Resume guide · Job Zone 3

Mechanical Draftersresume guide.

Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information. A strong Mechanical Drafters resume shows critical thinking, operations analysis and active learning, and names the tools you have worked with, such as Autodesk AutoCAD, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks and Bentley MicroStation.

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01Also called

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CAD Designer (Computer Aided Design Designer)CAD Operator (Computer Aided Design Operator)CAM Specialist (Computer Aided Manufacturing Specialist)Design DrafterDie DesignerDrafterDrafting Technician (Drafting Tech)Mechanical DesignerTool Design DrafterTooling Designer

02Skills employers expect

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Importance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.

SkillImportanceLevel
Critical ThinkingHighIntermediate
Operations AnalysisHighIntermediate
Active LearningHighIntermediate
Active ListeningHighIntermediate
Complex Problem SolvingHighIntermediate
MathematicsHighIntermediate
Reading ComprehensionHighIntermediate
SpeakingHighIntermediate
Judgment and Decision MakingHighIntermediate
MonitoringHighIntermediate

03Knowledge areas

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  • Design
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Production and Processing
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Physics
  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Education and Training

04Common responsibilities

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Ordered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.

  1. Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
  2. Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment.
  3. Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to the materials.
  4. Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items, such as furniture and automobile body or chassis components.
  5. Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.
  6. Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
  7. Create bills of materials.
  8. Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
  9. Position instructions and comments onto drawings.
  10. Coordinate with and consult other workers to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other problems.

05Software and tools

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43 tools across 17 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.

Computer aided design CAD software19
  • Autodesk AutoCADHotIn demand
  • Dassault Systemes SolidWorksHotIn demand
  • Bentley MicroStationHotIn demand
  • Autodesk RevitHotIn demand
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3DHotIn demand
  • Dassault Systemes CATIAIn demand
  • PTC Creo ParametricIn demand
  • Autodesk InventorIn demand
  • NavisWorks JetstreamIn demand
  • Autodesk NavisworksIn demand
  • Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
  • Siemens Solid Edge
  • SofTech CADRA
  • Piping and instrumentation design PID software
  • PTC Pro/Cable
  • Reverse engineering software
  • Autodesk Mechanical
  • Bentley Navigator
+ 14 more
Graphics or photo imaging software6
  • Trimble SketchUp ProHotIn demand
  • McNeel Rhinoceros 3DIn demand
  • Adobe LiveMotion
  • Graphic presentation software
  • Motion graphics software
  • Non uniform rational b-splines NURBS software
+ 1 more
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software2
  • 1CadCam Unigraphics
  • Rapid prototyping software
Enterprise resource planning ERP software2
Optical character reader OCR or scanning software2
  • Scanning software
  • Three-dimensional scanning software
Data base user interface and query software1
Document management software1
  • Document management system software
Electronic mail software1
Enterprise application integration software1
Geographic information system1
Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software1
  • Bill of materials software
Office suite software1
Presentation software1
Project management software1
Spreadsheet software1
Video creation and editing software1
  • Adobe After EffectsHotIn demand
Word processing software1

06Education and preparation

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Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
44% of surveyed workers. Others report Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree (23%) and Bachelor's Degree (19%).
Preparation level
Job Zone 3 · Medium preparation
Usually vocational training, an associate degree or a few years of related experience.

07Putting it on your resume

ResumeXRays guidance
BEE · How to show it

Lead with the credential and the record. Job Zone 3 roles usually ask for training, a license or a few years of related experience. Put those on the first screen, then show what you did with them.

Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "Autodesk AutoCAD, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks, Bentley MicroStation, Autodesk Revit" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.

Show operations analysis and active learning, not just critical thinking. Operations analysis and active learning rank close to critical thinking for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.

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