And by now, we think we've seen it all—from disruptions and inaudible responses to bad lighting and poor posture. Interviewing remotely is a slightly different animal than interviewing in person, with more variables to control. Follow these tips to ensure your success:

1. Be prepared. Download the software and log on early. Have your résumé and portfolio downloaded and the files open and ready to go.

2. Practice. If there is time, set up a practice video conference with friends or family. Make sure everything works, including the lighting and sound. Get familiar with the software. Work out the bugs.

3. Choose your location with care. Find a room that is quiet with good lighting and minimal audio interruptions. Good acoustics (curtains on windows) can be a plus, too. Try not to sit with something distracting behind you. If there is a door, post a sign so no one will open it. Don’t be afraid to use supplemental lighting if the room light is unflattering.

4. Dress for success. This is an interview, so dress and act as you would if you were interviewing in person. Sit up straight. Smile. Speak clearly and with authority. And wear pants! Although you may think you're clever by wearing a shirt and tie, but only boxer briefs from the waist down, imagine what your interviewer(s) will think when you get up to retrieve that document you left over in the printer tray? Trust us on this one. You're likely to take the interview more seriously, too.

5. Show your very best work. This should go without saying, but make sure you are showing the best graphics and that they read well on a screen. Sometimes what looks good in print lacks luster on screen and vice versa. Also, clean up your desktop: we don’t need to see the photo of you and your best buds from your spring break trip to Cancún. And maximize the size of whatever you show so we can see it on our screen.

6. Be yourself. This is more important than ever when meeting remotely. And no matter what the interview format, show some enthusiasm!

Don't let your first video-conference interview spiral into disaster. A little preparation goes a long way. You've only got one shot to make a good first impression, so take these careful measures and propel yourself to success!

The term options is used in software like Autodesk Revit to denote the ability to scroll through different design schemes or varying extents of construction with the click of the mouse. For purposes of documentation and construction of these options, they are referred to as alternates.

When developing a project’s program, there is a fine balance to be struck between the available budget and the types of facilities and amenities desired by the client. Design options can be prepared to help facilitate the decision-making process, whether contingent on the availability of funds, community approval or a public referendum. They are accompanied by construction cost estimates and operational proformas to convey the pros and cons of integration. With the continued development of user-friendly, collaborative software like Autodesk Revit, the architect and her/his team can easily prepare for the addition or subtraction of such alternative schemes.

For example, let’s assume a community desires a new recreation center. City Council knows they have enough funding to build the main reception and restroom facilities, assembly areas, community rooms and fitness center; however, plans for a large gymnasium appear to be outside their budgetary limit. By developing a base bid set of drawings, the design team establishes the amount of work that is within the established budget and guaranteed for construction. Beyond this, the design team can provide a full set of additional drawings that incorporate additional (additive) or fewer (deductive) alternate scopes or building footprints varying in square footage.

Additionally, plans can be incorporated to remodel or reconfigure space in the future, when additional funding becomes available or the owner decides to expand or manipulate the floor plan. A portion of a project initially designed as an office space could become an open lounge space or assembly area upon the future removal of interior walls. The key to this is detailing precisely how this change is connected to or subtracted from the base bid of work. Efficient and coordinated detailing limits the extent of demolition or loss of material that occurs when an alternate is exercised. The extent of these additions or deductions is project-specific and can range from an installing an alternative mechanical unit or lighting package to adding thousands of square feet.

Simplifying the alternates process is no easy task, but a coordinated effort by the architect and consultant team can lead to a much more concise set of drawings to guide the contractor through construction. Revit and AutoCad assist the team in easily turning these alternates on and off. Through the use of 3D views or renderings to communicate the difference between options, architects can better illustrate the difference in appearance or performance of a building to their clients. This alone may influence the client’s decision to incorporate an option into a given project’s scope—especially when it concerns interior/exterior finishes or material options. The difference between a basic building with a limited material palette and one that utilizes unique materials and a range of colors and innovative signage can make a world of difference in the final product, the user experience, and ultimately the popularity and success of a building.

The availability of options is a wonderful selling point for the modern architect. For the client who is unsure of the costs associated with their ideal building, wants to convey a variety of choices and options to the community, or plans to build in phases, options and alternates are a tool she/he cannot afford to overlook.