Rafael Vinoly Architects Interview Questions
& Process

We started with a quick chat to go over the job expectations and the general vibe of the office. Then, there was a hands-on test where I had to build a foamcore cube. It was timed and had specific size requirements.

They initially invited me for an on-site interview, but I asked if I could do it online instead. They said no because they wanted local candidates, but mentioned they'd contact me if no local candidates made the cut. A few weeks later, they did contact me and set up an online interview. The whole process was pretty disappointing and unprofessional. The interviewer was on time, but she didn't have my resume and clearly didn't know anything about me. She didn't ask anything relevant to the job, just where I was from. Plus, the interview was really loud because she was in a busy-sounding part of a room, like an airport.

The interview started about 20 minutes after the scheduled time, even though I was punctual. The waiting area was quite impressive. The interview itself lasted around 40 minutes. It mainly consisted of standard questions about my background and a detailed review of my portfolio. The interviewer then provided information about the work done at their office and the qualifications they seek. They also outlined a specific role that would be a good fit for me, which sounded quite appealing and aligned with my job search. Overall, it was a positive interview experience. After the interview, I was able to connect with the interviewer to gather more specific details about the projects and the work involved.

There were two interviews. First with a Partner and then with the Managing Partner. The interviews were very professionally conducted and I actually enjoyed the conversation with the interviewers. They did a really good job describing potential paths for career growth within the office.