Simple Civil 3D Test for New Hires

[trevor.mahoney]

Does anyone have a test for new hires and how well they operate Civil 3D that I can purchase? Alternatively does anyone know someone who does freelance work that I could hire to develop and Civil3D test for new hires?

Thanks

[RobertEVs]

Quick way to test a new employee. Have them import a points file with standard labels. Then tell them you want to see the prefix "topo" in every point number. I offer this example because we had a guy that was asked to do this very thing, He put mtext of "topo" in front of every single point number. Took him all day. I told the boss that could have been a 3-minute job.

[Joe-Bouza]

If testing then your search sounds like it is looking for a technician as opposed to a designer.

Forget the test and seek reliable well mannered individuals that will fit your group.

anyone can be taught to use civil3d.

[Joe-Bouza]

That's sad. Maybe more sad that you all watched him do it. I cant imagine how bad he felt. 

There is always room at the table and sometimes we have to offer our seat to fellows that need one.

[_Hathaway]

You cant have alphanumeric letters in C3d Point numbers, that's an impossible task. However, if that was asked of me, I would export to excel and concentanate them. Move them to the point name row and then reimport to C3d with an import style that supports point names. We never ever use point names but I'm sure it wouldn't take long to figure out. How would you do it?

I've been using c3d since the beginning and never ever had a request like this from anyone.

[RobertEVs]

Au contraire. I heard the request and did not have time to "watch him do it" I simply noticed when the boss came later that day and asked him if he was finished, and he replied "almost"

[RobertEVs]

hmmm..pretty sure my IP said import WITH labels.

 

[PeterKozub]

Hi 

Ask them to send samples of previous Work

Like the attached make sure they have there initials in the

title block.

See attached

Regards

[PeterKozub]

Hi

Well Said Joe on two posts

Spot On 

we as a person =  start some where with a hire master and commander = Joe B directing the work

well some day.

Drawings provide certainty and direction

Or no drawings / poor= kaos = much pain

Kaos = a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order

1 Golden kudo for Joe = 3 likes

Regards 

[Joe-Bouza]

@PeterKozub  we are all in it together. 

Cheers

Thank you

[Udo_Huebner]

To check your Civil 3D knowledge, you can take a certification. It is a comprehensive test.
https://www.autodesk.com/certification/all-certifications/civil-3d-infrastructure-design-professiona...

However, no one should be hired on the basis of a test result. You have to fit into the team and enjoy your work.
Every new colleague should receive comprehensive onboarding, including product training for all programs to be used on a daily basis. Here, the trainer and also the colleague himself will immediately see deficits, which can then be worked on in order to work efficiently.

[Neilw_05]

No one is proficient with this software without at least 3-5 years full time experience with comprehensive top level mentoring on a broad scope of projects, or 5-10 yrs if they are highly motivated to learn things on their own. There is a lot more to this software than knowing how it works. There are 3 steps to proficiency: 1) learning the tools and how they work, 2) learning how to apply the various tools in day to day scenarios, 3) learning how to troubleshoot the problems/deficiencies and their workarounds that will be surely encountered with the software.

Don't buy in to the marketing hype about having credentials from training courses. Only EXPERIENCED HIGHLY SKILLED users can make this software work with any measure of efficiency.

[rgrainer]

Only VERY HIGHLY SKILLED users can make this software work with any measure of efficiency.

---

That's why I've always vouched for giving a potential hire a basic drafting test of a simple run of the mill civil type detail, like a cross gutter in section view. Tell them to copy or recreate it the best way they know in 15 minutes. No other rules or guidelines. See the results and make your determination then based on basic cad skills, layering and end result. Did they draw it to scale, use of osnaps demonstrated and all the other things that make for a good drafter, if they know C3D ask em some basic questions and feel the level of knowledge in their reply. You'll sniff out the good ones real quick.

[Neilw_05]

Anyone with basic Autocad skills can draw a detail. C3D users need to have a comprehensive knowledge about all the C3D tools and workflows. That includes setting up and managing data shortcuts, managing styles, cogo points, terrain modeling, corridor modeling, grading tools, pipe networks, plans production and on and on. Then there are the Map/GIS tools. Even a highly skilled user will need an understanding of industry practices and national and local development codes in order to produce proper documents. All of these factors need to be assessed when evaluating a new hire in context with the objective.

[rgrainer]

Needles to say, that's a tall order; to find a well rounded individual with experience in all of those tasks and workflows. They are out there. Testing all of those facets of C3D could take a good while. In talking about a users experience, a savvy cad manager could evaluate a users general knowledge fairly quickly. I still contend that an unsupervised cad drawing test can reveal much.

I was once tested by someone sitting behind me just asking me to flip a triangle edge, pan and restore views, label some contours and or some other basic civil tasks. Got the job.

[Joe-Bouza]

When I first got out of school and on the job we were learning in roads. I was reading the manual and this sentence comes up: “This software will not teach you how to design”.

[JasonArtley]

Since you are asking about buying a test, here are two options:

Knowledge Smart https://www.knowledgesmart.net/our-assessments

Global E Training has a GetInsights platform with a testing portion https://www.globaletraining.net

One of the tricky things I've found over the years is that someone highly skilled in survey, might not know corridors, and vice versa. So if an applicant takes a test, gets bombarded with questions about a portion of Civil3D they might not proficient in, it can affect their mindset for the rest of the test. They might do stellar at the questions that are relevant to their experience, but bomb the others. The score at the end might not give you the "truth" about their experience. It's best to test people on what skills they'll actually need to do the job you're asking of them if you want a truthful assessment.

[MMcCall402]

I've found applicants fall into one of two categories.  They either know how to draw but don't know what to draw, or they know what to draw but don't know how.  If they can to both, hire them immediately!

Test them for what you want them to be able to do.  Let them ask questions during the test and be available for those questions.  You may learn more about them from that than any test.

[AllenJessup]

It's difficult to get an OOTB test. Every place is a bit different. We do no Subdivision work so a test that was heavily skewed towards parcels would not get us what we need. 

As @Joe-Bouza has mentioned. If you need a designer. You need to test their design skills. I've seen too many questions in this forum from people who know a bit about the program but almost nothing about design. I won't even mention some of the work we've gotten from consultants.

I'd suggest picking a few drawing from the included Civil 3D tutorials that fit what work you do. Let the prospective employee look over the drawing then explain how they would tackle the work. That might be enough of an evaluation without even having them work on the drawing. Or. At least give you a feeling in they should continue.

[brian.strandberg]

I have never felt very positively of CAD tests for employment outside of the comprehensive certification exams.

I ask every potential hire "Where do you go to learn new information or ask questions if you have a problem?".  If they can't easily answer this question, I know they do not have their own internal training program.  

Those of us who have worked with this software for years KNOW its difficult to know all of it.  Its a challenge to not only stay up to date but also to expand your skills.