: start your architecture cover letter with their name. That’s it.
Here’s how you do that:
Architecture cover letter example - salutation
“Dear Alice”
Nailed it!
If you don’t have the name of the hiring manager you can try to search their website or check Linkedin. If it’s not possible to find a name an alternative is “Dear Hiring Manager”. This is still way better than “To whom it may concern”.
Your opening paragraph
Next up is your opening paragraph. You need to hook the reader and get them excited about you. It can be difficult to get the angle right so here are some tips for you:
- Show your enthusiasm for the position
- Highlight a common connection
- Express passion for your industry
- Start out with your values
Architecture cover letter example - opening paragraph
“As a commercial architect based in NYC I was thrilled when I saw your opening for the junior architect position. My previous architecture experience has sharpened both my design skills and teamwork skills and I am confident that I can put my experience to good use at Delta Architecture.”
Your middle paragraph(s)
This is where you show why you’re the perfect match and that you want to work for them specifically. Make sure to sell your skills and experiences from your resume. Add your best results and quantify them but make sure they’re tailored specifically to the job ad.
If you find it difficult to nail this part, perhaps the STAR method can help you. This provides a structure for your cover letter that lets the employer know exactly what you can do for them.
Architecture cover letter example - middle paragraph(s)
“During my 2 years as an architect intern at Big Company Design I learned and developed skills such as commercial building codes, safety regulations, and the financials involved in construction. All skills that will benefit your company.
My achievements from my time at Big Company Design includes:
- Consultation with clients regarding design requirements, project site and budget resulting in 2 signed contracts for major projects (worth $15,800,000+ each)
- Assisting CEO in creating design and blueprint drawings for 2 major projects
- Assisting CEO in coordinating the building process for 2 major projects
I take great pride in what I do whether it’s in assisting my CEO with practicalities or whether it’s completing blueprint drawings or catching up on the latest safety regulations. If given the chance I would put that same work ethic and enthusiasm into the position with Delta Architecture.”
Your ending paragraph
Your ending paragraph is where you wrap things up nicely and put a little bow on your cover letter. Don’t just end it by stating you hope to hear back from them.
Instead, end it with a little call to action that makes the hiring manager want to re-read your resume and give you a call.
Architecture cover letter example - ending paragraph
“I would welcome the chance to meet with you in person to discuss Delta Architecture’s upcoming projects and plans and share how my knowledge and skills will be of use for you.
Sincerely,
Carlos Davis”
Optional: a postscript
Adding a postscript (a P.S.) is a great way of getting noticed and to add in a little extra oomph to your architecture cover letter. It’s eye-catching, it provides a personal touch, and it makes you memorable. Just make sure it’s relevant to the company and that it’s not a repetition of anything you’ve already told them.
Architecture cover letter example - postscript
“P.S. I see in your newsletter that you are planning on moving into the Hispanic market. As I am half Mexican I am sure my Spanish skills will come in handy if you decide to move forward with me.”
8 actionable tips for your architecture cover letter
Summing up we’ve collected 8 actionable tips for you to get you started on your architecture cover letter in the best possible way.
- Keep your cover letter to one page - the ideal length is 2-300 words depending on your level of experience.
- Tailor your cover letter precisely to the job position at hand
- Use keywords from the job ad to align yourself with the company’s wishes for a candidate
- Use the hiring manager’s name in the opening salutation
- Add 2-3 tailored bullet points that show your results - quantify them
- Finish with a call to action that will make them want to call you at once
- Add a postscript to make a powerful impact
- Proofread more than once
Now that you know all there is to know about architecture cover letters it’s time to create your own.
PS. If you want to know how to utilize AI for you cover letters, check out this article.
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