Although it’s not for everyone, working from home is the dream of many. In a post-pandemic job market, some have reluctantly returned to the office. Others look for hybrid positions requiring a set number of hours in-office but with the flexibility of working another number at home.
Working a CAD Coordinator role entirely from home is an unlikely prospect for all but the most successful freelancers. However, experienced CAD Coordinators with a breadth of skills can sometimes work primarily from home—as long as they can communicate via messaging or other platforms and visit job sites when necessary. Read on to learn more about how to become a CAD Coordinator while embracing the work-from-home model.
What CAD Coordinator Training Method is Right for Me?
If you want to work from home as a CAD Coordinator, you must consider numerous training methods. Finding currently employed CAD Coordinators who work from home can be challenging, and your path might differ from theirs. Your best bet is to weigh the pros and cons of all training methods before you commit to a course of action. Consider the following CAD training methods, whether for Coordinators or other professionals.
Certificates & Certification Programs
Certificate programs usually comprise multiple bootcamps (see below) and shorter training modules. These combined courses offer a comprehensive education, often in several skills and tools. Many end with a capstone project graduates can share with hiring managers or recruiters.
Certification programs are different. While they can also feature multiple bootcamps, the focus is on preparing attendees to sit for a certification exam. Some CAD Coordinator roles require a certification credential, but even if they don't, a certification can help job seekers stand out from other candidates.
Bootcamps
The bootcamp model is one of the most popular training methods, and many respected course providers offer CAD training in-person or live online via teleconferencing. Bootcamps cover significant information in a concentrated timeframe, and many are beginner-friendly. An AutoCAD bootcamp is an excellent way to get introductory training in this essential software program.
On-Demand/Asynchronous Learning
On-demand training, sometimes called asynchronous learning, is usually made up of pre-recorded videos. These programs allow students to watch at any hour, and many have a lower tuition cost than live training. However, they also offer a lower engagement than training live online or in the traditional classroom. Consider this method as a backup if you cannot attend live training, as working from home as a CAD Coordinator requires a deep skill set.
Self-Study
Free online resources like the Noble Desktop YouTube channel and Learn Hub offer an excellent way to get familiar with AutoCAD design and drawing concepts. However, professional-level skill development doesn't come free. The best bet is to enroll in an AutoCAD bootcamp, certificate, or certification program to master AutoCAD and other skills essential to the CAD Coordinator role.
What is a CAD Coordinator?
A CAD Coordinator generally provides support for design, engineering, or manufacturing teams. Responsibilities for CAD Coordinator positions vary widely, and different industries can have unique requirements and unusual job titles. They can range from updating software to providing training or maintaining CAD standards.
CAD Coordinators may design and prepare electronic working plans, maps, and project drawings. Others receive customer 2D drawings and prepare them for release to a CAD design or engineering team. Firmwide CAD Coordinators typically work in a supervisory capacity, managing and coordinating all CAD-related activities.
CAD Coordinators are oftentimes experts in building information modeling (BIM), and some positions have titles like CAD/BIM Design Coordinator. These roles are often comparable to those with titles like Firmwide CAD Coordinator, which means they support multiple design and engineering teams. Read on for additional requirements and specifics for this unique position.
Can I Learn to be a CAD Coordinator from Home?
In a word, yes, you can be a CAD Coordinator from home. However, the path to working this career at this level typically differs from the standard CAD professional career track. First, fewer available positions allow a full-time work-from-home schedule—especially because many CAD Coordinator roles require frequent visits to job sites. Secondly, working from home may be open only to CAD pros with specific educational or certification credentials. Read on to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of working remotely or freelancing.
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What are the Advantages of Learning from Home?
Learning live online via teleconferencing platforms or watching on-demand videos has become a popular training method. It makes sense: today’s workers spend more time online than ever, and live online coursework, in particular, offers engagement similar to learning in person. Students can save on gas and parking as they learn from the comfort of home.
What are the Disadvantages of Learning from Home?
For many people, the main disadvantage of learning from home is avoiding distractions not found in the in-person classroom. These can range from family member interruptions to pets to the lure of non-educational online activities. Of course, some students benefit from in-person interactions with peers and instructors. However, because the engagement level of live online training is comparable to in-person training, the benefits typically outweigh any drawbacks for most learners.
What Resources Are Available to Help Me Become a CAD Coordinator at Home?
The internet offers numerous resources to help CAD beginners learn from home. They range from free YouTube videos and blog posts to intensive paid programs that run for weeks or months. Consider the following resources and their advantages and limitations.
Free Resources
While anyone can go online and read or watch videos about AutoCAD and other CAD-related tools and skills, professional-level training requires you to invest time and money. Free resources like the Noble Desktop YouTube channel and Learn Hub are a great way to familiarize yourself with AutoCAD basics before enrolling in a course that features AutoCAD or includes it within a broader design or drafting curriculum.
On-Demand Classes
On-demand classes generally consist of pre-recorded instructional videos, though some on-demand programs include additional supplementary materials, like workbooks or a student chat group. Although these courses can offer a lower entry cost and the ability to watch at any hour, they also provide lower engagement than live training. Consider on-demand learning if work or family obligations prevent you from attending a live program.
