Autodesk Technology Managers Forum
Share your knowledge, ask questions, and engage with fellow CAD/BIM Managers.
cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

My first CAD test: Was I too tough?

255 REPLIES 255
Reply
Message 1 of 256
Anonymous
3799 Views, 255 Replies

My first CAD test: Was I too tough?

all,

I've never given any prospective employee a "CAD Test," but I was asked to do so
today. I quickly came up with 20 questions which I figured any knowledgable
person who knows the program would be able to hit it out the park.

Instead, I got a serious case of deer-in-the-headlights-itis.

I didn't want to make it version specific, but I understand some questions would
not be answerable for someone running an older release, and gave the person a
pass in those cases.

I also didn't care if the questions were "useful" on a day to day basis; the
idea was to get an idea of how well the user knows AutoCAD.

So, I'll ask you guys: Was this a decent CAD questionnaire?

1. What are the names of the first 7 AutoCAD ACI colors?
1 =
2 =
3 =
4 =
5 =
6 =
7 =

2. What are System Variables? How are they used?

3. When dimensioning in Model space, what DIMSCALE value would you use for
dimensioning for a 3/16"=1'-0" plot?

4. When working with External References (Xrefs) what is the difference between
Overlay and Attach?

5. How would you specify a Viewport scale of 1/4"=1'-0" in a Paper Space
Viewport, using the Command Line?

6. What is a CUI file?

7. What is a fast method for selecting MText objects with a Style of "MEDIUM"?

8. What does the FROM osnap do?

9. What does Zoom Dynamic do?

10. What are the special rules concerning layers and colors in Blocks?

11. If you dimension two parallel walls and get a dimension of 14'-5 13/256",
what do you do?

12. What is one way of dimensioning something along an angle?

13. Explain the difference between the DIVIDE and MEASURE commands.

14. What does PSLTSCALE do?

15. What is an easy way to open an Xref from a parent file?

16. What is an easy way to close a Polyline?

17. What support file do you modify to create custom command aliases?

18. What is the command-line sequence you would use to change all Xref layer
colors to color #8 (gray)?

19. What does BATTMAN do?

20. What command do you use to change your default Plotter?

Extra Credit / Trick Questions:

1. During the MOVE command, what happens if you hit in response to the
"Specify second point or :" prompt?

2. What generally happens when you do a PERPendicular Osnap on a Spline curve?


I had some more trick questions, but since the first 20 didn't go so well, we
just called it a day at that point 😞


Matt
mstachoni@comcast.net
mstachoni@bhhtait.com
255 REPLIES 255
Message 21 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Matt Stachoni wrote:
> I was really looking for UCS. I think Dim Aligned dimensions are next
> to useless because of how they behave, and wanted to see if she knew
> that.

you looking for an employee,
or a Date?
Message 22 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

How many know from the info at the command line or in the dialog box what
ALL of the UCS options are? How about E, OB, 3? Helps to have come from
previous versions which actually still had these listed.

>> 12. What is one way of dimensioning something along an angle?
>good question.
>I assume Dim Aligned, and rotate UCS are acceptable answers?

I was really looking for UCS. I think Dim Aligned dimensions are next to
useless
because of how they behave, and wanted to see if she knew that.
Message 23 of 256
pcaruthers
in reply to: Anonymous

Matt, I like it. Cad test are funny. Many people in this group, don't have any use for them. I use a two part test. one written, and a 10 min drawing test (a small c-store). my applicants get as much time as needed on the written.

I've found that these combined with a good 11-15 min chat, is a great way to quickly screen out applicants. I know many people don't test well. Or others say you can't tell how well a person draws by a test....all true. But IT"S A TOOL...Not the deciding factor...

My test which I've attached has 20 questions also. most have multipule answers. I will never go back to untested hiring.

Paul Caruthers
Message 24 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

See I prefer BYBLOCK

Matt Stachoni wrote:
>
>>> 10. What are the special rules concerning layers and colors in Blocks?
>> This answer could be an AU topic .
>
> She actually did give the right answer I was looking form, which was to use
> Layer 0 and color Bylayer.
Message 25 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

I found it a bit tough to Matt & I started on r10 but again, another dirt
guy. I think it's tougher that the Augi Dawg Pound tests but you will be
able to separate power users from users with this test. I agree with Jack
that it seems a bit slanted towards customizing.

