The past decade has seen tremendous effort put forth by the major 3D CAD platform developers. This has not only involved significant refinements in software and user interfaces, but also the manner by which these developments address genuine user needs. Complementing these aspects, we find marketing and consumer education have also been integral in establishing SolidWorks as the 3D CAD of choice among many.
Providing the numbers to confirm the growing trend in SolidWorks use, Indeed.com data indicates a notable distinction among 3D CAD job opportunities, with SolidWorks as the evident leader. Please note that this chart is directly linked and thus may show variation and trend different from the time of this article submission.
Of course, the details behind this trend are multi-faceted and beyond the scope of this article, but this data should be most reassuring. As the scene of this world continues to change and economies remain uncertain, having apprecication that SolidWorks is growing as the major 3D CAD platform of choice among employers provides added confidence in the potential toward rewarding opportunities for the SolidWorks CAD entrepreneur.
Showing posts with label jobs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jobs. Show all posts
2010-07-30
2009-06-28
CAD... Big Job, Small Job, Long Job, Short Job!
In the field of providing CAD services, the array of job opportunities that become available can be quite varied, and of course unpredictable at times. It isn't always feast or famine, as it were, but is typically somewhere in between.
As the title to this segment indicates, the extents of job opportunities will range across the spectrum of client needs. The challenge really then becomes managing your time and effort, in a manner conducive to effective and efficient work. To this we will view a number of job opportunity scenarios, as discuss the benefits and potential concerns of each.
Big Jobs:
Big jobs intrinsically carry the sense that you will be working at an extremely involved level with a shared deep commitment with an employer. They will expect much for the time expended. Additionally, it may well require that you work very closely and cooperatively with others on the project. This may even require employer stipulations that you work on location with the employer only during their business hours.
By handling this responsibly, you may well earn a good reputation and gain a client who will look to you for their extended CAD needs again in the near future. A possible concern could be only in failing to communicate effectively and thereby falling short of the expectations that you will be held to.
Small Jobs:
Small jobs are small only in a relative sense. They still require the full scope of your effort to accomplish a quality result for the time expended. And it is important it bear in mind that small jobs could easily have the potential to become larger in the future, especially for clients that are growing.
Some real advantages of small jobs are the varieties of CAD work that can make for an interesting and robust portfolio. A potential concern is to avoid the trap of thinking that a small job somehow requires less than your best effort. Always remember that a dissatisfied customer, however small, can easily erode the good name you have endeavored to make.
Long Jobs:
A long term contract job is ideal in the practical ways of being able to provide a steady income while working in a familiar setting for an extended time. Similar in many ways to the 'Big Jobs' mentioned above, it also allows the opportunity to become an even more trusted contributor to the client or employer. In fact, many fellow workers that you work closely with may begin to interact as if you were one of them: a regular full-time employee. Be cautious therefore, not to lose sight of your professional responsibility. That means working as diligently late Friday afternoon as you did on Monday morning, regardless of what water cooler banter about the upcoming weekend is going on around you!
Although a long-term contract client will most likely negotiate a lower rate, the duration of the longer terms will easily make up for any perceived sacrifice. And there is a potential that an employer may come to be so pleased with your CAD services that an offer for full-time employment could even be extended to you.
Short Jobs:
Short jobs can be unique and afford an opportunity to expand your client base. Similar in many respects to ' Small Jobs', these are limited in terms of contract time required. Consider that a short job client might simply be 'testing you out', as it were, to determine if you would be a good candidate for more involved or lengthy contract work. That being said, you will certainly want to take advantage of developing good communication and rapport with those you will be working with.
Realistically, the variety of job opportunities may not always come as you may desire, but being flexible and balanced in your accepting work are important decisions, all the same. Your personal needs and goals in developing and maintaining your CAD business should obviously be weighed in as you consider which jobs to take or decline.
Finally, if your circumstances allow, don't forget that even offering to do a very small job for no cost can make a huge impression. Genuine appreciation expressed by word of mouth will not only promote your SolidWorks CAD business, but also indicate that you are the type of person that others should be interested in contracting with!
As the title to this segment indicates, the extents of job opportunities will range across the spectrum of client needs. The challenge really then becomes managing your time and effort, in a manner conducive to effective and efficient work. To this we will view a number of job opportunity scenarios, as discuss the benefits and potential concerns of each.
Big Jobs:
Big jobs intrinsically carry the sense that you will be working at an extremely involved level with a shared deep commitment with an employer. They will expect much for the time expended. Additionally, it may well require that you work very closely and cooperatively with others on the project. This may even require employer stipulations that you work on location with the employer only during their business hours.
By handling this responsibly, you may well earn a good reputation and gain a client who will look to you for their extended CAD needs again in the near future. A possible concern could be only in failing to communicate effectively and thereby falling short of the expectations that you will be held to.
