Office for Metropolitan Architecture Interview Questions
& Process

We had a 30-minute Zoom call with two senior architects. I presented my portfolio and had to answer three questions. They asked why I wanted to work at oma, and I presented two projects from my portfolio. We also talked about my resume and past work experience.

So I talked to this recruiter dude, and he was pretty cool, told me all about their projects. Then they told me I didn't get the job. The interviews were super awkward though, I felt like I was leading everything and they were just...there. Took them forever to schedule stuff, like 3 weeks to meet the boss. The boss was a total jerk, super arrogant, and got bored with my answers if they weren't what he wanted. He was also really unprofessional, kept checking his phone and then just dipped out halfway through without saying anything, leaving the other guy to finish up. Honestly, they need to have some manners, put their phones away, and actually care about the people interviewing.

The interview was quick, so use the time wisely to talk about yourself. It was 30 minutes total and straightforward. First, a standard 'tell us about yourself.' Then, I presented two projects from my portfolio, and they asked detailed questions about them and my specific role. They also discussed their firm and the role I would take on. I met with two associates. Unlike corporate firms like SOM, they didn't offer a tour.

I applied online and got a response within two weeks. There were two interview rounds where I spoke with teammates and partners. They focused on my past experience and how I'd handle potential challenges. It was a bilingual interview. It felt like a good balance between interviewing and just chatting. I also submitted writing samples.