You would have gotten a deer in the headlight look from me on

1. I know 1-red, 3= green, 5 = blue, I would have guessed at the rest.
8 . never used it
9. never used it
10. do you want by layer, by block or hard coded colors, linetypes
11. this depends on how anal the person reviewing my work is
13. I use divide but have never used measure
19. We don't have a single block attribute to modify.

Extra.
1 Whoa Nelly, I would answer, "sit me in from of the program & I'll tell
ya'.
2. My answer would be radial but my graphics don't show smooth curves on a
splined pline & you can't really tell without an angle dim (see attached).
We also shy from splined curves. Just to note, my veiwres sys variable is
set to 10,000 & I regened so I got #2. 😉


--
John Mayo
Project Engineer
Conklin Associates
Ramsey, NJ

Civil 3D 2007, LDT 2007, Raster Design 2007
P-IV at 3.5 GHz
2 GB Ram
Nvidea Quadro FX w/ 128 MB Ram
"Matt Stachoni" wrote in message
news:5569527@discussion.autodesk.com...
all,

I've never given any prospective employee a "CAD Test," but I was asked to
do so
today. I quickly came up with 20 questions which I figured any knowledgable
person who knows the program would be able to hit it out the park.

Instead, I got a serious case of deer-in-the-headlights-itis.

I didn't want to make it version specific, but I understand some questions
would
not be answerable for someone running an older release, and gave the person
a
pass in those cases.

I also didn't care if the questions were "useful" on a day to day basis; the
idea was to get an idea of how well the user knows AutoCAD.

So, I'll ask you guys: Was this a decent CAD questionnaire?

1. What are the names of the first 7 AutoCAD ACI colors?
1 =
2 =
3 =
4 =
5 =
6 =
7 =

2. What are System Variables? How are they used?

3. When dimensioning in Model space, what DIMSCALE value would you use for
dimensioning for a 3/16"=1'-0" plot?

4. When working with External References (Xrefs) what is the difference
between
Overlay and Attach?

5. How would you specify a Viewport scale of 1/4"=1'-0" in a Paper Space
Viewport, using the Command Line?

6. What is a CUI file?

7. What is a fast method for selecting MText objects with a Style of
"MEDIUM"?

8. What does the FROM osnap do?

9. What does Zoom Dynamic do?

10. What are the special rules concerning layers and colors in Blocks?

11. If you dimension two parallel walls and get a dimension of 14'-5
13/256",
what do you do?

12. What is one way of dimensioning something along an angle?

13. Explain the difference between the DIVIDE and MEASURE commands.

14. What does PSLTSCALE do?

15. What is an easy way to open an Xref from a parent file?

16. What is an easy way to close a Polyline?

17. What support file do you modify to create custom command aliases?

18. What is the command-line sequence you would use to change all Xref layer
colors to color #8 (gray)?

19. What does BATTMAN do?

20. What command do you use to change your default Plotter?

Extra Credit / Trick Questions:

1. During the MOVE command, what happens if you hit in response to
the
"Specify second point or :" prompt?

2. What generally happens when you do a PERPendicular Osnap on a Spline
curve?


I had some more trick questions, but since the first 20 didn't go so well,
we
just called it a day at that point 😞


Matt
mstachoni@comcast.net
mstachoni@bhhtait.com
Message 26 of 256
ladonna101
in reply to: Anonymous

I've got to tell you, I'm not sure I could answer all of the questions you asked without looking them up and I'm positive most of my draftspeople couldn't - note I didn't hire all of them. To me the best test would be to sit someone down in front of a computer and have them draw. Have them draw something similar to what they would be doing for you that would be easy for you to check and also time them to gauge how efficient they are. If you want you could also give them the same test, but in front of the computer and time them. This allows them to look things up in help or just using a few commands, but rather than testing their memory skills you would be testing their efficiency. I'd much rather hire someone that can look up a question and find the answer themselves in an efficient manner than one that has certain things memorized. The other difficult thing about your test is the fact that everyone uses cad differently. Some people use menus, some keystrokes, etc. Just because I run a command differently than someone else doesn't necessarily mean that my way is better.

