Hnc Cad

[Delboyjoe]

I cant find any info on this here, if this thread already been started could u just forward me the link please!

 

I have the option of comlpeting this course at college or online, has anyone comleted either of these courses and if so would u be able to answer a few Q for me.

 

(2) Are they both recognised as the same qualification by employers.

 

(1) Wat jobs would this open up for someone completing this course

 

I know i have more questions, i just cant think of them, maybe if i get a few responses, it would get me thinking!

[Delboyjoe]

i think i should develop more, i work for engineering company doin mechanical and electrical drawings, i can draw everything required, but i just dont know anything about what it is i am drawing, and im not really interested in studying it, id prefer to learn more about actual 2d/3d cad, but wat areas of employment could i get into?

 

im finding it hard to express myself!

[ReMark]

"...but I just don't know anything about what it is I am drawing, and I'm not really interested in studying it..."

 

So, it sounds like you're a wizz at drawing things. That's nice. But, as you point out, you really could care less about what it is you're drawing. Maybe you should be drawing cartoons and not mechanical or electrical drawings.

[Delboyjoe]

I dont know if your takin the PI$$ or wha, that wernt very helpful, but i do draw alot, not so many cartoons tho! The job im in, it matters more that you know what your drawing, and the details aint that important, id prefer it the other way round if you know what i mean?

 

Are there CAD roles like this, where u dont need to know anything about what your drawing as long as you can draw it?

 

If i did a HNC CAD course, it wouldn't help me in my current role, i still wouldn't have the mechanical or electrical knowledge.

[Tiger]

Are there CAD roles like this, where u dont need to know anything about what your drawing as long as you can draw it?

 

 

I suspect that there are - something like visualisations of ideas made by architects where you just do a "nice picture" of it.

 

But seriously - wouldn't that get real boring after a while? to keep drawing and staring at stuff your not interested in, and has no INTEREST to get interested in day in and day out?

 

If you really are just interested in AutoCAD and it's siblings - perhaps get into teaching? or something in the retail of AutoCAD area? Or AutoCAD Management?

[Delboyjoe]

I suspect that there are - something like visualisations of ideas made by architects where you just do a "nice picture" of it.

 

But seriously - wouldn't that get real boring after a while? to keep drawing and staring at stuff your not interested in, and has no INTEREST to get interested in day in and day out?

 

If you really are just interested in AutoCAD and it's siblings - perhaps get into teaching? or something in the retail of AutoCAD area? Or AutoCAD Management?

 

Thank you tiger, you understand what i mean, teaching is an area im interested in. AUTOCAD management is a good idea. The thing is i have many interests where i could use CAD knowledge, e.g. cars, Planes, etc, but i would probably need to have a degree in either mechanical or Aeronautical engineering.

 

Before i do this course im trying to brainstorm, ideas of roles that I could work in. I studied construction for a few years, and i could would love to get back into that, but infortunately, the construcion industry is on a downward spiral in the UK, and in N.Ireland especially. I have that interest and knowledge to fall back on, if it picks up in the future.

[dbroada]

you might get a job as a "contract draughtsman" where you earn good money (more than us permanent staff) but will mostly work for short periods to asssist in the boring stuff like "AS BUILTS" - just copying from a folder of prints on to the cad files.

 

we use them a lot of the time but the ones without knowledge of the job tend to be employed for up to one month and won't have their contract extended while those with knowledge often last more than a year!

[Delboyjoe]

you might get a job as a "contract draughtsman" where you earn good money (more than us permanent staff) but will mostly work for short periods to asssist in the boring stuff like "AS BUILTS" - just copying from a folder of prints on to the cad files.

 

we use them a lot of the time but the ones without knowledge of the job tend to be employed for up to one month and won't have their contract extended while those with knowledge often last more than a year!

 

Is this what people mean when they talk about being a freelance draughtsman? I like this idea, drawing in your own time, and also teaching CAD aswell, i like it!

[ReMark]

I don't see how a person could make a career out of drawing objects that bore them. You end up just copying what's in front of you, right, wrong or indifferent. If you have no interest in the field, over time, it will show up in the quality of your work. While lack of knowledge may be a given when one is just starting out it is unacceptable 5, 10, 25 years down the road.

 

I wouldn't recommend teaching either. God forbid you pass along your "lack of interest" to others.

[Tiger]

 

I wouldn't recommend teaching either. God forbid you pass along your "lack of interest" to others.

 

It's not lack of interest in everything ReMark, I interpret it as lack of interest in what he's currently doing, or the industry that he's currently in.

 

I understand that, I had the same thing for the last 1½ years. And yes, for a period of time it is entirely possible to just buck down and do something completely and utterly boring just to get paid and to get some work-experience - and that's not something that should be frowned upon, many people have had to do it.

