Thinking of a move to Canada.

[Ariadne]

Hey everyone !
I am a 19 year old Scottish student currently studying Computer-Aided design. I am thinking of a move to Canada in the next two years, as I feel there is a higher chance of employment over there. I am considering two trips to Canada for a week or two, one in the winter and one in the summer to get a feel of what life in Canada would be like.
I just thought I would give a wee post here to see what everyone's views are of living in Canada.

Thanks,
Aidan.

What specifally do you mean by CAD? Are you referring to architectural CAD, engineering CAD ... some software programs are in higher demand than others, but for the most part the software specialization alone isn't enough. For example, with architectural CAD, you also need to know the building code. With engineering CAD, you also need to know the theory for a specific specialization like piping or mechanical. If it is software like Maya or MAX, then human figure hand drawing is your biggest asset. What area are you specializing in?

 

[AidanHarrison]

The course I am taking is a general AutoCAD course, we learn up on a bit of everything. We have been using:
- AutoCAD
- 3DS Max
- Inventor
We have also been programming in AutoCAD, so we can customise the package to do repetitive tasks and increase productivity.

 

[Ariadne]

The course I am taking is a general AutoCAD course, we learn up on a bit of everything. We have been using:
- AutoCAD
- 3DS Max
- Inventor
We have also been programming in AutoCAD, so we can customise the package to do repetitive tasks and increase productivity.

The software you mentioned is offered in high school here ... there too?

With AutoCAD, you would be working in Engineering related fields. Architecture is using some Autocad, but more Revit (better visuals) and it's a BIM system. 3D max is good for adding some materials/lighting and a virtual tour if required, but its not in high demand. Some Architecture firms use Max or Maya, but they also want you to be pretty good with photoshop ... you'd be doing the presentation renderings. With AutoCAD, most engineering companies also want you to have Microstation. The jobs are basically being a CAD monkey where engineers make decisions, they tell the CAD monkeys to make specific modificatoin and that's all you would do all day. However, AutoCAD without a field of study probably won't get you very far ... just saying. Graduates in 2 year Technology programs across the country learn AutoCAD but also the field of study, like Mech eng or Piping. Inventor is mostly replaced with Solidworks in industry. Are you doing 3D AutoCAD too?

There might be some manufacturing related jobs in Eastern Canada that may use Inventor for assembly illustration ... not sure. For the oil industry, Autocad alone will not help in getting a job and Inventor or Max are not in demand.

 

[AidanHarrison]

Nah we didn't get any of those software packages in high school. We use 3D AutoCAD and I am very familiar with it but we concentrate more on using inventor as my lecturer see's this package as the future, with more companies beginning to use it.
Would being a 'CAD Monkey' not be for example:
being a draughtsperson and producing certain types of drawings with the information that the engineers provide you with, and picking up the knowledge of that certain field along the way as you become more experienced ?

 

[Ariadne]

Nah we didn't get any of those software packages in high school. We use 3D AutoCAD and I am very familiar with it but we concentrate more on using inventor as my lecturer see's this package as the future, with more companies beginning to use it.
Would being a 'CAD Monkey' not be for example:
being a draughtsperson and producing certain types of drawings with the information that the engineers provide you with, and picking up the knowledge of that certain field along the way as you become more experienced ?

That is indeed what a cad monkey is, however, industry wants Microstation and industry specific skills in addition to autocad. You would need the piping engineering technology program to use autocad in the piping industry, or mech eng tech to use autocad in the mechanical engineering field. Engineers don't want to take the time to explain how tolerances work ... they expect the tech guy to know that. The tool of autocad is not sufficient to secure employment in any field ... as far as I know.

Inventor has been around for many years, but industry here seems to favour solidworks ... but that could change.

 

[Spade]

Canada has been called (not happily) the Scotland of North America.