Live Online Classes and Bootcamps
Virtual bootcamps and certificate programs are today's most popular CAD training methods. Training online via teleconferencing provides student engagement comparable to in-person classes, and you can learn from the comfort of your home. Another benefit is that there are many more options online than in person.
Although some CAD beginners start with individual training classes, many others enroll in online bootcamps. The bootcamp learning method offers the unique advantage of presenting substantial knowledge and hands-on skills training in a concentrated timeframe.
Many CAD learners enroll in certificate or certification programs comprising multiple bootcamps and shorter training modules. These immersive programs can substitute for a degree and often give graduates enough skills and tools to qualify for entry-level positions.
How to Find CAD Coordinator Work at Home
Finding work as a CAD Coordinator from home requires more than a standard job search. To make this your career, consider building a network of contacts while still in training.
Your bootcamp or certificate program instructor, classmates, and other businesspeople in your area can all be essential sources of referrals. Update your LinkedIn and other social media profiles to look polished and professional. Focus on expanding your network as you look for your first CAD-related role after you complete training.
Freelance Opportunities
As in other tech roles, opportunities to find freelance work as a CAD Coordinator exist but may require diligence to find. Freelancers include those who supplement their incomes from regular jobs to full-time self-employed freelance professionals.
If you want to work as a freelancer, the only correct way to do so today is to start your own company. Recent changes in tax laws require workers to report any income they earn, including through platforms like eBay or PayPal. Thus, getting a business license and federal tax ID number before freelancing is essential.
Finding Remote Jobs as a CAD Coordinator
Some of the best places to find freelance opportunities are networking organizations. Many local or national groups that meet for networking opportunities focus on finding referrals for others in the group. You might find that someone you meet while networking knows someone else who needs your CAD coordinating services. Check LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and Indeed job postings that mention freelancers regularly. You can also find freelance roles on dedicated sites like Freelancer.com and Toptal.com.
The kinds of work that you can expect to do while working from home are often drawing and drafting projects. An example of a remote CAD Coordinator role is a part-time contract CAD Design Coordinator/Checker job. A position like this can cover many of the standard CAD Coordinator's responsibilities, including reviewing technical drawings, making corrections, and coordinating with design teams.
Some industries may be more likely to hire remote CAD Coordinators than others. Look for manufacturing and product suppliers if your CAD background focuses on product design and manufacturing. If your focus is on the AECO side, consider construction, civil engineering, and business consulting firms.
How Will Remote Work as a CAD Coordinator Differ from On-site Work?
Remote work differs from working on a job site in several significant ways. First, the flexibility of working from home means you can choose among different projects based on your scheduling needs. However, this may not always be the case: a part-time contract role might require you to be available during specific business hours.
Second, remote work means you are responsible for keeping all your equipment in working order and up to date. You can’t call tech support to come to your cubicle when something goes wrong. Your client or employer will expect you to meet their needs promptly.
Finally, remote work as a CAD Coordinator may be part of a hybrid role. Some clients or customers might need you to report to job sites periodically. Given the few restrictions on remote work compared with direct-report employment, many CAD professionals prefer the freedom, flexibility, and challenges of working remotely or as freelancers.
Learn the Skills to Become a CAD Coordinator at Noble Desktop
While some CAD roles will require expertise in a system software like SolidWorks from Dassault Systèmes, most will require AutoCAD. Training for a CAD Coordinator role typically starts with one or more Autodesk programs, from AutoCAD to Revit, Fusion 360, and Navisworks.
Noble Desktop provides multiple AutoCAD training options for individuals and organizations. Their AutoCAD Level I class is an 18-hour program available live online via teleconferencing or in person at their state-of-the-art Manhattan headquarters. Beginners learn to create drawings for architectural or mechanical applications. Although in-person classes focus on AutoCAD for PC, Mac users may attend online. Noble offers intermediate and advanced training through AutoCAD Levels II and III classes.
Applicants can save by taking AutoCAD Level I within one of several immersive programs. The following courses include beginner to intermediate or advanced AutoCAD training:
- AutoCAD Bootcamp - The comprehensive AutoCAD Bootcamp combines AutoCAD Levels I and II for a total of 30 hours of training. Attendees learn basic and intermediate AutoCAD skills like drawing, editing, advanced layer techniques, and data tables in a beginner-friendly curriculum.
- AutoCAD Masterclass - Noble Desktop’s AutoCAD Masterclass adds an 18-hour advanced AutoCAD Level III course to the AutoCAD Bootcamp modules. While also open to beginners, this 48-hour program covers advanced object types and interface techniques. Graduates rate the AutoCAD Masterclass highly, 4.7 out of 5 stars.
- AutoCAD Certification Program - The 54-hour AutoCAD Certification Program adds six hours of private tutoring to the AutoCAD Masterclass curriculum to prepare students to sit for the Autodesk Certificated Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting exam. Tuition also covers proctoring for the exam and a free retake if needed. Attendees can substitute an additional hour of tutoring in place of the exam if they choose.
Courses like the certification program can help professional AutoCAD users stand out from the field in a crowded job market. However, Autodesk also suggests that the certification exam usually requires between 400 and 1,200 on-the-job hours using the AutoCAD software to prepare for testing.