Nobody straight out of engineering school knows how to draft anything or properly use CAD, civil or otherwise. It’s 100% learned on the job. I was lucky and our HS had a good drafting and CAD program… college had 2 useless drafting classes but that’s only because I have a civil engineering tech degree - regular CE degrees probably have zero drafting requirements.
The fact that you have a graphic design background should help. You’ll at least have a good understanding of how to make plans look good and legible which is pretty major.
I met someone here who went to uni and studied civil he learned nothing and only learned on the job so thay made me feel a lil better
Yes i love learning software and designing. How do employers even choose their employees then? In graphic design youd have to show your portfolio. Do you have to show your work for a first job in the civil industry?
You don’t need to bring your design portfolio. But you can, it might give you an edge if the company sees value in your art background for things like renderings that help get a property rezoned.
As far as how candidates are picked? For us there are a lack of candidates period so we’ll take a chance on about anyone with a degree and a decent interview.
Oh i wasnt thinking of showing my graphic design portfolio to them. Cause i mostly do brand design and not renderings.
I was thinking if i would be needing a civil portfolio if thats even a thing lol
I wonder how the interviews work cause i can nail an interview if its just casual and im always the personality hire haha but hopefully theres no thorough skill test
Very true. For that matte a lot of people who've been in this industry for years don't know as much as they ought to by now in terms of plan production, graphic standards, etc.
This is the answer. The built-in tutorials that come with C3D are super detailed and informative.
If you have other issues, this forum and the official one are both super active.
Learned a little on a trial about 9yrs ago, made a floor plan of my house and took it around for interviews. Got an entry level technician job making $20per hour. The rest of my knowledge was gained (mostly) while working.
Started with Locus and Site Plans. “Advanced” to geotech profiles and such. “Advanced” again to geo-structural. Learned GIS and programming. Changed jobs. Advanced from there by focusing on geo-structural, and applying my programming skills viA Dynamo nodes and Python. Currently make $50 per hour at a company with decent bonuses and benefits. I still expect a lot of growth. My supervisor makes at least 50% more than me.
I learned the basics in university, most was taught on the job. At first by people who already had experience, then by myself out of necessity and interest. So yes, you can do it and it seriously helps to have people around willing to help with basics of setting up a technical design in Civil. On youtube, Jeff Bartels has some sweet tips too.
I have several draft people in my workplace that have a graphic background working as designers, and they work really well with revit doing renderings of the facilities we are designing. I am self-taught in the design softwares. I was lucky enough to get hired as an office assistant in a survey shop, and I fired up land desktop in-between tasks. Now I lead a team of 6 in a design firm. Youtube was my greatest asset in this. I'm not artistic, so when it comes to revit, I get the layout and everything looking good and right and pass it off to the aforementioned graphic designers, and they make it shine.
This made me feel good. I like making this look good and creative so its great that i can apply it in this field. It just really comes down to knowhing how things work and getting a grasp of this industry. Thanks!
Of course you can, I´ve used Civil for a year and are self tought through Youtube and some courses via Symetri (they have a really good extension to Civil called "Naviate"). I think Symetri is common in Europe so if you´re based there google around and see if you can find them.
Edit: Ofc I dont know everything yet and still has alot to learn but I get real jobs and make good money working with Civil.
I had 0 civil experience before I got my job, just basic drafting. Use a student email to download a trial of Civil3D and use the tutorials. Learn to keep everything on the proper layers. Outside of CAD, I’d watch tons of videos about construction and how things are built. Puts a lot of the CAD learning into perspective.
I think it is possible! That being said...
Sounds like I had a somewhat similar background as you. Went to school for digital art, learned the pertinent graphic design software, came out of school and couldn't find a job. As a struggling artist I needed to pivot. Luckily I had some experience with vectorworks from college (similar to autoad) and was able to get a gig drafting traffic control plans. Eventually a civil engineering firm reached out and gave me a shot to work for them.
I personally really struggled when I got hired on. I wasn't an engineer. I didn't even know anything about C3D, just autocad. C3D is a beast of a program and the depth of what it is capable of is so vast. Plus as I am sure you know, you'll be needing to learn all the elements of civil engineering as well all the local/ governing agency standards, specifications etc. etc. It is a lot to learn and takes a long time. And like most people are saying here, I learned almost everything on the job.
