Learning on the job

[bellx1]

Hey guys,
Currently I have a Solidworks Associate level worth of cad practice but I would like to become an expert with parametric tools, Solidworks especially. Do companies usually support learning on the job or do most of them expect you to have knowledge coming in?

http://www.compositescentral.net

 

[KevinDeSmet]

I think this depends a lot on job description, usually if you are applying for an engineering role where you also have to use SolidWorks most employers will value your engineering skills more and shouldn't look down at you if you don't know the CAD tool perfectly yet. Solidworks Associate level sounds alright.

On the other hand, if it's a very specific role, like drafting or modeling that you'll be doing then I think you will need to show your worth very quickly regarding SolidWorks.

Certified SolidWorks Professional

 

[ctopher]

After taking the SW course, our boss would not allow us to use it because we were too busy.
I continued learning it on my own time (lunch, breaks, after hours, etc).
So, you can learn on the job if your employer does not allow it or have $$, do it on your own time.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP5.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[ArtL]

This probibly one of the best things you can invest some time of your own into.It will or should make you a better engineer / drafter for the rest of you life.It's your call, how much is your job, engineering ability worth to you??

 

[TheTick]

Don't ask. Just do. Ultimately, the time saved by becoming more effective will allow you even more time to become even more effective.

Practice doesn't make perfect. [!]Perfect practice[/!] makes perfect.

 

[maxh3]

I was hired at a job as an engineer/scientist once. I had Solidworks experience, but no Pro/E experience, which is what they used. They didn't mind me learning on the job.

We're trying to hire a Solidworks experienced CAD person right now, and we absolutely can't afford to have someone learning on the job. We need someone that can hit the ground running.

I'd say it's all about the particular job. If you have other skills playing a significant part in your hiring, you may be given some time to learn on the job. I spent much time learning on my own, though.

 

[aroundhere]

When I started here, we had Sworks, but only used acad. It was only me and one other M.E., and he knew sworks some. I spent the first 3 months (everyday at lunch) teaching myself sworks. Good thing, because we got a job to design and build a tool for one of the biggest companies in the biz, and they asked the president if we could do it all in sworks. Of course the president said yes. It was a good thing, because we were thrown to the wolves and forced to learn it. Thats the best way to learn something for me. Everyone is different, but you tend to learn things faster when you have to.

 

[cadman1997]

I wanted to become a CSWP so, I learned what was required on my own time.

Cheers,

Ralph Wright, CSWP
SolidWorks 2011 x64, SP4.0
Dell Precision T3500
Intel Xeon Quad Core 3.07Ghz
6.0Gb RAM
nVidia Quadro 2000 Card
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional x64

 

[berkshire]

I don't use Solidworks anymore, but when I did, I registered for a local college training course, bought a student edition and practiced at home. This enabled me to get up to speed quickly.

This was a great help at work.
As most of the pros know, the student edition turns into a pumpkin after a year or two, but by then you should not need it anymore.
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor