Jared,
You may or may not get all your questions answered publicly here, I for one
can tell you a couple of things to be prepared for. From 8/96 to 11/02, I
worked as a Mechanical A/E for 2 different resellers and a couple of the
most important things I would point out are as follows:
1. Be prepared to spend time off the clock preparing for demo's,
presentations and training. In my experience there is simply too much going
on at the office during regular hours to devote enough time if you really
want to be a good presenter. This will remain true even after you know the
software front to back. Simply because your best presentations for
one-on-one demos will focus the demo to the clients needs, and the software
changes so frequently, this is simply something you must be prepared to do.
2. Practice every presentation/demo, multiple times prior to going out to
the customer site. If anything can go wrong, trust me it will go wrong at
the customer or presentation site
.
3. Hopefully you will be teamed with a great Sales person, who realizes when
to talk and when not to, that goes the same for you. When in a client
meeting, remember the Account Manager is GOD and you are there to support
him/her. If you are teamed with a good sales person, they will think the
opposite, and present you that way to the customer. The bottom line is that
each of you must work as a team and edify each other.
4. When you start teaching, please for your own sake and the sake of the
students, KNOW THE MATERIAL. I for one can tell you from experience, the
hardest thing to do is TEACH a class. It is the most mentally training task
you will have as an A/E, however if done correctly can also be one of the
most rewarding.
5. Being an A/E can be one of the most fun positions in the world as long as
you like working with the software, like to deal with customers, and are
willing to work as a team with the sales person.
6. In the 7 years I worked as an A/E, I probably averaged about 60 hours per
week, but I was always paid a salary and when I needed time off, I took it
without any loss pay. This will entirely depend on who you work for. But
generally this position, should demand you be compensated and treated as a
professional, in a white collar position.
7. If you know the software, passing the exams are not difficult. In my 7
years, I never failed one, but I know A/E's that have.
8. Never think that you are required to know everything, but be able to
assure you clients that you can find an answer to their question or problem.
Sometimes the answer is good, sometimes it is not, but there should always
be an answer.
9. Represent your customer first, and Autodesk second. This means to always
place the customers needs and concerns first, and hopefully Autodesk will
have a solution to their problems.
That about covers the generalities, if you would like to contact me via
email you can certainly do so.
P.S. It can be a very rewarding career move!
Ron Myers
www.crware.com
"Jared R. Finkenbinder - Lone Wolf Design" wrote in
message news:1B9646DB742A5F348AC8F80CC5E5AB89@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I suppose this is the best place to ask, I have been in talks with a local
> reseller here to become their new Architectural Application Engineer. I
was
> wanting to find out from others in this or similar position what thoughts,
> advice gotchyas, etc. Just so I can go into this new position with a
little
> of preparedness.
>
> I have been using ACAD since release 9 and have been working largely in
the
> Architectural fields since 1985. I have an Associates degree in
> Architecture. I have teaching experience both one on one and classroom
> settings, and have served as Draftsman, CAD Manager and Project Manager at
> several firms in the past.
>
> I know I would need to first learn about the verticals (ADT, Bldg Sys) and
> Revit, VIZ and MAX inside and out. what has been your experience in those
> product lines? How are the Training Certification and Partner Service
Exams?
> I know, and I don't expect anyone to give me answers or test questions,
nor
> would I ever ask, but what would be the best road to travel to prepare for
> these exams? How many of you are "self taught" vs. formally trained?
>
> If not employed directly by ADESK, how large is the firm you are with?
What
> is your percentage of time between teaching/tech support/other
> presentations? What kind of hours are you spending at the job "on the
> clock"? Are you full time or part time/contract? If you are part time or
> contract do you hold other positions somewhere? To start out with this
will
> be a contract position. And if you feel ok to answer, what kind of pay
are
> AE's receiving? And along the same lines, what kind of benefits do you
> receive?
>
> I appreciate any and all advice, encouragement, warnings anyone can give!
>
> Thanks in advance!
> Jared R. Finkenbinder
> 720-540-0700, 303-817-9004
> mailto:lonewolf@ultra2k.com
>
>
>
>
>
![Autodesk Design & Make Report](https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/1350519iCB55845EBFC43016/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999" "Autodesk Design & Make Report")