Small Jobs:
Small jobs are small only in a relative sense. They still require the full scope of your effort to accomplish a quality result for the time expended. And it is important it bear in mind that small jobs could easily have the potential to become larger in the future, especially for clients that are growing.
Some real advantages of small jobs are the varieties of CAD work that can make for an interesting and robust portfolio. A potential concern is to avoid the trap of thinking that a small job somehow requires less than your best effort. Always remember that a dissatisfied customer, however small, can easily erode the good name you have endeavored to make.
Long Jobs:
A long term contract job is ideal in the practical ways of being able to provide a steady income while working in a familiar setting for an extended time. Similar in many ways to the 'Big Jobs' mentioned above, it also allows the opportunity to become an even more trusted contributor to the client or employer. In fact, many fellow workers that you work closely with may begin to interact as if you were one of them: a regular full-time employee. Be cautious therefore, not to lose sight of your professional responsibility. That means working as diligently late Friday afternoon as you did on Monday morning, regardless of what water cooler banter about the upcoming weekend is going on around you!
Although a long-term contract client will most likely negotiate a lower rate, the duration of the longer terms will easily make up for any perceived sacrifice. And there is a potential that an employer may come to be so pleased with your CAD services that an offer for full-time employment could even be extended to you.
Short Jobs:
Short jobs can be unique and afford an opportunity to expand your client base. Similar in many respects to ' Small Jobs', these are limited in terms of contract time required. Consider that a short job client might simply be 'testing you out', as it were, to determine if you would be a good candidate for more involved or lengthy contract work. That being said, you will certainly want to take advantage of developing good communication and rapport with those you will be working with.
Realistically, the variety of job opportunities may not always come as you may desire, but being flexible and balanced in your accepting work are important decisions, all the same. Your personal needs and goals in developing and maintaining your CAD business should obviously be weighed in as you consider which jobs to take or decline.
Finally, if your circumstances allow, don't forget that even offering to do a very small job for no cost can make a huge impression. Genuine appreciation expressed by word of mouth will not only promote your SolidWorks CAD business, but also indicate that you are the type of person that others should be interested in contracting with!
2009-01-18
Go for It! ...Ways to generate CAD business opportunties
Generating new CAD business opportunities can initally appear to be an intimidating challenge, especially if you don't consider yourself to have marketing savvy or shtick. However, a genuine approach with sincerity and enthusiasm can do much to counter any deficit when it comes to creating and building business rapport and opportunity with others.
With that in mind, begin by noting that there are two basic types of CAD jobs. The first are those that may involve repeatable or continuous work, and the second are those that may be single or one-time jobs. Therefore, it only makes sense that one can alleviate a great deal of anxiety by focusing mainly on the former, and fitting in the later as circumstances might allow. With this understanding, one can then tailor their approach to bring the greatest reward for the effort invested.
Repeatable opportunities:
Repeatable SolidWorks job opportunities might include working locally with the following:
For general convenience, you might choose to designate your home as 'ground zero', per se, and make your intial contacts within a defined radius of your location. This radius can then be expanded as necessity warrants.
It should go without saying that you will want to document all your contact efforts. Doing so will allow you to not only become better acquainted with the many businesses in your locale, but will also aid in establishing your contact database to make your future efforts that much easier.
Single one-time opportunities:
Single or one-time jobs may come from being contacted by or pursuing:
So, being creative with SolidWorks can mean much more than just modeling and design. For the SolidWorks CAD entreprenuer it also involves using your ingenuity to enthusiastically pursue and generate your business opportunities!
With that in mind, begin by noting that there are two basic types of CAD jobs. The first are those that may involve repeatable or continuous work, and the second are those that may be single or one-time jobs. Therefore, it only makes sense that one can alleviate a great deal of anxiety by focusing mainly on the former, and fitting in the later as circumstances might allow. With this understanding, one can then tailor their approach to bring the greatest reward for the effort invested.
Repeatable opportunities:
Repeatable SolidWorks job opportunities might include working locally with the following:
- manufacturers
- fabricating shops
- design firms
- providing instruction at a high school or technical college
- sub-contracting under another associate
For general convenience, you might choose to designate your home as 'ground zero', per se, and make your intial contacts within a defined radius of your location. This radius can then be expanded as necessity warrants.
It should go without saying that you will want to document all your contact efforts. Doing so will allow you to not only become better acquainted with the many businesses in your locale, but will also aid in establishing your contact database to make your future efforts that much easier.
Single one-time opportunities:
Single or one-time jobs may come from being contacted by or pursuing:
- independent inventors
- home-owner projects
- internet freelance jobs
So, being creative with SolidWorks can mean much more than just modeling and design. For the SolidWorks CAD entreprenuer it also involves using your ingenuity to enthusiastically pursue and generate your business opportunities!
