Job Market for a guy like me? 1

[68Camaro]

This may not be the best place to post this, but I'm just curious as to what kind of job market there is for someone with my backround and also what kind of pay might be out there for some of these jobs.

As for my backround. I am a Technology Education major at Illinois State University with a heavy emphasis on 3D modeling using Unigraphics. I may not know everything there is to know about UG however I do think that I am fairly proficient in the program. So basicly my main backround comes from just modeling. I am also getting into SolidWorks now as well as dabbling in ProE.

While I am an education major, the more I got into using UG, the more I love it. It has become something I wanted to do for a while now and I wasnt sure if I were better off going back to school for an engineering degree or if there were a large enough market for someone with backround like I have.

Sorry for the lenghthy post and thanks in advance for your responses.

-Alex

 

[looslib]

Try someone who does training in UG.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."
"Fixed in the next release" should replace "Product First" as the PTC slogan.

Ben Loosli
CAD/CAM System Analyst
Ingersoll-Rand

 

[68Camaro]

Well that was a thought I had, but I probably should have been more clear. What I ment was what type of modeling job market is out there for me? Being that I dont have an engineering backround.

 

[cowski]

I think Ben has an excellent suggestion, if you like technology education and UG - apply at companies that train in UG. When companies need training you can put together custom lessons for them; there will be plenty of modeling and education involved. On the other hand, if you went into tech education because you didn't know what else to get into, by all means get out asap and find what you like. A career choice is one of life's major decisions (and not one easily changed later on) so choose carefully. I have not been keeping close tabs on the UG job market lately, but it is my opinion that you'd have a much better chance of getting a UG (or <insert other mechanical modeling program name here>) job if you did have an engineering background. It helps greatly to know the limitations of the process that will ultimately make the parts you model (injection molding, lathe, 3 axis mill, etc etc). But, I don't know what is involved with a technical education training, maybe your current major gives you what you need to know already. Apply to all the jobs that look interesting to you and be honest with them, if they are willing to do a little training you may find what you are looking for.

Also, if it is modeling you like don't rule out other industries. There is a lot of 3d modeling going on in the entertainment industry (movies and video games come immediately to mind) though they use different modeling programs (such as 3d studio max, maya, bryce, and others).

As for payscales, have a look around this website:

http://www.bls.gov/

 

[motorsportsdesign]

Try this

http://jobsearch.monster.com/getjob...-28+11:13:43&Logo=1&q=ugs&sort=dt&cy=US&brd=1

Jonathan T. Schmidt

http://www.schmidtmotorworks.com

 

[68Camaro]

Thanks for the replys guys. I do love my major, and am really interested in working with UG. I just wish that more highschools had programs that use solid works or inventor or something like that, schools with programs like that are few and far between. And those that have them already have young teachers who will be there for a while. But I am going to look further into the UG training job market, that could be a good deal for me. Im also looking into modeling jobs and seeing who might hire me, but there may not be a whole lot out there for me since I dont have an engineering backround.

Ive gotten into 3DS MAX a little bit and i really enjoy it, but it seems that you have to have a real good eye for realism and be kinda artsy for that, and thats a talent that skipped me in my family.

But thank you for the suggestions, I have a little more time in school still. I'm just looking for all of my options and seeing what I can find. And if nothing I find interests me, I may go back for an engineering degree at U of I or something like that, then again Id rather not spend a few more years in college. 4 is enough for me, especially since Im paying for it.