Hi all, I've been self-studying AutoCAD with a student license the last few months, and I'm wondering if employers would hire someone whose only experience drafting is the time they spent learning and an AutoCAD Professional Certificate.
Is it worth the money ($150)?
Thanks in advance!
Nope,
If they want you, they will train you, if they don't, they will say we're hiring experienced person.
If you aren't going to miss the 150.00 - Id get it done. It can only be a plus on a resume.
Look into government contracting with the Navy (in particular, as it is my current field for 10+ years as a mechanical drafter). If there is a spot hiring, normally there is a drafting or engineering group willing to help train you. I've only had an Associate's Degree ever since my first job as a Drafter, but everything I know has come from OTJ training and learning the program for customers. Definitely worth the 150.
It can help if there is a lot of competition for jobs in your area. The problem is it doesn't say that you are any more qualified than the next guy. It just means that you know the software.
It also illustrates that you are willing to take the initiative and invest in yourself.
It won't hurt you to get certified; it also will not guarantee employment.
Typically, for students breaking into the job market, you get someone in a ‘key position’ to read your resume then he offers you an interview. (A key position doesn’t have to be a VIP hiring manager, it could be your future immediate supervisor.) If the job opening generates a ton of responses, typical when posted in a hiring service, then your cover letter (goes hand-in-hand w/the resume) puts your resume in the keep pile while the remaining resumes get discarded.
The resume and cover letter play a critical role and yes, everyone understands it’s not totally fair b/c qualified applicants can get shafted while under qualified ones stay alive and proceed in the hiring process. It’s the game, and you, the applicant, gotta play it.
The key is to stand out and showcase your ability at the same time. And all this must occur within the parameters of a cover letter and resume.
If you get an invite, create a portfolio of hardcopies and bring it to the interview. Neatly organize them. And no, a paperclip or staple doesn’t count as organization. If they’re D-size drawings you can make half sized copies, just get them printed on paper. And by all means create a professional looking titleblock complete with a fictitious firm name and address (shows your ‘creativity’ in a subliminal way).
Less than 5% of entry level applicants create a portfolio so if standing out is your goal, and it should be, be prepared and create one.
So which applicant gets hired?
Given the hypotheticals above, how do you think a firm would weigh the importance of a certificate?
Look at several job posting websites, like Indeed, Monster, etc, and search for "Certification". You'll find very very few list AutoCAD certification.
Meanwhile, be prepared to "audition", by drawing something handed to you, and answer questions about it. I applied for teaching job and had to proof I know what limits tolerancing was.
What I believe is that Certifications can give us an Edge over others. If you are going for an Interview, you may have some slight advantage over the others. But if you are not able to answer what the interviewer is asking you, even the certificate won't help you get a Job.
It depends on what you know. And also, if you don't have a Certification, but have a Good Experience with the Software, maybe without a Certificate, you can get a Good Job...
No. If you will work as a designer, you need certification. An AutoCAD draftsman creates a package of working documentation with Autodesk AutoCAD software: prepares working documentation on the basis of 3D models and planning decisions, makes drawings, draws details, draws up specifications. Can interact with the client, travel to the site for measurements, communicate with related specialists (visualizers, engineers, builders). If you look at Ratings IT companies, you will notice different requirements for specialties.
@jordanrichards320 Yes, definetily. Technically speaking that job title is called CAD Operator since you haven't actually followed a Drafting Course. I have met plenty of CAD operators throughout my career. Go for it.