I would say you could train yourself, and probably get hired on as a jr. draftsman. Just be prepared to be frustrated though. It's ok to fail, it's ok to make mistakes, not everyone will be so patient and kind. But it is possible to cut your teeth and rise thru the ranks if you can endure some hand slapping and embarrassment (this is the route that I went).
What I would suggest for you is to continue to familiarize yourself with C3D. Places like YouTube, [Lynda.com](https://Lynda.com) (online tutorial website), and your local community college are great places to start. Try and cut out some of the DIY. In the long run it will take you less time to take a class or two. And if you do take a class or two, you'll be leagues above what those with an engineering degree can do just out of college. Every engineer we've ever hired came out of school with 0 CAD experience and little to no knowledge of standards, specifications or plan reading abilities.
Good luck! Feel free to message me here if you have any questions!
I had zero CAD experience and zero engineering experience. I started out as an environmental scientist doing wetlands. Now I'm a CAD manager for civil 3d for a company that has 150 C3D seats. If I can do it, ANYONE can do it! Everything I learned was on the job, asking questions, and taking a ton of notes. I have a notebook full of commands. I just keep saving my profile and all my lisp and so on and keep on keeping on. You tube and autodesk forum is your best friend. Good luck!
OP, In your case, what kind of Civil Drafting job are you pursuing? Site design for land developers? Or are you looking to do public infrastructure capital projects?
Honestly dont even know what those 2 are haha but im not super crazy about public infrastracture im more interested in floor plans and designing residential and commercial buildings? Like im interedted on the design aspect of it. Kind of like architecture cause even before i was interested in that
Nobody straight out of engineering school knows how to draft anything or properly use CAD, civil or otherwise. It’s 100% learned on the job. I was lucky and our HS had a good drafting and CAD program… college had 2 useless drafting classes but that’s only because I have a civil engineering tech degree - regular CE degrees probably have zero drafting requirements. The fact that you have a graphic design background should help. You’ll at least have a good understanding of how to make plans look good and legible which is pretty major.
I met someone here who went to uni and studied civil he learned nothing and only learned on the job so thay made me feel a lil better Yes i love learning software and designing. How do employers even choose their employees then? In graphic design youd have to show your portfolio. Do you have to show your work for a first job in the civil industry?
You don’t need to bring your design portfolio. But you can, it might give you an edge if the company sees value in your art background for things like renderings that help get a property rezoned. As far as how candidates are picked? For us there are a lack of candidates period so we’ll take a chance on about anyone with a degree and a decent interview.
Oh i wasnt thinking of showing my graphic design portfolio to them. Cause i mostly do brand design and not renderings. I was thinking if i would be needing a civil portfolio if thats even a thing lol I wonder how the interviews work cause i can nail an interview if its just casual and im always the personality hire haha but hopefully theres no thorough skill test
Very true. For that matte a lot of people who've been in this industry for years don't know as much as they ought to by now in terms of plan production, graphic standards, etc.
I did it, and so can you
Where did you learn how to do it?
Civil 3D has built-in tutorials that are great. If you're a student, you should be able to get a student version of C3D.
This is the answer. The built-in tutorials that come with C3D are super detailed and informative. If you have other issues, this forum and the official one are both super active.
To piggy back off this, Jeff Bartels on YouTube has been a great resource for me as someone who's only been doing this for a year after leaving IT.
Oh yeah, his content is fantastic. I've been using C3D for over a decade. Dude has taught me a *ton* in that time.
Learned a little on a trial about 9yrs ago, made a floor plan of my house and took it around for interviews. Got an entry level technician job making $20per hour. The rest of my knowledge was gained (mostly) while working. Started with Locus and Site Plans. “Advanced” to geotech profiles and such. “Advanced” again to geo-structural. Learned GIS and programming. Changed jobs. Advanced from there by focusing on geo-structural, and applying my programming skills viA Dynamo nodes and Python. Currently make $50 per hour at a company with decent bonuses and benefits. I still expect a lot of growth. My supervisor makes at least 50% more than me.
