Activities, Leadership, and Awards
This section rounds out your resume by showing engagement beyond the studio and the office. Hiring managers look for evidence that you are invested in the profession, can lead within a team, and seek growth opportunities outside of required coursework.
Professional Organizations
Membership and active participation in professional student organizations signals commitment to the discipline. The most relevant organizations for architecture and landscape architecture students include:
- AIAS. American Institute of Architecture Students
- ASLA Student Chapter. American Society of Landscape Architects
- NOMAS. National Organization of Minority Architects
- USGBC Students. U.S. Green Building Council student membership
- Tau Sigma Delta. Architecture and Allied Arts Honor Society
For each organization, list your role (Member, Secretary, President, etc.) and the dates of involvement. If you held a leadership position, add a single bullet point describing what you accomplished in that role.
Design Competitions
Competition entries demonstrate initiative and ambition beyond coursework. Include competitions even if you did not win. Acceptable descriptors include "Participant," "Semifinalist," "Finalist," or "Winner." Name the competition, the sponsoring organization, and the year.
PRO TIP: If your competition entry was a team project, clarify your role. "Team of 4. Responsible for site analysis and planting design" is more informative than just listing the competition name.
Community Engagement and Design-Build
Volunteer work related to the built environment carries real weight. Community design-build projects, Habitat for Humanity builds, neighborhood planning charrettes, and public space activations all demonstrate that you understand design as a social practice, not just an academic exercise.
Teaching and Mentorship
Teaching assistantships, peer tutoring in software or design studios, and mentoring underclassmen all show leadership and communication skills. These experiences are especially relevant if you are applying to firms that value mentorship culture.
Awards and Honors
Include dean's list designations, design awards, departmental honors, scholarships related to architecture or landscape architecture, and any juried exhibitions where your work was selected. Keep entries brief: Award name, granting organization, date.
KEY INSIGHT: This section should be concise. Typically 4 to 8 lines. Do not pad it with every club you ever joined. Include only activities where you contributed meaningfully or that are directly relevant to the profession.