Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
(OP)
I took a job working in production right out of high school for a small mfg. company where I was transitioned into their Drafter position due to my computer skills (at the time). Since then I have standardized their mechanical and electrical documentation, converted 99% of their electro-mechanical assemblies to Solidworks using sheet-metal design and routing plugins, etc... I know AutoCad (v11,13,2000,2002,2004), Solidworks (2001+,2003,2005,2006,PhotoWorks,Routing).
Basically I've been all this company has needed for 12 years. I feel very competent because of that experience and from doing several contract jobs varying from weldment documentation to ammonia-refrigerant plant layouts.
I'm being forced out of my job (by September) due to their unwillingness to allow me more flexible hours while I finish my degree in Graphic Design (which I also provide to them under the umbrella of Drafting). I made every attempt to assure them that they would get their 40 hours no matter what, and still no-go.
What I'm wondering is... Do I have any real chance of getting hired at a competitive wage vs. some schmoe with a 2-year tech degree? Many ads say that this minimal amount of training is "required", but I find it hard to believe that after well over a decade of real-world experience I'm not qualified.
Basically I've been all this company has needed for 12 years. I feel very competent because of that experience and from doing several contract jobs varying from weldment documentation to ammonia-refrigerant plant layouts.
I'm being forced out of my job (by September) due to their unwillingness to allow me more flexible hours while I finish my degree in Graphic Design (which I also provide to them under the umbrella of Drafting). I made every attempt to assure them that they would get their 40 hours no matter what, and still no-go.
What I'm wondering is... Do I have any real chance of getting hired at a competitive wage vs. some schmoe with a 2-year tech degree? Many ads say that this minimal amount of training is "required", but I find it hard to believe that after well over a decade of real-world experience I'm not qualified.
Matt
Electro Industries, Inc.





RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
Good luck to you!
Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-08-07)
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
I guess I should have been clearer. I'm looking to get another job as a drafter/designer for the time-being while I consider my options. My employer has decided that I have been disloyal by wanting to pursue (long term) another career path and has sentenced me to unemployment whether or not I go to school.
Matt
Electro Industries, Inc.
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
I was full time for a long time, currently I'm running another business, told my boss I was leaving, he didn't let me go, instead he put me part-time or as many hours I can put in during the week.
Regards
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
Now you may be limited and the pay not that good but there are still jobs out there.
On the positive side:
1. you are loyal as you have been with the same place 12 years. (Although this is difficult to proove because your employer doesn't like your future career path and is laying you off because of it)
2. Again, 12 years experience in electromechanical. not bad at all. Let someone fresh out of tech school try competing with that.
Negative:
1. You are going for a graphic design degree. I hate to say it but I don't know that I would mention it on interviews. They will think that you would quit after graduation (And they would be right!). It might be best to tell them you are going for a degree but just tell them you haven't decided on a major. Or try your best to relate it to the company you are interviewing with. But thats my dishonest side talking!
My honest side talking: Just try to start somewhere in graphic design doing anything you can to get a foot in the door while you finish school. Pay would be lower, but from my experience they might not look at your last 12 years when consideringou for a graphic design job. Better to get yoru experience befor eyou graduate. But graphic design is definitely not my area of study! SO take everythign I say with a grain of salt.
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
I would expect you to prove to me that you know what you are doing. For example, you are probably very good at making the software do what you want but do you understand the drafting standards/practices and can you produce a clear, correct drawing that conforms to those standards? Also 12 years with only one company, can you be taught to do things MY way (my way may not be correct but I will be writing your pay check)? On the other hand are you willing to tell me where my way is incorrect and can you show me proof from the common standards?
All of that aside, 12 yrs of experience is a major plus. Most drafters right out of school have bad habits as well, but they also don't have a good reason for them. Like cksh said, it shows loyalty. Also you have been working in the real world, not just a classroom, that is invaluable.
Bottom line, I think you can find a job as a drafter just fine, but you will probably find many companies that wont want to take the chance on you. You may also need to prove yourself. I would highly recommend, if you haven't already, put together a portfolio of your work so that you can show someone that may be reluctant to take a chance on a person without a degree just what you are capable of.
Best of Luck.
David
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-08-07)
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
David
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
I'm also going to have to agree with David. 12 years at one place drafting to their standards. As an interviewer, I'd would inundate you with questions to determine your actual skill level. There is a saying. 12 years of experience, or 1 year of experience 12 times? Expect the interviewer to try to determine which.
