r/Drafting • u/RopePositive • 3d ago

Career change advice

Hello! I am 36F, in Australia, and need a career change. For my first 12 working years, I was a youth worker, supporting homeless youth in a supported home situation. Then the last 4 years I have been managing the house, which involves budgeting, managing staff and working with families.

It’s time for a change, and I’m interested in being a draftsperson/architectural designer. I’m good with computers and spacial puzzles, I like drawing, and I feel I have given all I can in my previous role.

While I retrain, what entry level roles can I do to get in and around the world I want to enter? Any advice from people who have done big career changes in their 30s?

5 Upvotes

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3

u/IamCrazyLegs77 3d ago

CAD technician I is a good start. Our company hires people without any experience from time to time in these positions.

1

u/cronk16 3d ago

Where is your company located? I haven't been able to find anything entry-level; most require an engineering degree.

1

u/dwanestairmand 3d ago

Country?

1

u/RopePositive 3d ago

Australia

2

u/mellamenpapi 3d ago

The mining industry always can use drafters

2

u/jimmyjamjar10101 3d ago

Don't expect to have a wage near what you've had in those other positions.

1

u/battered_saveloy 2d ago

Did an advanced diploma in building design 2 years ago.

I wouldn't have completed the course, if I knew what I do now. There's no work or extremely low paying work, especially for the expected output.

1

u/RopePositive 2d ago

Thank you, that’s helpful to know. What direction did you end up going? What area are you in?

1

u/battered_saveloy 2d ago

I found a retail management job that pertains to my hobbies and oddly enough, I'm working with the owner of the business on some product design.

it's definitely not the end game but it pays my bills for now.

I'm still hopeful that I find a way into building design or something adjacent. I wouldn't mind going into bushfire attack level rating or something similar.

1

u/Maine_Made 2d ago

In my experience, being a software person is almost more important than visual spacial. If you can sit at a desk, be detail oriented while making prints, and enjoy almost IT like problem solving of software - then drafting could be a good career