Voluntary CAD Job

WingZero30 · 30 Jul 2010 at 18:23

Hi guys

I need all the advice please. Basically I am an aerospace engineering graduate who graduated 4 years ago. You probably guessed it right I don't have any engineering experience. Since then it has been a long story.

I am interested in the field of cad design. Couple of months ago I did Autodesk Inventor 3D course at my local college which covered fundamentals of creating and assembling 3d models. I then started learning Autocad 2005, Autocad 2010 and Autodesk Inventor. I managed to grasp sufficient knowledge of 2d and 3d drawings in these packages and enjoyed creating random models.

I then applied to many jobs including middle east but they mainly want 3-5+ years of experience

. So I didn't get anywhere. After this I didn't bother with cad programs and do feel that I am beginning to forget the stuff I learnt.

Now I am thinking maybe I should ask for a volunteer cad position in a company maybe construction/civil etc and work for free. The problem is I am living in London and most companies seem to be outside the capital. Are there any within london?
If some of them do agree to take me on (if that ever happens) as a volunteer then I don't know how I will cover my living expenses. Other than this plan I don't see any other way of getting engineering job.

All the advice would be much appreciated as this is another plight from an unemployed graduate

jwest · 30 Jul 2010 at 18:35

Internship?

scorza · 30 Jul 2010 at 18:39

Thales have an office in SW London (Raynes Park), or did have a couple of years ago anyway. I don't really have any advice to give about living expenses, I don't like intern-ships because I think they're almost impossible for those who don't have rich parents to support them.

Maybe you could ask if travel expenses incurred could be re-imbursed since you'd be working for free - this might open up some options in the home counties for you.

Xandos · 30 Jul 2010 at 18:44

I'm a 3d artist, work with 3ds Max and stuff, not exactly the same field, I guess you're looking for proper CAD design stuff like solidworks/autocad etc? Watch millions of video tutorials, keep building stuff, and get a decent minimal portfolio (only your best work), write a good covering letter stating your position, desire to learn the industry, get experience, what knowledge you do have..... etc.

I'm in London, and that's where most of the jobs in my field seem to be, and I get the impression that a few of these places are really happy to take on people for nothing/cheap and abuse their skills. The trouble is if you'll waste more company time than you will provide use...

My dad's an engineer, and I get the impression that a lot of 3d guys that he works with are poor and charge a massive whack, so it's potentially a good field....

If it's a really good opportunity for free, you could maybe take a graduate loan or something out?

WingZero30 · 30 Jul 2010 at 18:50

yeah I was learning from video tutorials aswell as website tutorials. I am happy working with both 2d and 3d. The thing is 3d design obviously takes longer as more steps are involved in the creative process. I assume that construction/architect companies are heavily involved in CAD. Which type of companies use Inventor software?

Ricochet J · 30 Jul 2010 at 19:50

Most of this still probably applies:

Ricochet J said:
Never too early to start e-mailing. If you're flexible, make sure you highlight you are more than happy to consider moving location. Employers dig this. Try to branch out slightly from CAD type stuff, it will give you more selection of jobs to apply to. Have you ever considered a project management placement? This will also speak volumes on your future CV. You'll be competition with thousands of other grads, so highlight technical abilities. Highlighting stuff like Word is pointless when targetting CAD jobs - they'd expect you to know that stuff if you're operating AutoCAD. Rather spend that space going into brief detail on what CAD packages you've used, and an example of your work.

My biggest advice: get stuck into as many pies as possible.

A few companies which I know who do the kind of work you want:
- TWI Limited in Cambridge. Don't dismiss this, it's not just all about welding.
- Thames Water. They're undergoing a huge project in London renewing old pipework and want undergrads. A lot of engineers and designers are using CAD for underground schematics.
- EADS Astrium. They're also very keen on undergrads. Although a lot of competition for this.
- TfL. They do extensive project management placements. The kind of projects you'll be involved in are within the LU projects directorate. Stuff like Bank station upgrade works. They're itching for CAD under/grads. Especially after Tubelines and Metronet are now defunct, all engineering type stuff is now done in house.
- EDF. They're currently doing vast projects across the UK since it integrated with British Energy. They recently re-opened their placements page. It's an easy application process for such a large organisation. Get in before anyone else does!
- Corus. They do a hell of a lot of CAD stuff. They have a huge office in Rotherham and often take undergrad placements to work on their BSS-133 300M Landing Gear Grade Steel. This is a very lucrative industry to work for. They also operate a "Spend a night with Corus scheme." My advice is look it up and apply to the scheme. It'll help quite a lot (people who I know who went on this scheme got placements, and in the end grad jobs with Corus).

