HNC in CAD or HNC in Mechanical Engineering

[Cad dad]

Hello

 

I am hoping to become a draughtsman and am about to apply for a part time HNC course.

 

Would i be better to do a CAD course or a general Mechanical Engineering course which includes a CAD midule.

 

I live in the UK and currently work in the oil industry. Which of these options is likely to benifit me more and offer more job prospects.

 

Thanks for your help.

[Tyke]

IMO CAD is a means to an end, you need technical knowledge and use CAD to implement it.

 

An employer first considers your technical ability and then your CAD ability, or at least I do when I'm looking to take on new staff. You are worthless if you are the best drafter in the world but have no idea what you are doing. Let's face it there are some so called drafters that have more technical knowledge than the engineer who is supposedly their boss .

 

I'd go for HNC ME, you can get far better CAD knowledge here than from a CAD course, because the CAD course is only as good as the tutor and there are some right old dip sticks out there.

[Organic]

I agree, an employer will be more interested in the general mech eng course rather than a drafting course.

 

It is quite common for many companies to hire people with the technical knowledge, yet no knowledge what-so-ever of the CAD software or other software necessary that they eill use (which they then train you on).

[Cad dad]

I thought so. Thanks for confirming.

[twistun]

If I had it to do all over again, well first of all I'd become a doctor, but since I can't do that I'd look in your local paper and see what type of drafting they're looking for and which platform to study; AutoCAD, Microstation, Catia, etc. And like the others said, definitely acquire some knowledge of the field you hope to enter.