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What is AutoCAD? AutoCAD
is a computer aided design or CAD program for use by people in the
design and documentation disciplines. The software can be used to create
2D drawings and diagrams or can be the basis for powerful 3D
visualisations. From its humble beginnings in 1982, AutoCAD has been
translated into 18 languages and is used by millions of people
world-wide. Today its makers autodesk, are the 2nd largest
software company in the world. AutoCAD is found in 85% of the businesses
and schools that design, document and manufacture. Its drawing formats (dwg
and dxf) are now the industry standards for the exchange of electronic
drawings, between professionals and regulatory bodies. Who uses AutoCAD? AutoCAD
is a generic design & documentation tool, and as such it is used
across a large number of industries including, architecture, interior
design, shop fit-outs, construction, engineering, landscape design,
product design and manufacture, naval and aeronautical design, piping
and cabling, just to name a few. Anyone
that needs to produce, accurate plans and sections of a design, can
utilize AutoCAD for this task. While AutoCAD is extremely poplar, there
are other CAD packages which people use, such as Microstation, FormZ and
ArchiCAD. If you are
choosing a package to learn, to improve your job prospects, first try
and ascertain which programs are being used by the companies that you
are likely to approach. Good vs bad AutoCAD? Like
many sophisticated programs, AutoCAD is relatively easy to use but hard
to master. The benefits of using CAD over traditional drawing methods
are not so much in the speed with which an initial drawing can be
produced, rather it is the efficiency with which those drawing can be
edited and circulated. In order to take advantage of these benefits,
AutoCAD draftspeople must make use of the organisational features of the
program. The use of layers,
styles, blocks and sheet sets can dramatically improve the ease with
which a drawing can be modified and distributed. Without using these
techniques, you may as well return to manual drafting. How do I get a job with AutoCAD? Generally
speaking, employers will advertise for a job within their discipline.
For example an architectural company seeking AutoCAD draftspeople might
advertise: “Architectural draftsman – AutoCAD”, so it’s a good
idea to look for advertisements in a particular discipline that mention
AutoCAD. For a range of examples on the internet, log into http://www.google.com
and do a search using the terms “Architectural draftsman AutoCAD”. Doing
some research on the company you wish to approach is also a good idea,
and tailoring your CV to suit these companies also produces good
results. A prospective employer will also need to see evidence of your
AutoCAD skills and this can come in two main ways - A certificate of
training and a portfolio of completed work. What is AutoCAD certification? This
is a document that proves that you have undertaken AutoCAD training. For
people that have attended a school, university or technical college,
this would be in the form of your academic transcript which lists the
subject in which AutoCAD was taught and shows your academic result for
this subject. Private training companies that are certified by autodesk
(ATC Authorized Training Centres), offer certificates of completion
which can be used to prove to your prospective employer that you have
completed AutoCAD training. Please note that this form of proof, on its
own, is often not enough. It is highly recommended that you create a
drawing portfolio to present to your employer. What is a drawing portfolio? While
some prospective employers require certification, the majority will
require you to produce your “portfolio”.
This is a presentation set of your best and most impressive
drawings and has been a traditional method for assessing a
draftsperson’s technical abilities. The best way to impress a
prospective employer is to have a range of drawings in your portfolio
that demonstrate your good CAD skills, but also show exactly the types
of designs that employer uses. For example if your are applying for a
job with a small architectural firm that only does houses, you should
have at least one drawing of a house in your portfolio. Practice, Practice and more Practice. AutoCAD
training can be completed in only a few days, however becoming totally
comfortable with the program takes a little longer, and it all depends
on practice. Once you have completed training, if you do not exercise
your new skills you will loose them again quickly. You need to reinforce
your learning with a practical application. The moment you finish your
training you should attempt a drawing to include in your portfolio.
Starting your career in AutoCAD can be awkward at first because you need
experience to get a job, but you often need a job to get experience.
Creating drawings for your own portfolio is a way of breaking
this cycle, getting some experience and producing evidence that you can
do the job. By Jonathan Finkelstein B.P.D(Arch) B.Arch M.Arch netLearn Learning Systems Jonathan
Finkelstein has had twenty years professional experience with AutoCAD
and Digital Visualisation and fifteen years experience as a leading
eLearning content provider. As a past lecturer and now an honorary
fellow at the University of Melbourne, Jonathan has had the opportunity
to draw on his professional knowledge to develop courses in Computer
Aided Design which have been delivered widely, through an authorised
AutoDesk training centre and through the Internet to thousands of people
world-wide. He is now a director of netLearn
Learning Systems, which aims to bring free and low-cost, AutoCAD
training to all parts of the world.
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