[Closed] AutoCAD people!? Career change advice appreciated

Autocad is a pretty dated bit of software. 20 years ago it was cutting edge and got a massive head start and became an industry standard. Since them several upstarts have come along and do things far better especially from a 3d design point of view. Autocad still does a few things well and is still massive mostly due to inertia but I'd be looking at a different package especially if you have an interest in art and design. Each field seems to have its own preferred package so maybe look at what industry you'd like to end up in.

As a side note is draughtsperson the sort of role you actually want or just what you think you can do? They tend to get the duller jobs of doing the bits the more creative types can't be arsed to do. Can be quite well paid for low stress but I do it occasionally and I find it a bit tedious.

I don't know the field you indicate that you would like to work within, however what I can advise is that you need to have a good knowledge of the trade you intend to do drawings etc for. I'm in the Furniture/Joinery/Shopfitting trade (production drawings, surveys & project management) and have seen quite a few very good "cadies" fail because of lack of in depth understanding of even basic construction techniques.

Get trained in Revit and AutoCad. The latter will be redundant in 5 years or so. Also, get some knowledge of the field you want to work in, otherwise you'll just be a cad monkey, and will get paid as such. As an example: if you want to get into construction, get a qualification in that, and then learn cad.

nickjb - Member

Autocad is a pretty dated bit of software. 20 years ago it was cutting edge and got a massive head start and became an industry standard. Since them several upstarts have come along and do things far better especially from a 3d design point of view. Autocad still does a few things well and is still massive mostly due to inertia but I'd be looking at a different package especially if you have an interest in art and design. Each field seems to have its own preferred package so maybe look at what industry you'd like to end up in.

As others have said, it's not just software knowledge. It's software implementation in addition to personal/taught/learnt knowledge of a certain discipline.

I've been a CAD 'monkey' (other words are available) for the last 20 years with a mechanical bent for all sorts of industries (and software) but I had prior mechanical training BTEC/College/university etc

I find it a great job that I look forward to doing.

So if you do decide to change career, find an industry that you have an interest in and try and get some education regarding it, although will this will add more time to the changeover.

Revit is the package to be learning at the moment but learning the software is only 10% of becoming a CAD technician - you need to understand (or have qualifications) in the subject you are trying to draw as you won't just be cadding up drawings that other people have done.

Revit and BIM if the government directives are implemented across the construction industry and don't just fade into obscurity. I'm getting into the BIM side and it's the next big thing if you believe the hype. Going to teach myself revit.

If you have an IT and data background have you thought about GIS software? It's used in thousands of different applications across a variety of different sectors. I come from a design/CAD background and have moved into GIS and I have to say I quite enjoy it. Lots to learn, it's incredibly powerful software. And I still get to produce pretty drawings in the form of maps.

Thanks all much appreciated,

So the obvious thing i've missed is i could know AutoCAD like the back of my hand but its useless with no qualifications/knowledge/experience in the industry im using it in.

Stuff to think about . . . . .

From 2016 all projects over £xx millions are supposed to be completed with BIM (Building Information Modelling0 This is the government directive but form seeing the issues this creates I can't see it happening. Too many sub-contractors aren't going to upgrade the software/re-train the staff to allow this to happen. So it'll fall by the way side.

With regard to software choice, there are few industry standards i.e. rail/underground is Microstation, Oil is predominantly PDMS (Aveva), arcitects Revit or Microstation (big practices like Foster Partners).

So your software choice may be dependent on your choice of industry

Many employment agencies don't realise that either - I'm an Architectural Technologist and I often get calls from so called "sector specialists" or whatever inviting me to apply for structural and civil engineering technician jobs.

AutoCAD is used in such a wide range of different industries. If you just want to be a CAD monkey as has been said above and just draw pictures then you can get a city & guilds in CAD in about 6 weeks. I did that about 15 years ago, then went into Civil Engineering.

In my industry, Civil/Strucural engineering, it's all moving towards BIM, with Revit (structures) and AutoCAD Civils 3D (Civils!!) being the new things that are supposed to be new industry standards. BUT, AutoCAD IS still the go to package for general drawing and is not going anywhere in the near future.

OP: I wouldn't say "useless" (I started out knowing nothing but Cad), but you will maximize your earning and employability potential by getting some knowledge behind you.

Maybe i need to get some foundation knowledge and qualifications, try and get my foot in the door and be a 'CAD Monkey' for a time to know where i want to head.

Also my job is with a large retailer so its possible i could get some experience in the Property Dept CAD team here . . . .

Part of the point of BIM is to get rid of the CAD Monkeys. In theory the federated model exchange requires a lot less unskilled drawing work, and requires more design knowledge from those involved.

I don't know how it's working out in other industries, but certainly in architecture a lot of practices are moving away from technicians/draughtsmen. They had a useful role when there was a lot of hand drawing involved, and also to fill the skills gap when CAD was first introduced, but now that all qualifying architects know some level of CAD as part of their qualifications, and are computer literate enough to be quickly trained up in BIM it's much less of a requirement. Larger practices will have a CAD/BIM expert or coordinator of some, but this will generally be a qualified architect with advanced CAD/BIM knowledge.