One last thought, the person you tested may not have ever had someone teach her the things you asked her about and that's a shame. However, if you talk to this person or let them show you their abilities to draw you may find that they are quite good and easily adapt/learn.
Message 27 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Number 11 was the only question I understood 😉

<%= Clinton Gallagher
NET csgallagher AT metromilwaukee.com
URL http://clintongallagher.metromilwaukee.com/


"Matt Stachoni" wrote in message
news:5569631@discussion.autodesk.com...
On Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:43:31 +0000, Tom Smith <> wrote:

>My guess would be, fix the darn walls so they're the correct distance
>apart.

DING DING DING DING DING!

The person's answer was "I would change my dimension style's precision
setting."
Which sent the hair on the back of my neck curling.

Matt
mstachoni@comcast.net
mstachoni@bhhtait.com
Message 28 of 256
jackshield
in reply to: Anonymous

BOOOOOOOOOO!
Message 29 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

i would never hire that person if he couldn't answer at least 1/2 (if not
most) of those questions....

one i like to ask is "what is the difference between xref overlay and xref
attach?"....



--
Steven Ondrias, Technician
President =====> Hunters of Texas
VP =====> Amigo and Jetta Society of America
Member =====> Ted Nugent Fan Club
C3DPOS dual 19's Matrox 650-128 XPpro sp2 dual P 3 Ghz 2GB ram
eagle point guru...
overall a nice guy......
t5's official sausage sender.....


"Matt Stachoni" wrote in message
news:5569527@discussion.autodesk.com...
all,

I've never given any prospective employee a "CAD Test," but I was asked to
do so
today. I quickly came up with 20 questions which I figured any knowledgable
person who knows the program would be able to hit it out the park.

Instead, I got a serious case of deer-in-the-headlights-itis.

I didn't want to make it version specific, but I understand some questions
would
not be answerable for someone running an older release, and gave the person
a
pass in those cases.

I also didn't care if the questions were "useful" on a day to day basis; the
idea was to get an idea of how well the user knows AutoCAD.

So, I'll ask you guys: Was this a decent CAD questionnaire?

1. What are the names of the first 7 AutoCAD ACI colors?
1 =
2 =
3 =
4 =
5 =
6 =
7 =

2. What are System Variables? How are they used?

3. When dimensioning in Model space, what DIMSCALE value would you use for
dimensioning for a 3/16"=1'-0" plot?

4. When working with External References (Xrefs) what is the difference
between
Overlay and Attach?

5. How would you specify a Viewport scale of 1/4"=1'-0" in a Paper Space
Viewport, using the Command Line?

6. What is a CUI file?

7. What is a fast method for selecting MText objects with a Style of
"MEDIUM"?

8. What does the FROM osnap do?

9. What does Zoom Dynamic do?

10. What are the special rules concerning layers and colors in Blocks?

11. If you dimension two parallel walls and get a dimension of 14'-5
13/256",
what do you do?

12. What is one way of dimensioning something along an angle?

13. Explain the difference between the DIVIDE and MEASURE commands.

14. What does PSLTSCALE do?

15. What is an easy way to open an Xref from a parent file?

16. What is an easy way to close a Polyline?

17. What support file do you modify to create custom command aliases?

18. What is the command-line sequence you would use to change all Xref layer
colors to color #8 (gray)?

19. What does BATTMAN do?

20. What command do you use to change your default Plotter?

Extra Credit / Trick Questions:

1. During the MOVE command, what happens if you hit in response to
the
"Specify second point or :" prompt?

2. What generally happens when you do a PERPendicular Osnap on a Spline
curve?


I had some more trick questions, but since the first 20 didn't go so well,
we
just called it a day at that point 😞


Matt
mstachoni@comcast.net
mstachoni@bhhtait.com
Message 30 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

heh, yeah I know but it offers a flexibility I like to have if needed.

jackshield wrote:
> BOOOOOOOOOO!
Message 31 of 256
pcaruthers
in reply to: Anonymous

like I said, the written test is only one of 3 parts, and to be honest, I don't expect anyone to answer all of the questions correctly.a drawings test is also given. I hit the F2 key and scroll back through the commands, I like to see what commands they used. I'll check it for accuracy and several other things. I have them take the drawing that they just created and use it as an Xref (I watch them do it)....and then of course the final chat. We talk about both the test. what I was looking for from each. and of course all those other interview questions......

