Cad Drafting Job

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Q. I am a degreed engineer working as a clerk in Canada. Since all of you are involved with CAD , I thought I'd take a chance. Here's my story: I am trying to re-enter the engineering design industry again after more than a ten year absence due to health reasons. Now that I have finally recovered, I am trying to find entry or intermediate level drafting jobs. Despite what seems to be a fairly good market, I am finding the job search rough going despite a mechanical engineering degree ( UBC, 1981 but I try to avoid telling employers the year of graduation ) and a fair amount of time on AutoCad. ( I have some college AutoCAD courses under my belt ) I would like to start with a humble drafting job before taking more upgrade courses ( ie Pro Engineer, FEA- Cosmos , etc. ) to aspire for anything higher for the present . But I suspect that some employers are scared off by my engineering degree. This attitude obviously depends upon the employer. Am I right or wrong ? Or am I better off just concealing the degree ( on my resume ) for entry/intermediate CAD drafting jobs ?

A. I would suggest trying it as a "job shopper" (i.e. temporary, contract employee), rather than trying to go "captive" right away. As a shopper, you will have the following advantages: 1. Prospective employers have no long-term commitment, and so will be more agreeable to taking a chance on you 2. You will make more money (but, probably no/minimal benefits) 3. You can check out more companies and more effectively network, using the assistance of your job shop and contacts with other shoppers, than if you went captive immediately. 4. You can hone technical skills without the political complications that sometime accompany being a captive employee. Unless you are rude to your direct boss, all a shopper is usually expected to do is his job, not schmooze with others to network within the company. If you start out as a contract employee using acad, you might be able to get your shop to put you through Pro/E training and, maybe (squared) find you work as a new pro user. Getting an employer to make the gamble on someone who has been out of engineering for ten years is going to be rough, as there have been technical advances in most every area, and being left behind is kinda like starting over after ~ 5 years. Also, 10 years is a pretty big question mark. Coming up through the drafting dept. as a hot acad user, and progressing to Pro/E, as a contract employee, is the minimum risk position for prospective employers. It also gives you more money short term, and gives you an easy out if things do not work out.

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