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Resume example

Architect resume example

An architect in France moves a building project through a sequence of phases that every French client and contractor knows by their acronyms: sketch (ESQ), preliminary design (APS, APD), the building permit application, detailed design (PRO), tender documents (DCE), contractor selection, then site supervision and handover.

On a given week you might adjust a permit drawing after a meeting with the town planning department, update the BIM model, write part of the CCTP (technical specifications), and walk a site on Thursday morning to check a façade detail with the contractor. Much of the job is negotiation: between the client's budget, the local urban plan (PLU), thermal regulations (RE2020), accessibility rules and what the builders can actually deliver.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

Architect DE-HMONP | Housing and Public Buildings, from Permit to Handover

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

Registered architect (DE-HMONP) with [x] years in practice, leading housing and public facility projects from sketch to handover. Has managed public procurement competitions, written CCTP and DCE packages, and run site meetings with all trades. Experienced with RE2020 and ERP accessibility constraints.

Experience

Project Architect, [Practice name], [City]

[month year] to present

  • Led a [x]-unit social housing project from sketch to building permit, including consultation with the town planning department
  • Coordinated the BIM model with structural, MEP and acoustic consultants through weekly clash reviews
  • Wrote the architectural CCTP and assembled the tender package for [x] separate trade lots
  • Ran weekly site meetings, issued minutes and followed up non-conformities until handover
  • Prepared competition entries for public clients, including boards, renderings and the explanatory notice

Resume headlines

  • Architect DE-HMONP | Housing and Public Buildings, from Permit to Handover
  • Project Architect | BIM (Revit), Tender Documents and Site Supervision
  • Junior Architect | Concept Design, Permit Drawings and 3D Visualisation

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

Graduate architect (Diplôme d'État d'architecte), with internships in two practices working on collective housing and school extensions. Comfortable on Revit and AutoCAD, produced permit drawings and façade details, and attended weekly site meetings. Currently preparing the HMONP.

Experienced

Registered architect (DE-HMONP) with [x] years in practice, leading housing and public facility projects from sketch to handover. Has managed public procurement competitions, written CCTP and DCE packages, and run site meetings with all trades. Experienced with RE2020 and ERP accessibility constraints.

Career change

Former [previous job, for example structural engineer or interior designer] who completed the French architecture degree. Brings a solid grasp of construction costs and site realities, and now designs and documents residential projects in BIM, with a particular interest in renovation of existing buildings.

Tips

  • Organise each project by phase (ESQ to AOR) and say which phases you actually handled.
  • Show a portfolio link on the first page: French practices often read it before the resume.
  • Separate projects you designed from projects you only documented or drew.
  • State your legal status clearly: DE, DE-HMONP, or registered with the Ordre des architectes.
  • List software with your real level, especially Revit, which many practices now require.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Listing student projects with the same weight as built work.
  • Calling yourself « architecte » on a French resume before registering with the Ordre: the title is protected, so write « architecte DE » or « diplômé d'État » instead.
  • Forgetting the project budget and client type (private, social landlord, municipality).
  • Sending a heavy portfolio file instead of a short selection with a link.

Working as an architect in France

The title « architecte » is protected in France. To use it and sign as project architect (for example on building permits above the legal floor-area threshold), you must be registered with the Ordre des architectes, which requires the Diplôme d'État d'architecte plus the HMONP, or a recognised foreign qualification. EU diplomas are usually recognised under European rules; other diplomas go through a recognition procedure. Without registration, you can still work as an employee. Search for architecte, architecte DE, architecte chef de projet, collaborateur d'architecte or architecte BIM. Fluency in French and knowledge of French building codes (PLU, RE2020, ERP rules) matter as much as design skills.

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Frequently asked questions

What should my architecture portfolio include for a French practice?

Keep it to around a dozen pages: a few projects with plans, sections, one detail drawing and photos or renderings. Practices want to see technical drawings, not only images. Add the phase, your role and the client for each project. Send a light PDF and keep a full version ready for the interview.

Should I mention my HMONP status?

Yes, always. A practice reads « DE » and « DE-HMONP » very differently, because the HMONP allows you to sign as project architect and register with the Ordre. If you are preparing it, say so and give the expected date, since some practices support employees through it.

How do I present projects from another country?

Describe the building type, size and your phase of involvement, then translate the stages into French equivalents (concept, permit, tender, site). Mention the regulations you worked with. Recruiters mostly want to know whether you can take a project through French permit and tender procedures.