Taking a Drafter position, good idea or bad idea?

[ESD93]

About 6 months ago I left my first engineering position that I had for about 5 years to take a contract job. I was told the contract engineering job was contract to hire, but during the contract the business
really slowed down so rather than getting hired full time, they let my contract end. I used 3D CAD software to design products at my first engineering position. This experience has gotten me an offer to do drafting work for a company. Which I believe starts out on a contract basis. Anyway, given my current circumstances, is it overall a good move to accept this drafting position? The pay is much lower, but it is enough to cover my expenses with a little left over. My main concern is that putting a drafter job down on my resume will be an issue when looking for an actual engineering position. As in, it may get me labeled as someone who cannot hack it as a real engineer.

 

[Latexman]

Yes, but it also gets your foot in the door with this new company while more than covering your expenses. Who knows what may happen? As for the label, don't let it stick! Control your destiny.

Good luck,
Latexman

Technically, the glass is always full - 1/2 air and 1/2 water.

 

[fegenbush]

I read an article recently describing how employers preferentially hired less qualified candidates who where currently employed or recently unemployed over more qualified candidates who have been unemployed for extended periods of time.

That being said, I am of the opinion that having a job would be better than not having a job. If you are able to convince the company with whom you will be working to hire you as a full time engineer after your contract, good on you. Otherwise, you can describe how it was an opportunity for you to advance your CAD skills in a down market.

 

[IRstuff]

I agree; carpe diem! Get in, and show them your engineering chops, while doing CAD. I would think that if you are good enough, and the company is able to hire pure CAD jockeys, then they may have enough business to slide you into an engineering position. Just make sure that your pay slides commensurately.

TTFN
faq731-376

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[msquared48]

One problem here is that if you are a graduate ME looking to obtain your PE, this could negatively affect (i.e., as in extend indefinitely) your timeline to gain and claim the required professional experience to get your license.

If you are a designer and do not intend to seek and engineering license, that's another matter. I understand the economic situation, believe me.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[KENAT]

Alternatively msquared if the OP is one of the many engineers (yep I said it) in exempt industry who don't give a @#$@#%#$@ about getting their PE because it is of limited value then time spent drafting not counting toward PE experience isn't really an issue. (Sorry if the chip on my shoulder gets in anybody's eyes.)

I started my position at this company as a designer/drafter on contract. Within a month or so of being here they were looking to poach me into engineering and while the official transfer took longer (and I detoured into a drawing checker role for a while) I was doing engineering work after a few weeks here. I may have been a little underpaid initially (though much better than my immediately previous gig at Rite Aid) but it gives you a useful anecdote.

As to whether it's backfired in that I'm still a bit more of an engineer/designer than what many would call a serious hardcore engineer I'm not sure. That issue may have more to my relative intelligence etc.

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[msquared48]

Sorry Kenat... Poor choice of words on my part.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[Pmatherne]

I was in a simalliar position. It took me a while to get out the cad trap. Now where I work, they wont even let me use CAD, which does kind of suck when you have those realy small pickups
One thing you can do is ask for a review at 1 year or so for the possibility to move to engineering.


Future PE Engineer
Pet project I am working on to help other engineers, not much yet hoping to get it grow as I learn more

http://www.peexamquestions.com

 

[brandonbw]

job > no job

Work hard at the new place as a drafter and someone will see that you aren't supposed to be a drafter and they can better use you to do more for cheaper. I started out probably as the worst job in my industry but used everything to my advantage and here I am now. If you are good and make friends you won't be a drafter for long.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer

http://bwengr.com

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