Draftsperson Career Training Guide

Question: What are some softweres that a draftsperson uses? a civil engineer? please&thanks

Answer: A draftsperson would use some type of CAD (Computer Aided Drawing/Drafting) software. One poster mentioned AutoCAD but there are many many other packages out there. Originally CAD was 2D but modern packages are 3D. Catia, IGES, Wikipedia article comparing different CAD software programs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_CAD_software A Civil engineer would use similar packages for roadwork, building designs etc but also some specialized software for doing civil engineering calculations - ex. are slope stability, soil content, beam and bridge calculations

Question: What is the dif between an architect and an architectural draughtsperson? ? can someone please explain the difference between being an architect and an architectural draughtsperson?

Answer: First, let's clear up some myths. Depending on the State in the US, a candidate for licensing does not require a architectural or even a college degree. I've met enough bad architects and good drafters (project managers) in my career that I know it is not necessarily true that an architect actually "tells" a drafter what to draw. So in order to answer this question properly, we will split the difference by it's legal definition. Architects and the practice of architecture is regulated by each State. So any work or actions by the architect are legally binding should they be erroneous whether he/she is aware of it. Drafters are not regulated by any governing agencies so they are essentially free of any liability (short of fraud or misrepresentation). For the record, I am a registrant in this field for over 20 years and own my firm with several national awards. The ARE (Architectural Registration Exam) only test for MINIMAL competency. So just because someone is an architect does not mean much to me or my peers.

Question: What are the architectural design practice limitations for a draughtperson in UK? I would like to know the limitations for draughtpersons in UK especially in the architectural field.I know most draughtspersons design extensions and lofts and prepare CAD drawings but what is the limit to their practice and also if there are any associations or societies for draughtspersons in UK.Im sure there is someone out there who can share some bit of information regarding this..............

Answer: The best thing to do is look at some job advertisements and especially contracts online (there are plenty of them) they underline the information you are looking for. there was one PDF for a draughtsmans job description on google that i wanted to give you, but it wouldn't let me link it. Hope this helps, best of luck with it!

Question: Are draughtspersons in breach of the Architect's Act? I would like to know if qualified draughtspersons who work privately producing scaled drawings for clients are breaching the Architect's Act. The ARB website indicates that “a person shall not practise or carry on a business under any name, style or title containing the word “architect� unless he is a person registered under this Act.� Draughtspersons produce same kind of drawings as architects but do not use the title...can someone out there explain this to me ..........

Answer: I think you'll find that means not just anyone can call themselves an Architect, there was a poll recently to have the title 'Engineer' protected in the same way but it was rejected because too many people use the term nowadays which would make it too difficult to implement. You may be able to find more information at the RIBA website.....

Question: my boyfriend is just starting out as an apprentice draftsperson. anyone able to give advice?

Answer: I didn't know they even had draftspeople any more! They didn't in the last few places I worked, but I wished they had because drafting is a specialty, it's important work! Mechanical and architectural drawings are a form of communication, a language. The better he understands and 'speaks' this language, the more fluent he is in the language, the easier he makes the lives of all the people who use his drawings--engineers, machinists, inspectors, etc. etc. I used to work as a mechanical inspector. In the last few places I worked, the engineers did their own drawings and they were often ambiguous and faulty. But a good draftsman can make a drawing much easier to understand. It takes a few years to really get the skill down, but then you can just look at a drawing and see all you need to know. A machinist or inspector can really tell the difference! So basically I'd say that he should continue to learn about the software (I'm assuming he uses a computer these days), learn about things like geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, and learn ways to make drawings easier to interpret, easier to 'see'. Or, to boil it all down--pay attention, learn the job well, work hard, all that stuff. 8^)

Question: Could a current Architectural draftsperson please give me some tips on how to forge a career in this industry? I am taking Art, Maths (core and mechanics), Physics (engineering side as opposed to medical), and geography. I want to become an Architectural Draftsman, but I can't seem to find any references to it within the UK. All degree courses that I have found have been for universities in America. I am just looking to perhaps get some info from someone already in the business, on what the job entails, how to go about becoming one, and what I should be doing to help my chances of becoming one. Thank you in advance.

Answer: If you posess a degree - or any other qualification - then you'll already be in front of of the crowd when it comes to searching for careers. My mate has a degree and he wasn't certain what direction to go with it, but he unearthed some good guidance on the resource in the resource box below which guided him to settle that he wanted to be a lab assistant. There is lots of help on the resource regarding other careers.

Question: im lookin for organisations which are looking for trainee draughtspersons? i stay in zimbabwe and im 20 years old.

Answer: You are going to do a lot better if you have some training, preferably something like autocad. Most places do not want to train someone from scratch.

Question: i have questions about the uc applications? what would you consider as a job category for an employee (help supervisor) at macy's? agent: such as advertising agent, real estate broker clerical:such as bank teller, bookkeeper, secretary, mail carrier, ticket agent craftsperson:such as baker, auto mechanic, machinist, plumber, telephone installer, carpenter farmer homemaker laborer manager:such as sales or office manager, school administrator, buyer, government official military:such as career officer, enlisted man or woman operative:such as meat cutter, assembler, machine operator, welder, taxi driver, bus or truck driver professional: such as accountant, artist, member of the clergy, dentist, physician, nurse, engineer, lawyer, librarian, teacher, scientist, social worker, computer proprietor: such as owner of a small business or restaurant, contractor protective:service such as detective, police officer, guard, firefighter service: such as barber, beautician, private household worker, janitor technical: such as draftsperson, medical or dental technician, data processo other: such as retired, deceased or unemployed when you write in current occupation, does it have to be specific or can it be vague like "business owner?" should i fill out the family data section even though its not mandatory because im not applying to eop or fee waiver? will it be better if i did? for the activities and awards section, where would i put in my clubs? for the activities and awards section under community service, how would i put for one day community service events?

