Draftsman Job Description
A draftsman is a visual and computer media artist found within the construction industry. Engaged by architects and interior or exterior designers, draftsmen produce renderings of an employer's idea or vision. These drawings are used as a visual guide during the construction process. In addition to creating sketches for residential and commercial properties, a draftsman may also draw roads, vehicles and any other object that must be built.
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Job Responsibilities
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A draftsman meets with engineers to understand the project. Conferring with architects and/or engineers, a draftsman initially gains an understanding of the scope and requirements of a project. Utilizing both manual drawing skills as wells as computer-based application, such as automated computer-assisted drafting, the draftsman creates both two-dimensional and three-dimensional renderings of the finished project. Once drafts have been completed, they are presented to the architect or engineer for review. Following a discussion of any alterations that need to occur, the draftsman makes changes to the renderings.
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Job Opportunities
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The ADDA sponsors networking events. Educational institutions that offer training in this field also typically maintain a career services office. Through this service, graduating students are given resources and assistance in finding work. In addition to administering professional certification, the American Design Drafting Association, or ADDA, also provides its members with networking and educational resources, sponsoring industry events and publications. Additionally, individual chapters of the organization provide job search resources. Candidates may also find work by reading newspaper classifieds and searching on Internet job boards.
Qualitative Requirements
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A draftsman must be a strong visual artist. A good draftsman must be an exceptional visual artist, possessing the ability to interpret the vision of a client or employer and translate it into a realistic drawing. Successful draftsmen must also know how to operate all relevant computer software. The ability to follow directions while paying a close attention to details is also important. Additionally, a draftsman must be able to maintain many projects at once, while meeting deadlines.
Educational Requirements
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Employer give preference to those with graduate degrees. A formal education is required to become a draftsman. Many academic institutions offer two- and four-year programs that provide coursework in architecture, preparing students to sit for the drafting certification exam, which is administered by the American Design Drafting Association. Additionally, many employers give preference to candidates who possess a graduate degree within architecture, engineering or a related field of study.
Average Compensation
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A draftsman earns more than $50,000 annually. The average annual salary of a draftsman working in the United States, as reported in October 2009 by Indeed.com, is $53,000. As a whole, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates the construction industry to experience an employment growth of 10 percent through the year 2016.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit "Construction Safety" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: NIOSH - Nat Inst for Occupational Safety & Health (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)) under the Creative Commons Attribution license. "DSCN5251" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: zappowbang (Justin Henry) under the Creative Commons Attribution license. "barcampvienna2008-4" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: _dChris (Chris) under the Creative Commons Attribution license. "Grand Street: Painter" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: moriza (Mo Riza) under the Creative Commons Attribution license. "All the Grads in a Row" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: foundphotoslj under the Creative Commons Attribution license. "Money" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: AMagill (Andrew Magill) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
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Comments
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i love this!!!!!
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how can I become a member of ADDA.
