Is formal drafting training necessary 4 career

Is it realistic to think that I could get a drafting job after
completing a certificate program in Autocad but without any formal
Drafting training such as at a associates degree from a tech school or
community college? (I have a BA in physics) If not, would passing the
ADDA drafting test (by self study) get me a job, or would I still need
formal training. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

it's all in who you know,,, if it is no one, you will not get a job with out
a lot of luck

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I'm 19 turning 20 in less than 3 months. I've had basic CAD training in
highschool but that was about it... I've spent the last year working at a
civil engineering firm as a drafter, and previously I worked at an
architecture firm as a drafter.

I'm not sure about where you live, but here there's quite a few positions
out for drafters and such, and as long as you demonstrate the skill and
ability you're pretty much guaranteed a job.

HTH

lilmissgiggles

 

Toronto, Ontario

 

right now is a pretty shitty time to look though (or at least in the civil
engineering field), our office is pretty quiet these days, hopefully as the
weather gets better things will pickup....

 

Hey neighbor, me too.

The American economy has been trailing behind ours for some time now, so
things aren't quite as bright there as here. Here, for the right money,
almost anybody could get a job drafting. Experienced or not.

BTW is that a typo in your return email, or a "double-entendre"?

 

It depends on you local market conditions. There are places where you could
get a job with those qualifications.

 

lol.... it stops the spam.....

 

It really depends upon what field you're in. The bulk of my work is
residential and things have been going great for a number of years and the
next 5+ years also are expected to be very strong.

Even when things are bad there's still work, you just have to be able to
differentiate yourself so that when the work load is low you're the one who
gets it.

Michael (LS)

 

YES

But just driving Autocad is not enough. you could compare it to being able to use a drawing board and drafting machine. There are
conventions in all drafting disciplines that have to be understood and followed. You also will need to gain knowledge as to how
things go together in the most economical and best practice way. You will never stop learning as a draftsman. Some of the best
draftsmen come from the other end of the process - the factory floor after an apprenticeship as a tradesman.

But don't let me discourage you. Go for it but always be prepared to learn from others.


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Andrew Nielsen ;o)>

Andysan1@@bigpond.com
Remove extra @ to send

| Is it realistic to think that I could get a drafting job after
| completing a certificate program in Autocad but without any formal
| Drafting training such as at a associates degree from a tech school or
| community college? (I have a BA in physics) If not, would passing the
| ADDA drafting test (by self study) get me a job, or would I still need
| formal training. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

able to use a drawing board and drafting machine. There are

followed.

Quite correct and something that is often not stressed enough in schools.
They like to give the impression that learning to use the software is all
you need.

You also will need to gain knowledge as to how

never stop learning as a draftsman. Some of the best

an apprenticeship as a tradesman.

I spent 15 years on the shop floor. In that time, I worked from many prints
drawn by people that obviously didn't have any idea about what they were
drawing. Don't be one of those.

from others.

Yes. Basic skills and willingness to learn is all you need.

 

Edhelms,

I can't say about the job you are going after, but I know an auto industry
that will heir you. They have hired so may in the past.

W. Kirk Crawford
Rochester Hills, Michigan

 

same way architects don't understand how cabinetry is made.

 

Some don't. You can't be an expert at everything. The smart man realizes
this and also realizes that a lot of time and expense can be saved by
consulting an expert in the particular field he is dealing with.

 

Thanks, CW. I was going to say that. A architectural school chum of mine
makes his living making pretty nice cabinetry, and has nine fingers to prove
it...

His site's at http://www.objectsandspaces.ca/

I don't have his skill, but I have a made a few simple cabinets. That makes
me a little unusual among my peers, I'll admit, but I'm tired of these kinds
of broad swipes at my profession.....What percentage of draftsmen know how
cabinetry is made?

 

you missed the

I couldn't be happier that architects don't specialise in cabinetry,
otherwise I would have to pay for my schooling working at Mc Donald's
instead of sitting behind my computer in my underwear.

Mathew

 

No, I didn't miss it. I did miss the word "some" in front of "architects"
though.