What do you do if you're a CAD professional facing a layoff and need alternative career options?

One thing I have found that is helpful to reach a top skilled level in CAD is self-determination, focus, and discipline. Having these major aspects as a foundation along with your CAD skills will only benefit you long-term as a draftsman. Always be willing to learn new technologies within the CAD spectrums. Having knowledge of multiple CAD softwares expands your skill sets and makes you a valuable asset to any firm. These skill sets wreak opportunities and transformation into a multidiscipline CAD-man. Never be afraid to give it all you have even if have never worked on certain types of projects. There is always more to learn.

Savoir orienter les petits génies vers leur passion comme moi je suis passionné par les personnes hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahaha

In order to get a specific job you have to show to employers that you have knowledge, experiences and skills relevant to the job. If you are a CAD professional and you want to work next in project management, for example, you have to get trainings in project management. Then to show you have required skills and experiences. I think you must have been involving in projects. You can show how you worked with other team members in your projects from initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling until closing the projects. For example, you can show how you worked with team to plan the projects, to estimate resources needed; how you did your works in collaboration with other; how you handled conflicts; how you negotiated priority...

I myself have found opportunity in freelance CAD work by simply letting the respective clientele know what you do and how you do it. It is always good practice to keep your resume up to date with projects, having some hard copies of recent project you've worked on are a good way to bolster your business savvy mind into freelance opportunities. You'd be surprised how many people and/or businesses are looking for freelance CAD Designers to help them complete a project.

I've found this to be a very fulfilling role to take as a CAD expert, working with Robotics Teams is a way to have an active role in our Computer-Aided Design where we can not only better ourselves but also teach others and confirm the knowledge we already have. The more I work with High School students, I discover that many of them are passionate about Engineering and looking to learn more, CAD has allowed them to feel like they have control of their future. At the end of the day, it allows you to figure out which skills of your own have to be sharpened to teach others, as well as allowing you to evolve alongside the students.

While working for the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida it was very rewarding to talk about CAD to the young students in class. I was surpised to know how many young and eager students liked CAD. If any of them choose CAD as a career choice I would be ecstatic to know I contributed to their decisions. Unfortunately, my role didn't lead into a CAD Program at the Club, but my knowledge of printing and graphics evolved into teaching the students about graphic design and printing.

As a business owner I have found a way to incorporate my CAD skills into an entrepreneurial quest. Having years of experience across multiple multimillion and billion dollar projects I can honestly solidify myself as a professional in what I do. Not only the discipline of attention to detail, but also the long hours dedicated to completing an project. In my Graphic Design & Printing business we have found a way to offer CAD printing and CAD services. With that being said, being a CAD Designer by career has ventured its way into great a business acumen. When you have sat in project meetings, talked with engineers & project managers of all sorts it can truly help your life as an entrepreneur.

Whatever you do in life or your career choice make it make sense to "you". Your intent breeds your purpose. Any thing and everything is you.

Being yourself is key to ensuring that success will reach you in a way that brings you peace and allows you to feel content. As long as what you're doing is linked to what makes you happy and allows you to thrive, you are on the right path.