Answer: "Supervisor" probably qualifies the position as manager. You can put whatever you want in the occupation as long as it conveys clearly what the person does (business owner is fine). It's up to you whether you fill out the family data/income section. The information is for statistical analysis only and is not used for application evaluation. Clubs should be in Extracurricular Activities. 1 day/week for 1 week, however many hours you did.

Question: employment? What do you call a hydraulic draftsperson in the UK? Have a diploma in hydraulic drafting, AutoCAD?

Answer: They call it.....well...."Draftsman, hydraulic systems" (no politically correct stuff like 'person')

Question: What would you do with this job? Leave? stay? I love my line of work. I'm a draftsperson and love ever second of working on AutoCAD (software) and getting involved with drawings in construction. I get paid really well, for someone in my position, and the location is perfect, etc So i guess your wondering why i'm asking about leaving? Well for the last 12 months i've had no real work to do. I've had little jobs here & there but nothing major. Also because of my 'no work' i've got stuck with crappy paper work & sorting files :( Not what i love doing or what i'm trained for really. Also with no work i've lost my motivation towards my job and i'm starting to forget why i even chose this line of work :( It's because of the Global Financial Crisis that there is no work, but everyone recons the work should be picking up this year blah blah blah So what should i do? A) i find somewhere else to go, not get paid as much but be more rewarding with more work to do, or B) stay and suck it up cos i've got it good and i don't realise it? Also another reason for leaving is all my friends have left. I have ONE person left out of an office of 30 people that i call friend. So the work 'fun' has reduced along with the work load. Should that be considered a factor to leave? It sounds like not enough reasons to leave, but i've been thinking about it for a while and i don't know what to do :( Thanks everyone ♥

Answer: If you still love what you do then stay with it, so what u have to do filing, that is every job. Work will pick up and with CAD thats something to keep up with. Maybe look around for other jobs similar and then decide, I would not quit until u have another one.

Question: diploma architecture? A PERSON WHO IS QUALIFIED WITH DIPLOMA ARHITECTURE IS REFERED AS ARCHITECT ? OR DRAUGHTSPERSON?

Answer: Depends...if ur diploma is Post Graduate Diploma (Dip. Arch), yes..u r architect (Part II-recognized as architect part II by ur local profesional organization).but if it only dip. architecture...i would say u r only draughtsperson. A simple explanation for u-if u want to be an architect, u must at least complete 5 years degree in architecture (Part I and Part II) and spend a further period of at least 2 years gaining experience before being allowed to take the Part III examination in Professional Practice and Management. But I think, the requirement might slightly differ for every country.Further information u should check ur local organization. Good luck

Question: How do you cure fear and anxiety any tips welcome ( serious ones please)? I desperatly need another career/job due to disability I now have. To date I have not been sucessful with interviews applications atc. The problem I have is if I do get an interview and think I have a chance of being succesful I start having sleepless nights and suffer terrible fear and anxiety in case I do get the job! Its always the same, I have been where I have 12yrs now and I have even convinced myself I am not good enough to do anything else. Its not just nerves its crippling fear, any ideas on how to combat this? or knock it down to size a little? I feel so unworthy of doing anything else but on a good day I know that I am pretty intelligent and capable. I was a draughtsperson for 12 yrs before I had kids, I chose to leave and bring the kids up and dont regret it though. Thanx if anyone can help.

Answer: First, I can come with a million of things to try, but try to stay with the most simple ones. Try going to a gym or a park the day in advance and run, or some sort of activity that will drain you for a lot of strength. This works for many people. Chances are that you will sleep better. Start the following morning with a good shower, eat a slow breakfast and try to think of nothing, or if your having problems with this try to visualize where you will be and how happy you will be in the future with the job. In general you can just think about being happy in the future. Don't try to visualize the job interview if you experience your visualization going against you, showing what you fear. There is also a lot of different therapies you can try, CBT, NLP, TFT, Hypnosis, motivation meetings, counseling etc. Change your diet, bananas stimulate the production of melatonin which is the body's sleep hormone. This calms you and gives you better sleep also a banana from time to time is very healthier so I recommend it for a try. Its also called a happy hormone for its use in treatment of depression and headache. You can buy melatonin in most states, some you will need to have a prescription. Im sure making you sleep and being calm will help you out a lot. In the long term I think you will have to go inside yourself to resolve what makes this hard for you. Try to figure out why you react and think like this? Is it a special event in your life that makes you feel like you cant do anything else or don't deserve it? Anything from school or parents? Did you old job make you feel like a underachiever? Find someone to talk the fears out with. Share and reflect. It sound more to me like you have some sort of mental block based in your past, or a product of your current thought pattern then a fear of change. Fear of change is most likely a product of this. You should fix this. I have linked to different ways you might try, some might seem alternative for you, but I just provide you some alternatives. Best of luck to you.