Hello, I am looking for some advice. I am making plans for a career change and I have been seriously thinking about moving in to the engineering industry for some time - however I don't have an awful lot of experience. My study background is in music production and my work background has been in Operations and Customer Service. I have been looking at becoming a Cad Technician as a start point. What qualifications and background do companies look for when they want a Cad Technician? Obviously, I am looking at the most basic entry level job to start my career.Any advice would be hugely appreciated.ThanksMatt

I think most companies looking at an entry level CAD tech would find it useful if the candidate had some kind of training.  Have you taken an AutoCAD class?  The U.K. I see, then you must have heard of "City & Guilds"?

Hello John, thanks for your response. I am about to take a course in a couple of weeks - it's a 5 day course provided by Training Square (pretty pricey at £890) and trains me up to take an AutoCAD qualification. It's something I really want to do but obviously £890 is a lot of money and I would be reluctant to spend that kind of money if it is not going to significantly increase my prospects.I appreciate that most firms are going to want experience but I have noticed one or two openings for Junior CAD tech's. Do you think any application of mine would be seriously considered for a Junior CAD position if I had the Level 1 CAD qual from City & Guilds?Thanks for your helpMatt

Hello mixmastermatt, I don't want to disturb you but if your study background is music + operations ans customer service, I'm wondering why choosing to switch to CAD technician (  or in relation with this ? ).
It can be an option but I think that you will have to learn about technics ( mechanical , civil engineering , framework or else ... ) before you begin a new career.
Or may be you have abilities in some technical field.
Personaly I think of AutoCAD as a "mean" and not a "finality".
May be I'm too old ( 1980 --> 1995 on the drawing board , 1995 --> today on the computer ).
Please tell us about your evolution, your CAD course, your ideas etc...

Most entry level CAD positions will put you in the role of making corrections to drawings and over time maybe even creating a new drawing.  Your work will be reviewed by a checker (CAD Manager?) or by an engineer.Note that "engineering", per se, is not an industry.  What field are you interested in?  Let me name a few.CivilStructuralArchitecturalMarineElectricalHeating/Ventilation/Air conditioningMechanicalAudio/VisualTheater set designAutomotiveAviationEnvironmentalGeotechnicalPower (ex. - electrical infrastructure like power stations)Wastewater treatmentBiologicalIndustrialNuclearPetro-ChemThere are more but that list should get you thinking.

Civil... right at the top of the list where it belongs!  Dave

That's where I started.  I first started out though in a survey crew then moved inside to a drafting position after a couple of years.

There's no substitute for field experience, whether you're going to be a cad tech or even a fully registered engineer.  It's important to know what really goes on during the building process before you try and draw something.
 



Dave