Nervous about AutoCAD career...

[KevinJD]

So I am almost done college for drafting with AutoCAD. I know for a fact I am not going to remember everything in the gigantic textbook I have read...

 

I just have some questions for some of the people who work as architectural/electrical/mechanical drafters.

 

1. Is it hard to find a steady, stable job?

2. How laid back is it?

3. How hard is it? Do people get upset with you for asking lots of questions?

 

Thanks...

[rustysilo]

If you're just coming out of school don't sweat it. Companies know that entry level drafters have lots of questions and most would encourage you to ask questions for the first few months. As you learn more about your field you'll ask less questions and eventually they'll want to see you take the initiative to learn more on your own.

[manhattan]

1: in the current economic climate it is a little harder but thats largely dependent on the type of work you want to get into. In general theres always cad technician jobs out there.

2: Depends largely on your workplace, most drawing offices ive worked in have been pretty laid back but theres always deadlines to meet & when the work's gotta be done its all hands on deck. generally its a good laugh working in a drawing office tho.

3: You will learn something new in Autocad every single day, well for at least the first few years. People to expect you to ask lots of questions, the program is just too in depth to learn it all from textbooks. Besides all drawing offices work slightly different, even the most experienced draughtsman will ask plenty of questions to begin with.

 

good luck with your career

[ReMark]

1. No it shouldn't be. A search of the major online job sites like Monster or Careers indicates there is a need.

 

2. Laid back? Well, it ain't no day at the beach unless you're a slacker. And if you are you'll soon be looking for another job perhaps in another field (flagman and a road construction project).

 

3. Not so hard given some decent direction and sketches to work with. A CAD Manager is supposed to answer your questions. That's one of the things he is responsible for. In a small office you may work directly for an engineer. Most of them will be too happy to answer your questions. It's getting them to shut up that's difficult.

 

What field are you interested in?

[Patrick Hughes]

You don't have to remember everything in the book. You just have to remember where the book is so you can look up the answer.

 

1) Well it can be depending on the fields you are looking at.

 

2) Varies

 

3) You don't want to work for someone that would get upset with your questions. That is as long as you remember if you ask a question you are looking for an answer, not an argument. Try your best to accept the answer and test how well it works. Then if it's not working out question again with a reason to back up your additional questioning.

 

Oh, the only reason someone might get upset with a question is if the same question is asked repeatedly.

[KevinJD]

1. No it shouldn't be. A search of the major online job sites like Monster or Careers indicates there is a need.

 

2. Laid back? Well, it ain't no day at the beach unless you're a slacker. And if you are you'll soon be looking for another job perhaps in another field (flagman and a road construction project).

 

3. Not so hard given some decent direction and sketches to work with. A CAD Manager is supposed to answer your questions. That's one of the things he is responsible for. In a small office you may work directly for an engineer. Most of them will be too happy to answer your questions. It's getting them to shut up that's difficult.

 

What field are you interested in?

 

I am interested in architectural, electrical, and mechanical.

[tzframpton]

I am interested in architectural, electrical, and mechanical.

You mean architectural, electrical, OR mechanical?

 

Usually people stick with one trade/area of design and sticks with it. But there are PLENTY of jobs available, depending on your location. Where do you live, or where are you job searching (ie: City, State)??

[KevinJD]

You mean architectural, electrical, OR mechanical?

 

Usually people stick with one trade/area of design and sticks with it. But there are PLENTY of jobs available, depending on your location. Where do you live, or where are you job searching (ie: City, State)??

 

Well I am into all three, but I suppose mechanical is the one I enjoy most.

 

I will be done college around the end of this year. I live around Toronto, Ontario.

[tzframpton]

Well I am into all three, but I suppose mechanical is the one I enjoy most.

 

I will be done college around the end of this year. I live around Toronto, Ontario.

Gotcha. I'm a lead CAD designer/manager at a mechanical company so if you do land a job, I can help you along as well as your company.

 

Also, craigslist is a great place to view jobs. There are already some postings in the CAD & Engineering section:

 

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/egr/

 

Hope this helps you some.

[pcarbon02]

What kind of background do drafting offices look for? In my area (Connecticut) there are certificate programs at some community colleges and a couple of vocational schools. ITT Tech has an associates program but it is in MA (not to mention 96 credits). Kind of a lot for an Associates I would think.

[CADguy209]

3. How hard is it? Do people get upset with you for asking lots of questions?

 

 

 

That depends on a few things. If you are just going to strictly be a "cad operator/draftsman" then your knowledge of cad will be very important. If you are going to be a designer/engineer then you will obviously need to know more than just the cad program.

 

I think that one thing that gets lost is the fact that autocad is just a tool. A lot of people get caught up in how much they know about the program or how fast they can whip out a drawing. Just remember that the drawings you make are for fabrication and or inspection purposes, so while you may be fast with the program that doesnt always mean your drawings are right or properly convey to the person making what ever it is you are drawing what/how to make it. A lot of people may know autocad but not all know why it is they are drawing something in a certain way, how to dimension, etc etc...basically good drafting practices.

 

If you have went through a good program hopefully they will have made you take a few drafting clases in addition to just autocad classes. In which case there is a good chance you may end up knowing more in terms of autocad and cad drafting then your employers and or coworkers. There are a lot of "old timers" and people who are "self taught" (*cough* engineers *cough*). People who dont really know a whole lot about cad beyond that of basic cad, and see it as a boring chore that they can pass off on lowely drafting slobs.

 

As for askign questions, you should ask. IMO its better to ask then try and come off as a know it all cad speed demon or someone who is afraid to learn. I have seen guys like that, like I mentioned above, who while they can "finish" a drawing quickly make a lot of mistakes or generate compelete garbage that you or somebody else cant use and end up wasting more time fixing or having them redo.

[KevinJD]

If you have went through a good program hopefully they will have made you take a few drafting clases in addition to just autocad classes. In which case there is a good chance you may end up knowing more in terms of autocad and cad drafting then your employers and or coworkers. There are a lot of "old timers" and people who are "self taught" (*cough* engineers *cough*). People who dont really know a whole lot about cad beyond that of basic cad, and see it as a boring chore that they can pass off on lowely drafting slobs.

 

The course I am taking started off with drafting (the old fashioned way, I guess you could put it) and now I am far into AutoCAD. Its a 50/50 course of drafting with, and without AutoCAD. Drafting by hand reallly makes you appreciate the convenience of having software this powerful.

[ReMark]

Kevin:

 

Please give me the name and address of your professor as I want to send him a letter of thanks for teaching the "art" of manual drafting as a prelude to CAD. I've advocated for this at our local high school and the teacher looks at me as though I had three eyes. Your last sentence states it so precisely, "Drafting by hand really makes you appreciate the convenience of having software this powerful." With insight such as that I think you'll do well in your choosen career.

[ReMark]

pcarbon02:

 

What type of drafting background do offices look for? That is a good question that can have more than one answer. I think it depends on the type of position (entry level vs. senior level), the field you'll be working in, the size of the office, the willingness of the company to supplement your basic skills with further in-house instruction or to send you for further training, etc. What field are you looking to work in?

[design-engine]

You should be Nervous!

 

there is a lot of competition out there and I suggest specializing in something. If you just started a career I would think you would focus on 3d not 2d. Like inventor solidworks or proe. And if your an architectural guy then Revit. Big demand in those guys over the 2d stuff.