How to Improve Your Architect Resume
The average Architect resume scores just 50% on ATS. The pass threshold is typically 70%. That gap is almost entirely caused by fixable, structural mistakes — not lack of experience. This guide shows you exactly what they are and how to fix each one.
Average score
50%
You need to close a 20-point gap
The 6 mistakes below are responsible for most of this gap in Architect resumes. Fixing them is straightforward — no extra experience needed.
Target score
70%+
6 Most Common Architect Resume Mistakes
Each mistake below is drawn from analysis of thousands of Architect resumes. For each, you'll see what the mistake looks like and exactly how to fix it.
"Architecture experience" without software stack — Revit vs. AutoCAD vs. ArchiCAD are separate ATS filters
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like AutoCAD and Revit appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
Missing LEED or sustainability credentials — green building keywords dominate modern JDs
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like Revit and BIM appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
No licensure mention — "Licensed Architect," "NCARB certified," or "ARE passed" are binary filters
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like BIM and SketchUp appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
Project scope absent — square footage, project value, and building type signal seniority
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like SketchUp and Rhino appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
No BIM proficiency — Building Information Modeling is the baseline expectation for all mid-level+ roles
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like Rhino and ArchiCAD appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
Code compliance vague — citing specific building codes (IBC, local amendments) strengthens keyword match
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like ArchiCAD and LEED appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
Step-by-Step Architect Resume Improvement Checklist
Work through these steps in order. Each step typically adds 3–8 points to your ATS score.
Check your current ATS score
Upload your resume to GetShortlisted and run a baseline score check against a target job description.
Fix formatting issues
Remove tables, text boxes, headers/footers, and graphics. Save as a clean .docx or .pdf without embedded objects.
Standardise section headings
Rename non-standard headings: e.g., "Where I've Worked" → "Work Experience", "What I Know" → "Skills".
Tailor keywords to the JD
Mirror the job description's exact wording. Add missing high-priority keywords (AutoCAD, Revit, BIM) into your bullets.
Rewrite weak bullet points
Add action verbs, specific outcomes, and numbers. Use the examples on our Resume Examples page as reference.
Optimise your professional summary
Include your job title, years of experience, 2 core keywords, and one quantified achievement in the first 3 lines.
Re-run your ATS score check
Verify your score has crossed the pass threshold. Repeat targeted keyword additions until you hit your target.
How ATS Evaluates Architect Resumes
Architecture firms filter heavily on software proficiency — Revit and AutoCAD are near-universal requirements, while specialised firms add Rhino, Grasshopper, or ArchiCAD. LEED accreditation (LEED AP, LEED GA) is a high-weight keyword for sustainability-focused practices. Licensure status (Registered Architect, ARE, NCARB) functions as a binary filter for project-lead roles. Building type experience (healthcare, hospitality, residential) is also ATS-filtered at specialised practices.
Common ATS systems used for Architect roles in Architecture & Design: Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, Workday, BambooHR.
Score Improvement Roadmap
Here's what typical scores mean for your job search as a Architect:
Excellent
75–100: Licensed, BIM-proficient, LEED credentialed, project scope quantified with $ and sq ft
Good
58–74: Software and project type clear, missing licensure or sustainability keywords
Average
40–57: General architecture background without tool specificity or certifications
Needs Work
Below 40: Will not pass ATS filters at any mid-to-large architecture practice
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Architect resume failing ATS?▾
The most common reasons Architect resumes fail ATS are: missing critical keywords that appear in the job description, non-standard section headings that ATS cannot parse, tables or graphics that obscure plain text, and experience bullets without measurable results. The average Architect resume scores 50% — well below the 70% threshold most ATS systems use to filter candidates.
What ATS score do I need as a Architect?▾
For Architect roles, you need an ATS score of at least 70% to reliably pass initial screening filters. The average Architect resume only scores 50%, meaning most candidates are filtered out before any human sees their application. Scores above 70% give you the best chance of interview invitations.
How long does it take to improve a Architect resume for ATS?▾
Most Architect resume improvements can be made in 20–40 minutes with the right tool. The highest-impact changes — tailoring keywords to the specific job description and rewriting weak bullet points — take the most time but deliver the biggest score jump. Using an AI-powered tool can compress this to under 10 minutes.
More Tools for Architects
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