GRAYLING THOMAS

Student Portfolio Workshops

Stand Out When Applying for Graduate Architecture Jobs - Portfolio, CV, and Application Support Designed by Practising Architects.

Getting your first role in architecture after university is tough.

The UK market for graduate architecture jobs and internships is highly competitive, and many talented Part 1 and Part 2 students struggle to secure interviews. The reason? Portfolios, CVs, and applications often don’t reflect what employers are actually looking for.

Our Student Portfolio Workshops are designed to bridge that gap. As a practising architecture firm, we know exactly how recruiters think and what makes an application stand out. These workshops give you the insider knowledge and practical skills to confidently move from university into professional practice. If you’ve been searching for “how to get a job in architecture” or “how to stand out when applying for architecture jobs,” this is the place to start.

What You’ll Gain

These workshops are built specifically for students and graduates who want to:

Learn how to get a job in architecture after university
Build a portfolio that gets noticed by employers
Strengthen CVs and applications tailored for UK architecture firms
Gain insider advice from practising architects
Feel confident stepping into a competitive graduate architecture jobs market

The Two-Day Portfolio Optimisation Course

Our most popular workshop is the Portfolio Optimisation Course, an intensive two-day programme designed to transform your portfolio from student-level to employer-ready.

You’ll get:

Insights into what makes a strong, professional architecture portfolio
Paired discussions to identify gaps and omissions
Optimised portfolio working sessions with feedback
One-to-one portfolio reviews with practising architects
Group critique and finalisation session

This course ensures your portfolio showcases your abilities in the way employers want to see them.

"I found the insights to be very helpful, given the fact that I was receiving one-to-one advice from an architect outside of a university setting. It is very rare to be given an opportunity like this, and I'm very thankful for Grayling Thomas Architects' patience and guidance."- Angelica, Architecture Graduate

Why Choose Us?

Unlike general university career services, this is built by a working architecture practice. We know exactly what architecture practices look for when hiring graduates. By joining, you’ll not only improve your portfolio but also gain the confidence and competitive edge needed to secure interviews and land your first job.

Our workshops are led by Andrew, an architect with over 20 years of professional practice experience.

"As a former RIBA Awards Judge and RIBA Student Mentor, I’ve spent years reviewing architecture projects and supporting students as they prepare for practice. This experience gives me unique insight into what architecture practices look for when hiring graduates and how portfolios are assessed in the real world."- Andrew Thomas, Senior Architect

Optional Four-Week Remote Internship

For students who want to go further, we offer an optional internship to build portfolio-ready material and gain real-world experience:

Work on live studio projects and add missing skills to your portfolio
Weekly check-ins with feedback from practising architects
Create portfolio content designed to stand out when applying for architecture jobs
Personalised one-to-one tutoring to sharpen applications and CVs