1. Preparing
for
Careers
related to
Drafting

2. Successful Career Planning is a Five Step Process:
Self Assessment
Career Exploration
Goal Setting
Take Action
Evaluation

3. Self-Assessment Look at yourself honestly
Determine your talents, interests, skills, values, and personality
Who am I?
What do I like to do?
What skills and talents do I possess?
Ask friends and family to help with your assessment.

4. What your friends enjoy Look for areas with lots of job openings
What’s Best for You?
What your friends enjoy
Look for the money
Look for areas with lots of job openings
Father’s current job
Parents’ desires

5. Career Exploration
Investigate all the career choices, options, and opportunities available to you
Take a variety of courses
Participate in job shadowing
Talk to people

6. Goal Setting
If you set a number of short-term goals, you are more likely to reach your long-term goals
Short-term goals should be realistic and obtainable
Goals should be based upon your strengths and weaknesses
Goal One
Goal Three
Goal Four
Goal Two

7. Take Action
Develop a Personal Action Plan (Career Plan) that will allow you to reach your short-term goals
Register for the right courses
Maintain the grades

8. Evaluation
As you gain knowledge and experience, you may decide to alter your original plan
It is never too late to move in another direction
Things become clear with time

9. Occupational Classifications
People who work with:
People: Teachers, Social Workers, Police Officers, Salespersons, Childcare Workers
Data: Accountants, Computer Programmers, Researchers, Clerks
Things: Drafters, Air Traffic Controllers, Electronics Technicians, Cooks
Ideas: Artists, Writers, Musicians

10. Drafting/Technical Drawing
“Things” category
Accurate and neat
Attentive to details
Logical and Systematic
Likes computers
Able to organize work
Able to communicate
Likes to draw/create
Reasonable math skills
Education
HS + On-the-job
1 or 2 years in a technical college program
4 year college degree in Technology (ECU, NC A&T, Appalachian, UNCC) or Technology Education (NC State, Graphics Minor)

11. Careers Related to Technical Drawing
Almost everything that is built or constructed starts with a plan (a drawing)
Architecture
Computer Graphics/Animation
Construction
Engineering
Interior/Industrial/Fashion Design
Manufacturing
Surveying

12. Architectural Drafting

13. Civil Engineering Technology

14. Mechanical Engineering Tech

15. Engineering Aerospace Chemical Civil Electrical Industrial Mechanical
Metallurgical
Nuclear
Petroleum
At least 4 years of college (often 5)
Lots of math and science (important)
Engineering graphics
In North Carolina
NC A&T
NC State
UNC Charlotte
Duke

16. The Engineering Design Team
Various people in a corporation working together to design and create new products
Marketing and Sales
Research and Development
Engineering
Production
Finance

17. Filling Out the Application
Read the instructions carefully
Print neatly using black ink (take a pen)
Fill in all of the blanks (N/A, - )
Have the following information: (1) address and telephone where you can be contacted, (2) driver’s license, (3) names, addresses, and telephone number of references, (4) school information to include address, telephone number, and special skills
Never, ever lie

18. Resumes A selected summary of significant facts about you
Resumes do not get jobs, they get interviews (three piles, yes, no, maybe)
Resumes save the employer time
Because you are not there, your resume has to answer the questions that employers ask
Good resumes speak to the needs of the person doing the hiring
Need to know which facts are significant to a perspective employer

19. Cover Letters Sent with resume
Links your resume to the job that you want
Do not concentrate on your needs, rather what you can do for them
Salutation: gender if you know, if you don’t know call and ask or skip altogether
First paragraph: Why
Second paragraph: What (you have to offer)
Third paragraph: How (to reach you) (are you going to proceed
Closing: nothing cute

20. The Interview
Find out the name and position of the person you will be meeting with (pronunciation)
Be there approximately 5 minutes early
May fill out application form
Avoid dress that calls attention. Clean, neat.

21. Interview Do’s and Don’ts
give a good handshake
take samples of your work
show letters of recommendation
arrange your qualifications in your mind
leave promptly after thanking, write thank-you
Don’t:
criticize past employers
try too hard, be yourself
plead how much you need a job
discuss salary or benefits until the close