Mechanical Design Traineeship help

[Rodent]

CAD monkeys, I need your help.

Next year I will be throwing in a perfectly good job to take up full time study at TAFE with a view to becoming a mechanical designer.

I've got two kids and two bikes that I would really like to keep during this time, but if I don't get some $$$ coming in I might be forced to sell one of the kids.

So, ideally I'm chasing a mechanical traineeship in 2012.

If your workplace is currently looking for mechanical trainees, could you please let me know - PM is fine. I won't drop your name when I contact anyone in your office.

Obviously I'm on Seek checking daily, I've got a few irons in the fire (one of them was extinguished today) and mates in the industry who are asking around for me. I'm just hoping to get around the roadblock that are HR dept's nowdays and speak directly to the decision makers in your company's drawing office.

Any help will be greatly appreciated - thanks.

[out_in_front]

What is your current background?

I would probably guess that you will not get much interest in the next few weeks up till christmas, the job market usually picks up late jan / early feb.

[Rodent]

Been in the LPG industry for 15yrs, licensed gas fitter (FWIW which isn't much). I've completed a CAD course at TAFE 4yrs ago, and currently refreshing my knowledge using student versions of AutoCAD and Microstation.

I understand most potential employers would want me to be studying or have completed studies before they're prepared to offer a traineeship so I know I'm pushing sheet up hill. Hoping my age (37yo) and commitment I'm showing will overcome any boundaries.

Understand what your saying about xmas & the job market OIF - but these companies I would think would be hiring now, so they can enrol the trainees in TAFE which starts in Feb 2012. I might be wrong though....

[timmay]

From what I understand, If you can also learn revit, you would do well..
There was a company offerering oil and gas drafting traineeships a few weeks back, and WA mechanical was also looking for a trainee.
Sorry, cant remember much more, but there was a couple out there.

[Stoneville]

mm I thought most of the traineeships would already be filled for next year? I was under the impression that the interviews happened in August, but I might be wrong, have you rung some of the companies to ask?

[Rodent]

Cheers Timmay, but HVAC isn't where I want to go though.

There are few trainee positions on offer at the moment, but it's getting past the online application stage and talking to the decision makers that I'm struggling with. I feel talking directly to the decision makers will get more results than uploading resumes to company websites for a HR person to decide whether I'm worthy or not. I've spoken to one decision maker at a very reputable EPCM company about what I'm doing and I got an interview - yet I've uploaded my application for positions on another 4-5 companies websites and have heard nothing. Following up those applications with the relevant company's HR dept's has been pointless to say the least.

[Rodent]

There's been a few advertised recently (last 2-4 weeks) and I had an interview today with a fairly well known company that up until my phone call to them last week, weren't sure if they were running a trainee program in 2012.

[Spin addict]

Have you ever used solidworks? That is all we use in our office. Is there a particular industry you want to get into?

[Bradlze]

Used Microstation?

[Brougham]

Revit isn't HVAC only. Most HVAC 3D is actually done on MEP as its more accurate than Revit.

[out_in_front]

I am another solidworks user - probably one of the easiest forms of 3D cad to use - used by plenty of mechanical drafting companies around perth, so It is a good thing to learn. There is a basic 3 day course from interCAD for $7-800 (that was a few years back, so it may have changed now), we do all our training in house though as we have certain procedures we like to use.

[Rodent]

Thanks for the responses guys.

SpinAddict - i have no solidworks experience.
Bradlze - I'm ok with microstation, got the basic commands down pat just need to improve speed, more comfortable with AutoCAD which seems to be more user friendly (IMO).
Brougham - probably should have clarified my comment in response to Timmay's post - the traineeship at WA Mechanical doesn't excite me as HVAC isn't where I want to be.

[Brougham]

Meh. HVAC has done me superbly the last 15+ yrs. actually, dont come into my discipline. I like being in a niche field with only a handful of guys in Perth doing it well and having solid work.

[Sammi]

Hi, dont mean to crash your thread

Just wondering how this has all turned out for you Rodent? Im in a similar situation.

I have done the first 6 months at tafe which included a solidworks unit which gave me a lot of the basic skills.

Again if anyone knows of any trainee positions available could you please pm me too??

[Rodent]

Thread revival!!

Nearly half way through the Mech Eng diploma, I'm about to start back with a previous employer as a contract draftee.

Will only be doing a couple of days a week while completing the diploma, hopefully it will lead on to more hours down the track.

Gotta come up with rate/hr though, was thinking around $30-40 - what do you think?

Bear in mind I've got 15yrs experience in the industry (granted most of that is in sales) which i think will hold me in good stead as most of the work i will be doing will be utilised by the sales team.

[Stoneville]

mm I'd say you'd be lucky to get $30, don't think your previous experience would come into it.

[Brougham]

is that all? what's that rate for sandra?
tracer? junior?

[Christo]

A few years back at at my old job, our trainee mech. drafters were being paid $25 per hour.

[Brougham]

not many juniors on wages anywhere would be getting $25-30/hr
and not many places (if at all) take on juniors on contract.

[Stoneville]

Basing it on a Traineeship I'd guess.

Don't spose there's much difference between someone that has done the job for 30 years and someone just starting out if they are doing the same thing, not that I'm on that low amount, mainly depends on who he'd be working for and what sort of work he would be doing.

If they are going to use you as a full draftee, then I guess pay you for it.