| Do you usually hear people saying that you have | | | | technical drawing and calculations. Once you landed |
| a talent in visualizing objects and putting them in | | | | a job as a drafter, you are expected to be handy |
| the right perspective? Well, if you certain that | | | | in the production and manufacture stages in case |
| those people are not just pulling your leg, why not | | | | problems arise and there is a need for some |
| make a career out of your remarkable skill? Yes, | | | | adjustments. |
| there is a perfect job with your name on it-a | | | | I have nothing against engineers but let's be |
| drafter. | | | | honest here. Not all engineers are brilliant in |
| Are you familiar with technical drawing? Okay, | | | | technical drawing. Even if the idea of the engineer |
| before I tackle the technicalities of being a | | | | is highly innovative and can very well be the start |
| drafter, let's have a quick recap first. Technical | | | | of a new trend, if he cannot fully explain it, it will |
| drawing is the application of making exact | | | | not impress any client and is likely to be |
| representations of things for architectural, | | | | overlooked. That is why drafters are in demand in |
| technical, and engineering purposes. To put it | | | | engineering workshops and in the manufacturing |
| simply, it is used by a person to communicate an | | | | industry since they have the talent to put ideas |
| idea to another person through a drawing or a | | | | into drawings to be more tangible to the |
| sketch regardless of the instruments used. | | | | customers. |
| Technical drawing can be done either by paper | | | | The usual work areas of a drafter are air |
| and pencil or with a computer-aided design and | | | | conditioning detail, architectural detail, concrete |
| drafting software. For example, if a client wants | | | | detail, electrical and electronic detail, engineering |
| to build a house, an architect will show a drawing | | | | manufacture, and steel work fabrication. Taking |
| that will represent the design of the house, where | | | | these into consideration, a drafter have a number |
| the living room is, where the doors are, and so | | | | of career opportunities. You can choose from the |
| on. | | | | following: contract employment groups, council |
| So now that we're clear on the definition of | | | | groups, government sectors, consulting engineers, |
| technical drawing, what does that have to do with | | | | and small manufacturing industries. With the |
| being a drafter? If you want to be a drafter, then | | | | ongoing developments in the industry, you don't |
| you will have to master the art of technical | | | | need to worry about landing a job. The demand |
| drawing. The workload of a draftsperson includes | | | | for drafters is as steady as a rock. |
| creating illustrations of a simple part like a chair | | | | If you have the skills and you are interested in |
| armrest to completing representations of a | | | | the work areas, you may be already mulling over |
| complex object such as a vehicle. Now that | | | | the possibility of being a drafter. Before you |
| computer-aided design and drafting systems are | | | | make the decision, read on about the required |
| available, the drawing task is relatively easier. | | | | qualifications for a drafter. You have to have at |
| However, there are still some clients who prefer | | | | least a Certificate III in Detail Drafting and an |
| pencil sketches. It is best for an aspiring drafter | | | | Advanced Diploma in Mechanical Engineering at |
| to be knowledgeable on both. | | | | best. Detail drafting refers to all sorts of fields |
| If you think being a drafter only requires the | | | | under the umbrella of engineering such as |
| talent in technical drawing, think again. More often | | | | hydraulics and pneumatics. |
| than not, a drafter performs calculations in their | | | | So, did you qualify? If you love technical drawing, |
| illustrations. Remember, the drawing must be an | | | | have a knack in calculations, and very fluent in |
| accurate representation. You have to sharpen | | | | communicating ideas, apply as a drafter and earn |
| your mathematical skills as well. | | | | money. Not everybody is given a chance to do |
| Wait. There is more to a drafter's work than | | | | what they want and get paid for it. |