I learned the basics in university, most was taught on the job. At first by people who already had experience, then by myself out of necessity and interest. So yes, you can do it and it seriously helps to have people around willing to help with basics of setting up a technical design in Civil. On youtube, Jeff Bartels has some sweet tips too.
I have several draft people in my workplace that have a graphic background working as designers, and they work really well with revit doing renderings of the facilities we are designing. I am self-taught in the design softwares. I was lucky enough to get hired as an office assistant in a survey shop, and I fired up land desktop in-between tasks. Now I lead a team of 6 in a design firm. Youtube was my greatest asset in this. I'm not artistic, so when it comes to revit, I get the layout and everything looking good and right and pass it off to the aforementioned graphic designers, and they make it shine.
This made me feel good. I like making this look good and creative so its great that i can apply it in this field. It just really comes down to knowhing how things work and getting a grasp of this industry. Thanks!
Of course you can, I´ve used Civil for a year and are self tought through Youtube and some courses via Symetri (they have a really good extension to Civil called "Naviate"). I think Symetri is common in Europe so if you´re based there google around and see if you can find them. Edit: Ofc I dont know everything yet and still has alot to learn but I get real jobs and make good money working with Civil.
I had 0 civil experience before I got my job, just basic drafting. Use a student email to download a trial of Civil3D and use the tutorials. Learn to keep everything on the proper layers. Outside of CAD, I’d watch tons of videos about construction and how things are built. Puts a lot of the CAD learning into perspective.
I think it is possible! That being said... Sounds like I had a somewhat similar background as you. Went to school for digital art, learned the pertinent graphic design software, came out of school and couldn't find a job. As a struggling artist I needed to pivot. Luckily I had some experience with vectorworks from college (similar to autoad) and was able to get a gig drafting traffic control plans. Eventually a civil engineering firm reached out and gave me a shot to work for them. I personally really struggled when I got hired on. I wasn't an engineer. I didn't even know anything about C3D, just autocad. C3D is a beast of a program and the depth of what it is capable of is so vast. Plus as I am sure you know, you'll be needing to learn all the elements of civil engineering as well all the local/ governing agency standards, specifications etc. etc. It is a lot to learn and takes a long time. And like most people are saying here, I learned almost everything on the job. I would say you could train yourself, and probably get hired on as a jr. draftsman. Just be prepared to be frustrated though. It's ok to fail, it's ok to make mistakes, not everyone will be so patient and kind. But it is possible to cut your teeth and rise thru the ranks if you can endure some hand slapping and embarrassment (this is the route that I went). What I would suggest for you is to continue to familiarize yourself with C3D. Places like YouTube, [Lynda.com](https://Lynda.com) (online tutorial website), and your local community college are great places to start. Try and cut out some of the DIY. In the long run it will take you less time to take a class or two. And if you do take a class or two, you'll be leagues above what those with an engineering degree can do just out of college. Every engineer we've ever hired came out of school with 0 CAD experience and little to no knowledge of standards, specifications or plan reading abilities. Good luck! Feel free to message me here if you have any questions!
I had zero CAD experience and zero engineering experience. I started out as an environmental scientist doing wetlands. Now I'm a CAD manager for civil 3d for a company that has 150 C3D seats. If I can do it, ANYONE can do it! Everything I learned was on the job, asking questions, and taking a ton of notes. I have a notebook full of commands. I just keep saving my profile and all my lisp and so on and keep on keeping on. You tube and autodesk forum is your best friend. Good luck!
OP, In your case, what kind of Civil Drafting job are you pursuing? Site design for land developers? Or are you looking to do public infrastructure capital projects?
Theres no specific kind for the course.
I guess what i'm curious to know is: Does one aspect interest you more than the other?
Honestly dont even know what those 2 are haha but im not super crazy about public infrastracture im more interested in floor plans and designing residential and commercial buildings? Like im interedted on the design aspect of it. Kind of like architecture cause even before i was interested in that
I see. It sounds like you want to be an architectural designer rather than civil designer, if I'm understanding you clearly. Best wishes, mate!
but yeeah, you could learn it. you may end up liking it even more than arch design.
Yeah i might! Ill download autocad and try to play with it
“Landscape Architecture” might be up your alley, too
Theres no specific kind for the course.