 

I would say, not knowing anything about your personal life situation though, that to chase after the dreamjob is never a bad idea, even if means studying a couple-five more years. If that is what you want to do, and go for it!

 

Btw - talking about dreams - anyone here heard of Randy Pausch? I got the link to a lecture of his (

), all about chasing your dreams - it's worth listening to.

[dbroada]

Is this what people mean when they talk about being a freelance draughtsman? I like this idea, drawing in your own time, and also teaching CAD aswell, i like it!

it is - but note its not drawing "in your own time". You will be expected to be fast and accurate. The "boss" will decide how long a job takes and if you are too far off you won't last long, and if you miss the deadline - oh dear!. Likewise more than a couple of mistakes will shorten your life with that company.

[Delboyjoe]

I don't see how a person could make a career out of drawing objects that bore them. You end up just copying what's in front of you, right, wrong or indifferent. If you have no interest in the field, over time, it will show up in the quality of your work. While lack of knowledge may be a given when one is just starting out it is unacceptable 5, 10, 25 years down the road.

 

I wouldn't recommend teaching either. God forbid you pass along your "lack of interest" to others.

 

I have no interest in this field, IN THIS FIELD, its a foot in the door as a draughtsman, as i couldn get any in contruction work as the industry is going through a rough period, with plannin issues, economy, etc. To take a job in mechanical/electrical, shows my desire to and great interest in becoming a draughtsman, my apolagies, as i said at the start i was havin trouble explaining this!

[Delboyjoe]

it is - but note its not drawing "in your own time". You will be expected to be fast and accurate. The "boss" will decide how long a job takes and if you are too far off you won't last long, and if you miss the deadline - oh dear!. Likewise more than a couple of mistakes will shorten your life with that company.

 

yeah sorry i meant, being my own boss one day, im really bad at explaining thing in words, i prefer drawings lol!

[ReMark]

Fine (in this field). Then if learning all you can about AutoCAD and teaching that instead is of some interest it means you'll have to take some AutoCAD classes, from a reputable source, that will eventually lead to a certificate and a formal certification. Have you talked to your authorized AutoCAD reseller? Have you looked around for such type of courses? Have you visited the AutoDesk website to research the topic in further detail?

[Delboyjoe]

can i just say you lads have been helpful and i really apreciate ur responses, which were mighty fast by the way, this is the first CAD forum ive joined up to, and i hope they're are all as helpful, are there any threads where people post profiles of what they work at, wat qualifications they done, etc, just short biopics (i think thats the word).

[Delboyjoe]

Fine (in this field). Then if learning all you can about AutoCAD and teaching that instead is of some interest it means you'll have to take some AutoCAD classes, from a reputable source, that will eventually lead to a certificate and a formal certification. Have you talked to your authorized AutoCAD reseller? Have you looked around for such type of courses? Have you visited the AutoDesk website to research the topic in further detail?

 

 

Yeah Mark the Thread Title is HNC CAD, i see your from USA so this might be foreign to you, its a Higher National Qualification, but unfortunatelty, all course directors are on their summer holidays, so i thought i would talk to seom people in the industry, and be prepared for when they come back and i can chat to them more confidently then. And you guys have helped, so cheers.

[ReMark]

If you check the CHAT forum you'll see that the third thread from the top is titled, "What type of drafting do you do?". You might find it of some use in determining where your interests lie and learn about some of the other things one can do with a CAD background.

[Delboyjoe]

If you check the CHAT forum you'll see that the third thread from the top is titled, "What type of drafting do you do?". You might find it of some use in determining where your interests lie and learn about some of the other things one can do with a CAD background.

 

From reading through this site, i think I may be better focusing on studying in an area im interested in and using what CAD knowledge I already have. There don't seem to be that many areas of emplyoment, from just knowing as much about CAD primarily, other than teaching or management. It seems a very narrow route to go down!

[ReMark]

Teaching may not be as narrow as you think. CAD has already been introduced into some middle schools here in the U.S. as well as many high schools. Then there are community colleges and full-blown universities. AutoCAD training companies teach a wide variety of courses from basic to advanced along with how to customize AutoCAD and programming with Visual Basic, C+ and LISP. If it still interests you then go for it. CAD Managers fulfill the role of teacher, overseer, customizer, and in some firms, IT person as well. Their role is varied. It may also include setting up standards, dynamic block creation, etc. A CM may also be tasked with specifying and buying all hardware (computers, monitors, printers/plotters and alike).

[Tiger]

and further about teaching, a least at a Uni-level, being in an enviroment where you'll meet so many new ideas and concepts and people and whatnots... that can't be called narrow.