Some CAD Employment notes

As one of the many CAD persons who have been unemployed for some time, some
thoughts :

#1 Employment places - Have your people how are knowledgeable about
AutoCAD. Don't plan on hiring anybody decent if you have no idea about
AutoCAD in the first place.

#2 Employers - Stop with these written tests. You think they work but they
don't and you are missing a lot of fine people. I sat down at one of these
tests and the employer had so heavily customized the menu and had changed
settings that I looked terrible and never got a chance at the job.

#3 Employers - Stop making the assumption that anyone with Engineering
Degree will be tops in CAD. Its 2 different specialties. I have met some
people who were tops in AutoCAD but did not have a degree. Many employers
pass over these people thinking they'll have a top CAD person if they get
someone with a degree.

#4 Employers - Don't think that a CAD person will just be able to like
"bam" pick up your CAD system when you haven't put any time or thought into
it. At a previous employer he couldn't understand what was wrong about
having a block for a standard chair called A$65BC1$A. If you do take the
time and do a good job customizing then you can hire temps for projects.
Otherwise don't complain when the temp takes twice as long as you planned
!!!

Kevin Murray
Mt.Holly, NC

 

As one of the many CAD persons who have been unemployed for some time,

Time to offer more that just "drafting"

Doesn't make sense.

If you are half decent in AutoCAD then you could have changed the menu to
your own liking in literally 30 seconds.

Engineer's are not usually known for their great CAD skills...mostly for
their "Engineering" skills. Most people who are tops in CAD are so due to
their training in CAD. I'm not sure of how many Engineers are interested in
having a professional designation only to be CAD monkey's. You are right
though, having a degree is actually a poor test of CAD ability.

Comical...I posted recently how I had to switch from my native training in
AutoCAD to Microstation for my internship. Not only did they expect me to
produce after a short grace period to learn the software, but also produce
in quantity! Perhaps instead of complaining you should be a bit more
proactive and picky and follow your potention employers instructions. The
moral of the story is...if you are unemployed...don't complain about
employers demands...that's probably your problem right there.

Chris

 

See my remarks below. My points are CAD Employment has gotten difficult and
Employers CAN'T put ALL the blame on CAD software, the poor CAD jockey or
whatever, when they aren't willing to do some basic setup work themselves.

I visited a Local Employment Company. Exact quote for an available
position -
"AutoCAD, is that the new type of shorthand thats out ??" A different
company
wanted to know if I had AutoCAD 2000, I answered "AutoCAD 2002". They
replied
"sorry too bad we need AutoCAD 2000".

I disagree

I agree

Note : I didn't complain, its employers who complain that they can't get
temp CAD people
who can hit the ground running, so to speak. My point is a few block menus
and minor customizing CAN make all the difference. Have to sort through
262 possible furniture blocks with names like A$65BC1$A doesn't make it
easy or productive for a ANY new comer.

 

See my remarks below. My points are CAD Employment has gotten difficult

Everything has gotton difficult. 10 Years ago or so all you needed to be an
Architect was a Bachelor of Architecture...10 odd years later I have to get
a Masters to be equivalent to the current Architects. Good thing I like
school I don't necessarily think that employers need to do anything but
provide you with a workstation, a CAD program, projects and a paycheck.
Anything else is a gift even though it shouldn't be, that's just how it is.
You are the expert on CADing, so it should be your responsibility to show
them how it is done, to set up your own standards if the office has none
based on sound drafting principles (readability, scale, line weight, etc.).
I don't know your qualifications but you have to adapt to the change even
though it is not for the better.

Chris

 

To add one more thing, you should take a copy of ur acad.lsp on a floppy
with u to interviews, I did and it got me some descent jobs because I was
nice and fast, just switch off all the toolbars except the layer one and
impress potential employers with ur speed.

Good luck in finding work dude
Shiva

 

When we hire someone we allow him/her one day of playing time, to get used
to our system and the way we work (office drafting standards etc.)
After that there will be some time (one or two weeks) that production is
low, people will adapt very fast if you give them some time.

Yes, we do know what systems are out there.
Just ask them some simple questions, like How does stretch work, explain
rotate reference, etc.
If the answer you get is unsatisfying you can relate that to the rest of the
personal and jobs information you received from him/her.
Combined with how he/she presents him-/herself should do the rest (you don't
hire a guy who comes in with dirty pants and a three day beard, you don't
care for yourself, you don't care for your work).

Just my 5cts.

Jan

 

An excellent and wise 5 cents worth. We had a gentlemen
who we weren't sure about. In our conversation he chose to say the "F" word
3 or 4 times. We passed on him.

Kevin

-snip-

 

What the F is wrong with saying the "F" word? If you don't F'ing like it
don't F'ing hire them.

Now, do I get the F'ing job or not? Come on, don't be a F!

;- >

 

Oh !! You know him !! Small world

 

Most of the cad users here at my work use the f word more than "The"
in sentences. Most have changed they shortcut command for Undo to f..

 

Hilarious

Chris

 

Spelling "your" and "you" correctly on your resume would also help.

 

Not to mention getting a 'descent' job.......
Is that one of those jobs that goes downhill?

BDK