- Sign up to EDT YiNI as soon as possible. They'll help you find placements. It's a good place to start.

From this thread:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18165245&highlight=placement

Best way I have found to volunteer is to approach a company directly, as in, actually go to the office, ask the receptionist to put you through to a relevant person and go from there. TWI in Camrbidge (50 mins drive from London) is a really good bet for CAD type stuff.

Aero · 30 Jul 2010 at 19:58

Take a look at the Highways agency MAC areas although we're facing budget cuts CAD technicians are always needed. They won't be within london but outside. Take a look at them I think Enterprise/Mouchel have area 3 (Kent) with Mouchel being the consultant. I know theres a job in one of our offices going but thats in kettering, which might be a bit far for you

Stupot_ · 30 Jul 2010 at 20:04

Most architecture firms use autocad. Plenty will be looking for technicians, however you would be more of a hindrance if you have no construction knowledge as you would be expected to detail up a building without nagging the architect all the time. It's something you could train for though.

WingZero30 · 30 Jul 2010 at 20:10

Stupot_ said:
Most architecture firms use autocad. Plenty will be looking for technicians, however you would be more of a hindrance if you have no construction knowledge as you would be expected to detail up a building without nagging the architect all the time. It's something you could train for though.

This is exactly what I mean. If I have basic CAD knowledge as a graduate at entry level and I am asking for a voluntary position, then atleast help me in the trade/work etc. I can't be expected to know everything.

Stupot_ · 30 Jul 2010 at 20:14

No, true. I would be surprised if someone didn't offer you a voluntary position for a while. Even if it's just shadowing someone and learning the lingo.

WingZero30 · 30 Jul 2010 at 20:27

From my experience once you leave uni you are on your own. Also if a person has all the relevant qualifications but no experience then it is likey that 90% of the time he won't get the job. I know volunteering is very common in charity sector but how is it in companies?

jumpy · 30 Jul 2010 at 21:15

On the flip-side, I'm a draughtsman/CAD technician, CADmonkey whatever you want to call it.

Although I'm educated to above A-level (10gcse 3a-level, art and music and a few other things post educational)I have no specific discipline qualifications (like architectural technician/engineering hnc or whatever) but I'm pretty well up on the CAD side of things: 2d design, 3dwireframe, 3dsolids etc to C&G qualification. I'm well versed in most AutoCAD releases from R14 to 2009/10.

I have industry experience ranging from refrigeration engineering/design/maintenance (so, store planning, fitouts, pipework, servicing and all of the daily experience of running projects from start to finish without supervision), to fire-alarm installation & design (same again, but with the actual programming of the alarm panel software for the integrated alarm display control), to engineering manufacturing design of mechanical lift and conveyor systems (of all I've done, I disliked this the most - trying to draw a 3d object you have never seen before in 2d 3 point projection can be a real pain, particularly if you make a mistake and it's duplicated in the fabrication shop downstairs

).

All of my practical CAD experience is over the last 10 years or so, mostly working full-time, with some temping in-between.

Unless an intern-ship (working for free) is for a mahoosive company with many different departments/contracting services who are looking for an individual for the long-term placement/job, my advice to you is get your foot in the door with a trainee position (either direct with a company or through any of the myriad of specialist agencies out there). Forget working for free - you might gain some practical experience by working for nothing, but all it'll really do is 'show willingness' which is not the same as on the job experience, and besides you'll probably end up as the office tea-boy or the 'photocopier guy' (and trust me this last one is utterly soul destroying, especially on a friday afternoon).

Trainee positions will be far below your understanding based on your qualifications, but you have to suck it up on what amounts to minimum wage, at least for a year or so.

The way things are now, you'll be damned lucky to land yourself any kind of CAD job. I've been looking in the midlands for the last 18 months and apart from the odd hnc qualification prerequisite job, most of what's advertised here is middle manager/design & maintenance engineer positions. I know quite a few other draughtsman and most of them tell the same story - 50-75% redundancy/job loss for their CAD departments/drawing offices. Granted most of these job-losses were from the middle to the end of last year, but the important thing is these companies are still not generally looking to replace these cuts in the workforce at this time.

Currently I'm trying to get a forklift license through the jobcentre and learndirect... sadly this means I have to do a micky-mouse adult literacy and numeracy qualification whilst I wait for a month before I can do the H&S test then finally do the practical bit of learning forklift operation. These guys sure like wasting their money and my time, that's for sure - as a forklift course takes about a week at the most and does not require qualifications other than H&S + practical test.

This says everything that's wrong imo.

Best of luck. Although there's probably at least 10 more applicants applying for the same jobs as you, with more experience than you; if you don't ask, you don't get.

(any of you CADmonkeys recognise the graphic in my sig?)