"Confidentally, but casually" Ann Lau, Hayball

What CV advice would you give a candidate?

It is important to represent your skills and experience in a very clear format. We also welcome people following up with their applications. Enable us to see something specific about yourself.

What makes a candidate stand out? 

We are a design practice, we focus on design, so part of your CV should actually say what role you play in relation to design. A well-written cover letter and interesting, succinct design experience is important. 

What makes a good first impression? 

We prefer our candidates to dress confidently, but casually. They should also represent who they are, within a professional, creative environment. Don’t be afraid to show your personality either. Most architects tend to wear black, I’m actually more or less in charcoal or black because it is easy. However, if you are fond of a more relaxed style, or a more colourful one, wear whatever as long as it reflects your personality. First impressions are also about how you are as a person, sometimes interviews are almost like a performance, but we want to be able to see your authentic view and authentic interest in your work as an architect. 

What questions should people ask?

A question that we encourage our applicants to ask is what our culture is like and for more information about how we work as architectural professionals. 

Can you tell us something interesting about your practice? 

Diversity is important. We have almost 30 different nationalities and over 30 languages spoken in the office by different ethnic groups. We are a welcoming practice and we also value learning. As a learning organisation, continuous learning is something that would emerge in our practice.