2008-12-28
Work to Live, or Live to Work?
It is noted that wisdom is the ability to use knowledge and understanding successfully to solve problems, avoid or avert dangers, attain certain goals, or counsel others in doing so. Therefore, it is important to apply wisdom when addressing the question of whether you want to 'work to live, or live to work' ? In other words, "How do you balance personal and family life with the commitment to a business?"
An article that appeared in The Watchtower of 4/15/2002 provides valuable insight into these questions. The article shared a "story that has been told thousands of times with many variations. A senior villager in Benin, West Africa, related the following version to some younger ones.
Having a good routine is always beneficial when one must allocate time to various endeavors. Understandably then, extending time in one area will always come at a cost from another.
For time designated specific to a home-based business, many prefer a structured day-time routine geared around a typical business day schedule. After all, consider that most of your contacts will be local.
Additionally, flexibility is an obvious asset that you can then tailor to properly suit your needs. Some might choose to extend their working hours, as needed whether in the morning, evening, or weekends, and doing so on a limited basis.
I personally recommend that one build a business model with the goal of sustainability, thereby achieving balance in life for the equally if not more important things. Recognizing that your CAD reputation and quality of work determines whether you have work, it is easy to become unbalanced or consumed by it. Endeavor to remain confident that your CAD reputation and quality of work are also the very same factors that will allow you to achieve a sustainable business with clients that will be pleased to work with you time and again.
It may be an old adage, but it certainly rings true that no one has ever had written on their tombstone: "I wish I had spent more time in the office". With that in mind, time and experience will serve well in being able to exercise wisdom to properly balance your family and personal life with the responsibilities of managing your CAD business. In this way, you can achieve the goal of 'working to live'.
An article that appeared in The Watchtower of 4/15/2002 provides valuable insight into these questions. The article shared a "story that has been told thousands of times with many variations. A senior villager in Benin, West Africa, related the following version to some younger ones.
The fisherman returns home in his pirogue and is met by a foreign expert serving in this developing country. The expert asks the fisherman why he is back so early. He replies that he could have stayed out longer but that he had caught enough to care for his family.
"And now, what do you do with all your time anyway?" the expert asks.
The fisherman responds: "Well, I do a little fishing. I play with my children. We all have a siesta when it gets hot. In the evening, we have supper together. Later, I get together with my friends for some music, and so on."
The expert interrupts: "Look! I have a university degree and have studied these matters. I want to help you. You should stay out fishing longer. You would earn more and soon be able to purchase a bigger boat than this pirogue. With a bigger boat, you would earn still more and soon be able to build up a fleet of trawlers."Yes, a synopsis of life's ambition in a very effective story. While taking business initiatives seriously, it is wise to consider to what degree, and to count the cost.
"And then?" the fisherman inquires.
"Then, instead of selling fish through a middleman, you could negotiate directly with the factory or even start your own fish-processing plant. You would be able to leave your village and move to Cotonou, or Paris, or New York and run the whole thing from there! You could even consider putting your business on the stock market and earn millions!"
"How long would that all take?" the fisherman asks.
"Perhaps 15 to 20 years," the expert answers.
"And then?" the fisherman continues.
"That is when life gets interesting! the expert explains. "Then you could retire. You could move away from the hustle and bustle of it all to some remote village."
"And then what? asks the fisherman.
"Then you have time to do a little fishing, play with your children, have a siesta when it gets hot, have supper with your family, and get together with friends for some music.""
Having a good routine is always beneficial when one must allocate time to various endeavors. Understandably then, extending time in one area will always come at a cost from another.
For time designated specific to a home-based business, many prefer a structured day-time routine geared around a typical business day schedule. After all, consider that most of your contacts will be local.
Additionally, flexibility is an obvious asset that you can then tailor to properly suit your needs. Some might choose to extend their working hours, as needed whether in the morning, evening, or weekends, and doing so on a limited basis.
I personally recommend that one build a business model with the goal of sustainability, thereby achieving balance in life for the equally if not more important things. Recognizing that your CAD reputation and quality of work determines whether you have work, it is easy to become unbalanced or consumed by it. Endeavor to remain confident that your CAD reputation and quality of work are also the very same factors that will allow you to achieve a sustainable business with clients that will be pleased to work with you time and again.
It may be an old adage, but it certainly rings true that no one has ever had written on their tombstone: "I wish I had spent more time in the office". With that in mind, time and experience will serve well in being able to exercise wisdom to properly balance your family and personal life with the responsibilities of managing your CAD business. In this way, you can achieve the goal of 'working to live'.
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