So the obvious thing i've missed is i could know AutoCAD like the back of my hand but its useless with no qualifications/knowledge/experience in the industry im using it in.

Not always true.

I learnt Autocad at Uni as part of a degree in something else. I went on to enhance my Cad knowledge by doing a HND. I had little or no experience of Civils/Railway bridges when I got my first contract with British Rail. I then moved over the structural sector and whilst a lot of my knowledge was transferable most of what I was doing was new. Again, when I decided to move over to Telecoms sector, I was going in blind (I've been in coms now for the past 16 years). Learn Autocad well and youll always get a job doing something, regardless of experience (allthough it helps!).

As for Revit, It will undoubtedly take over in the Structural, civil and architectural world eventually - I cant see it happening in my sector (telecoms - just no need). Autocad will be around for a while yet.
Learn Revit as well once you've got AutoCad under your belt - you can charge a lot more per hour as a Revit user than as an Autocad user! 😀 .

My main client at the mo would be more interested in employing a proficient Cad user, rather than one who has had previous sector related experience. (theres been some real dross coming through claiming they can use Cad and soon being found out)

As for this:

get rid of the CAD Monkeys

Have you not seen planet of the apes - we'll take over eventually! 😉

Just goes to show how much you need to decide on an industry before committing......

all of the comments about about Revit/BIM/Microstation......?! Say what?!

I'm a mechanical design engineer and have never come across any of this stuff.
We use Pro/E at my current workplace & previously I used Solidworks. We have autocad licences, but they are mainly for updating/looking at older drawings that pre-date the 3D CAD packages and doing layouts etc. on.

I haven't worked anywhere that uses CAD technicians/draughtsmen. The engineers do the 3D modelling & then create the drawings from the 3D model files. Occasionally we'll get in contractors when we need to get a job doing quick, but they will be people with a mechanical engineering/design background.

Regarding this comment:

richyb78 - Member

So the obvious thing i've missed is i could know AutoCAD like the back of my hand but its useless with no qualifications/knowledge/experience in the industry im using it in.

you could be entirely familiar with Pro/E for example but still churn out poor work if you don't have a fundamental knowledge of engineering principles/material choice/GD&T etc.....the modelling/drawing part is the last piece of the puzzle really.

I've been using cad for years

I need to get trained in Revit, but it's really expensive

I'll be starting my.first job in Revit next week.

Its a bit daunting but I've chosen a pretty simple/basic one to start with (one space only). But I'm the engineering input on the BIM implementation plan... so someone has too!

BIM only applys to government procured projects over a certain value (from April '17 iirc). Pretty sure once people are up to.speed and the benefits become clear (clash detection and just the ability to see a 3D model) moat large sized jobs will go this way. If it does actually speed up construction and deliver savings as per the blurb then cad will feel as old-fashioned as drawing boards do.

In construction certainly, I think Revit would be the most lucrative avenue to pursue. Family's especially.

This

I haven't worked anywhere that uses CAD technicians/draughtsmen. The engineers do the 3D modelling

The jobs i've seen for CAD technician don't seem to pay very well unless you bring something else to the table.

We are talking about Cardboard Aided Designs yea? 😆 #Binky

I need to get trained in Revit, but it's really expensive

Autodesk do free education software, if you know any students.

I'm using a 30 day free trial of revit, downloaded direct from autodesk.

Revits glorified cad monkey.

Civil 3D is the CAD equivalent of the fast jet pilot.

😛

How about learning about projectwise and equivalents.

Get an engineering degree first, they will train you up on whatever software they use

You need basic 2d (Autocad) skills to drive a 3d package, so it's not totally redundant, but it's just a tool. The [i]novelty[/i] of spinning 3d shapes round wears off pretty quick once you've done it for long enough.
I'm talking Mechanical though.
I've often looked at Architects & Civils using 2d & thought why the hell don't they use 3d ?? For mechanical design its quicker.

When we moved offices the desk layout was done in 3d in Inventor.

I've often looked at Architects & Civils using 2d & thought why the hell don't they use 3d ?? For mechanical design its quicker.

Surely must be quicker for structures to, no? Well the steel side anyways.

We're learning that Revit is completely different from autocad. You have to unlearn what you did in autocad to do it Revit. I'm looking forward to only having to draw a plant room once!

I've often looked at Architects & Civils using 2d & thought why the hell don't they use 3d ?? For mechanical design its quicker.

We do and it is.

The setup takes longer but civil 3D is incredibly powerful.

From survey to bill of quantities updating as and when more information is needed.

Its not a drafting tool though you need the skill and some sort of sympathy for what you're doing.

Unlike everyones advice I have not qualifications that directly correspond to civils and I'm almost completely self taught.

The biggest battle is convincing people you're not a draughtsman.

I'd say an artistic flair and a problemsolving ability are more important than any kind of training.

And IT background is probably quite useful too.

Infact can you fix my computer?