Here's how you can impress with your portfolio in an interview.

My top tips - Curate your portfolio like a presentation for a client, display yourself as a creative across the pages rather than just the projects you have completed. - Tell the story of the project, show the process, from the genesis of where the big idea came from alongside the ideas from the cutting room floor to the final polished collateral, avoid starting with the photos finished built, printed, made elements.

Customize your portfolio to align with the specific job role and company culture you are applying for. Highlight projects and skills that directly relate to the job requirements.

Tailoring the portfolio for maximum impact in an interview involves customizing it to align precisely with the specific job you are applying for, thereby showcasing projects that highlight your most relevant skills and experiences. Therefore, emphasize on those projects that directly correlate with the role's requirements, demonstrating your expertise in critical areas. Additionally, ensure that the portfolio reflects a diverse range of projects that illustrate your versatility and ability to tackle various aspects of sustainable architecture. This approach not only underscores your suitability for the position but also presents you as a well-rounded professional capable of handling multifaceted challenges in the field.

The first impression is often the last. To make your work more appealing, use creativity and innovation. Try new tools, software, and arts that challenge the business-as-usual approach and give you new perspectives on designing new things. Refer to case studies you like, get your creatives reviewed to broaden your vision further and bring innovation.

Ensure your portfolio is visually appealing and well-organized. Use high-quality images, clear layouts, and consistent formatting to showcase your work professionally.

Provide context and narrative behind each project. Explain your role, challenges faced, and how you contributed to the project's success. Use storytelling to engage interviewers and demonstrate your expertise.

Stories are a great way of attracting anyone's attention and creating a powerful impact. However, they are not always easy to tell, so we should practice writing them to make them simple and practice narrating them flawlessly with our feelings. While we tell them, we should go back to that memory, feel it, and then express it beautifully in positive words. To tell any story clearly and simply, we should first identify the key message the listener should get in every story. Craft your story in a way that is crisp and pleasing to ears, use humour to keep the listener engaged, and include aha! Moments. Conclude it by bringing the listener back to why that specific story is relevant.

Growth can be shown in both qualitative and quantitative ways, and I believe both are important. We should clearly state our growth and provide crisp examples. Also, identify how your personal growth has helped others, like your organisation, team, etc. We must ask ourselves some questions to gauge our growth. For example, consider your promotion. We know promotion is personal growth; however, if we know how it has benefitted the project I am working on, how it has helped my colleagues, whether the work is executed better than before due to acquiring new knowledge and skills, whether I have grown my network, etc.? then it will also lead to quantifying them in many cases, which will obviously be more impactful and relatable.

Show progression and growth throughout your portfolio. Include early projects to demonstrate your development over time, highlighting how you have improved your skills and expanded your capabilities.

Feedback is generally given in different forms; however, we must practice constructive criticism that leads to positivity and growth. It should be simple, easy to understand, and crisp. One-to-one feedback should always be preferred whenever possible. Once we receive the feedback, we should try incorporating it to see whether it works and makes sense for you and everyone else in the team. If it doesn't, there should be a modest reply to the feedback received with a reason for not adopting it. Two-way, clear, and timely communication is always better to avoid issues.

For me, it's a culmination of many things. First of all, a kind and honest attitude has always worked. Paying attention to details is another tool for standing out from the crowd. Be a team player, try to have a never-die-attitude, and never say 'No' to new opportunities; instead, try it out; learning is the best friend one can ever have forever. Be curious to explore and find opportunities that help you and the entire team, company, and community. Network with people to understand their roles and responsibilities and explore ways of working together. Stay updated on what's happening around you and contribute as much as possible.

Show your ability to work on a variety of projects and adapt to different design challenges. Showcase proficiency in relevant design software and tools, emphasizing your technical abilities. If applicable, demonstrate leadership skills by highlighting projects where you took initiative or managed a team. Provide insight into your design methodology and problem-solving approach, showing interviewers how you approach and tackle design challenges.