Being a CAD Technician –Skills Needed Beyond AutoCAD

CAD (Computer Aided Design) jobs are attractive, no doubt.But what you must know is that to be employed as a CAD professional, you need more than just a certificate in AutoCAD or any other design software. CAD or computer aided design is a dominant field in the engineering, product development and manufacturing sectors. To fit into the kind of roles demanded by these sectors, you will need a more specific skill-set that goes beyond just AutoCAD. Read on to find out what they are:

11.     Industry-Specific Skill-Sets

It is not tough to find candidates with CAD skills. However, for employers, finding candidates with both industry knowledge and CAD skills is difficult.CAD designers work in specialized industries such as aviation, automobile, residential planning, etc. Therefore, while applying for CAD jobs in specific industries, candidates are expected to have at least some form of elementary knowledge of the industry they propose to work in.

12.     Mathematical Skills

Most CAD professionals are engineers or architects and therefore do have mathematical prowess to a great extent. But if you think that with CAD software, you can go light on maths, you are wrong. Although CAD software makes calculations automatically, you will be required to crunch some numbers yourself before you leave the rest to the software.

13.     Experience in Manufacturing or Construction Industry

Imagine designing a structure on paper and going blank on how to create that structure in CAD software! This is one of the most common limitations CAD designers face. It is often seen that those with some form of experience in the construction and manufacturing industries find it easier to visualise and create their designs.

14.     Readiness to Keep Learning

Learning CAD is not a onetime affair. New versions of the design programs are released annually and that means, one needs to stay up-to-date with the software. In most cases, professionals can learn on their own through online tutorials released by the companies themselves after they have their first formal training in an institute. With any course or field, it is imperative that you stay open to learning, either about the software, or the industry, et al.

15.     Being a Team Player

True that most of the working time of a CAD professional will be spent in front of the computer screen. However, in a working environment, CAD professionals are also required to communicate and take directions from clients, managers, municipalities, etc. They are also required to be a part of a team as major manufacturing and product development projects are large and depend on team work. Also, you need to be prepared to handle criticism and admit to making mistakes because during the design process, you will get numerous inputs from superiors.

These additional skills are enough to give you the added advantage over other applicants. However, you will also need to make sure that you are working with dedication because lapses from your end could cost your employer a lot of money!