Paul

Message was edited by: Paul Caruthers
Message 32 of 256
ladonna101
in reply to: Anonymous

I didn't read your test prior to my last post, I was just responding to the original mostly, but I find your test to be more along the lines of what I would like to see. While they are both similar it seems that your test would require more of an understanding of AutoCAD than a memorization.
Message 33 of 256
C O Jones
in reply to: Anonymous

Paul,

If I was to show up for a CAD test where you wanted me to draw something, would you let me plug in my thumb drive and load some lisp files?

Thanks,
CO
Message 34 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Why? Not everybody does things the same way, doesn't make them wrong.
Maybe like remembering the words to a song is much easier when the music
is playing remembering how to do something in Autocad is easier when at
the keyboard and mouse.

That's why if your going to test somebody it should be a hands on test.

Steven Ondrias wrote:
> i would never hire that person if he couldn't answer at least 1/2 (if not
> most) of those questions....
>
> one i like to ask is "what is the difference between xref overlay and xref
> attach?"....
>
>
>
Message 35 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

On Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:49:07 +0000, Lance W. wrote:

>heh, yeah I know but it offers a flexibility I like to have if needed.

BYBLOCK would certainly have been acceptable as well.

Matt
mstachoni@comcast.net
mstachoni@bhhtait.com
Message 36 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

How about, what's a block? Do you mean wblocks?

Matt Stachoni wrote:
> On Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:49:07 +0000, Lance W. wrote:
>
>> heh, yeah I know but it offers a flexibility I like to have if needed.
>
> BYBLOCK would certainly have been acceptable as well.
>
> Matt
> mstachoni@comcast.net
> mstachoni@bhhtait.com
Message 37 of 256
C O Jones
in reply to: Anonymous

11. If you dimension two parallel walls and get a dimension of 14'-5 13/256",what do you do?

So you want them to move the wall by some amount to make the value more like 14'-5 1/4". But, maybe now the other dimensions effected by this arbitrary change are reading in the 256's?
Message 38 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

For the record:

>Extra Credit / Trick Questions:

>1. During the MOVE command, what happens if you hit in response to the
>"Specify second point or :" prompt?

The object disappears. Poof. Gone. I can't believe that no one here did not pick
up on that.

This has been a bug in AutoCAD since, I don't know, Release 1 or something.

>2. What generally happens when you do a PERPendicular Osnap on a Spline curve?

AutoCAD crashes 🙂

Matt
mstachoni@comcast.net
mstachoni@bhhtait.com
Message 39 of 256
pcaruthers
in reply to: Anonymous

no. but I would certainly like to look at them if it is something they themselves developed.
Message 40 of 256
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

1. It gets moved into never never land to hide until you zoom all. shrug
maybe sometimes it actually does disappear.

2. Seems to work for me in 06, of course I use splines once in a blue
moon so I had to actually try it.

Lance W.

Matt Stachoni wrote:
> For the record:
>
>> Extra Credit / Trick Questions:
>
>> 1. During the MOVE command, what happens if you hit in response to the
>> "Specify second point or :" prompt?
>
> The object disappears. Poof. Gone. I can't believe that no one here did not pick
> up on that.
>
> This has been a bug in AutoCAD since, I don't know, Release 1 or something.
>
>> 2. What generally happens when you do a PERPendicular Osnap on a Spline curve?
>
> AutoCAD crashes 🙂
>
> Matt
> mstachoni@comcast.net
> mstachoni@bhhtait.com

Can't find what you're looking for? Ask the community or share your knowledge.

Post to forums  

Administrator Productivity


Autodesk Design & Make Report