Interview Questions

# Chapter 26: Interview Questions \- Demonstrating Competence  Your registration interview isn't about reciting memorised answers, it's about showing you can think like an architect when faced with unfamiliar challenges. Examiners want to see professional judgment in action, particularly in areas where your experience might be thin. ## **How scenarios test your readiness** The interview deliberately pushes you beyond your comfort zone. If you've worked mainly on residential projects, expect commercial procurement questions. Documentation specialists? Prepare for client relationship scenarios. This approach ensures every registered architect can handle diverse situations safely. You'll face five key challenge areas that reflect today's practice realities. **Market volatility** questions test your ability to guide clients through 20-30% cost escalations or sudden material shortages. Can you maintain design integrity when budgets collapse? How do you manage builder insolvency mid-project? Your responses should demonstrate both commercial awareness and creative problem-solving. **Climate adaptation** goes beyond traditional sustainability. Expect scenarios about designing for 50-degree summers, retrofitting heritage buildings for net-zero performance, or managing flood-prone sites. You'll need to articulate technical solutions while explaining complex concepts to hypothetical clients, showing you can bridge the gap between environmental science and practical application. **Key Terms:** - **Professional judgment**: Your ability to make sound decisions in complex situations using experience, ethics, and technical knowledge - **Scenario-based assessment**: Interview technique using hypothetical situations to evaluate competency beyond direct experience - **Climate adaptation**: Design strategies that prepare buildings for changing environmental conditions (distinct from mitigation)