Hiring in AEC is broken because we optimize for images, not decisions. The typical hiring process: Look at portfolio. See pretty images. Maybe ask about software. Hire. Then discover the person can't make decisions under pressure, can't communicate with contractors, can't handle client feedback, can't work within constraints. We're hiring for the wrong things. We're hiring for presentation skills when we need problem-solving skills. We're hiring for aesthetic sensibility when we need practical judgment. The best architects I know aren't the ones with the prettiest portfolios. They're the ones who can explain why they made a choice. Who can talk about trade-offs. Who can tell you what went wrong and how they fixed it. Next time you're hiring, skip the portfolio review. Ask for one project story. Ask them to walk you through a decision they made and why. That'll tell you more than a hundred renderings.