--Scott
http://wertel.eng.pro
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
You are very employable with your experience. Especially, since you have standardized their mechanical and electrical documentation. Best of luck
Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SWx 2007 SP 3.0 & Pro/E 2001
XP Pro SP2.0 P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
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(In reference to David Beckham) "He can't kick with his left foot, he can't tackle, he can't head the ball and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that, he's all right." -- George Best
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
Several others posters were correct, you will need to let them know whether your 12 years in one spot is a plus or a minus.
What do you want to do with your degree?
ZCP
www.phoenix-engineer.com
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
Chance of another job which pays well, has benefits, relative security, gives you the flexibility of hours you seem to need/desire... Not so good.
I'm not saying no chance but I don't think flexibility in hours/schedule is easy to get, especially as a condition going in.
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
Shows quite a bit of loyalty to the company, and honestly how bad could you have been for them to not run you off in 12 years.
I get so many resumes from people that in their whole career haven't lasted more than a few months at one place.
Zuccus
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
Myself and coworkers went to participate in an FEA demo. We're looking at supplimenting our in-house software with something a little easier to use for quick what-if scenarios and non-specialist use. The organization giving the demo had the usual presenter quit a week before, so the brought in a guy with over 10 years experience running the software to give the canned demo.
First of all, I applaud the guy for taking the challenge, but his over 10 years experience did not show through. What did show through was that he learned the software in 1 year, and then just regurgitated those actions for the next 11. This guy couldn't answer some very basic finite element theory based questions. He couldn't even find the answer in the help file - because he is such an expert that he "never needed it." All well and good, unless you can't tell me the answer. I'm not faulting him for not knowing the answer, but a person with over 10 years experience should either know the answer or find it in help. What we got for answers is something that a person with 1 year of experience could provide.
To summarize, he had the knowledge of a person with 1 year of experience, and then just repeated it for 11 years. in this case, 12 years of experience didn't mean squat. I'd be better off paying the commodity price for an entry level analyst and training him myself. If this guy were interviewing for a job and stated he had 12 years of experience - all in one position, I'd make him prove that he hasn't performed 1 years worth of experience 11 times.
--Scott
http://wertel.eng.pro
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
Just get a short term contracting job, if you are intending to go into graphics after you graduate.
12 years experience is great, far preferable to a degree, for CAD.
Your current firm will need to hire you back for system maintenance etc. Charge them $125 per hour.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
My first job was defence so I couldn't exactly share examples for both security & IPR reasons. The one time it came up I did explain in general terms and took some images from the companies website to illustrate but didn't have actual drawings for them to see.
My current position is in a high tech field where IPR is a major issue, I doubt I'd be able to use anything from here either.
Maybe I'm at a disadvantage because of this, Greg usually seems to know what he's on about so I wouldn't doubt his input too much but at the same time a 'portfolio' can be difficult to compile with security & IPR issues.
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
I've been using AutoCAD a good bit for maybe 5 years- and I'm still learning. You can learn all the basic ommands in a hurry, but efficiently doing a good job just takes a lot of experience.
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
You have a far greater chance of getting flexible hours in a contract situation. I would sign up with a reputable contract design house, and let them work to place you into an optimal situation. Then, once you graduate, you can search for a position in your new field, while still doing contract work. Just for fun, you could even ask your existing employer if they would like to hire you back in through the contract house to do the same job for a lot more money! <lol>
BTW, Your current employer is effectively doing you a favor, by showing their true colors. It sounds like they would chain you to that same desk, doing the same thing, until you keel over for good, or retire. I applaud your effort in wanting to increase your skills, and pursuing your dreams. I don't have a need for a draftsman/designer at the moment, but you are exactly the type of person I would hire if I did!
-Tony Staples
www.tscombustion.com
RE: Sole drafter for 12 years, no degree... Any chance at another job?
To join in with others....
1. Portfolios are not the most important thing in an interview, to me they are no more than a visual aid and most interviewers are not that interested in them. (Too easy to be blinded by the pretty pictures). I have always found it difficult to get that sort of info out of previous employers since I am a contracter.
2. 12 years experience is a good thing. No potential employer will turn their nose up at that, but they will be curious as to why you have never moved company before. BE PREPARED FOR THAT QUESTION IN AN INTERVIEW. They will also be very curious as to why you are leaving now. I wouldn't tell them the truth on this one, try to make it sound like you have decided that you want to go.
Good luck
Kevin Hammond
Mechanical Design Engineer
Derbyshire, UK