Thinking about career as drafter, whats day to day work?

[mjames12]

Im thinking of enrolling in an architectural drafting program (2 yr degree) and was wanting to know from actual people that work in it some of the day to day things you do. Do you spend the entire day creating blueprints or do you do other things also? Are you so busy everyday you are creating drawings the whole time your at work or are there times your just playing around on the internet and what not. Is there a lot of stress from getting drawings done in time or is it a slow paced enviroment? Thanks for any information you can give me about the day to day work in the office.

[CADmanCol]

As you may have already enrolled on your course then you may have already found out that the duties within a Drawing (or Design) Office vary depending upon the industry. With Architectural you would not only be looking to create the relevant drawings but also substantiate your designs with calculations. Playing on the internet? researching and downloading information to suppliment the project yes, playing no.
I've worked in many industries over the last 16 years and no two days have been the same in the office.
My advice - give it a go, what have you got to loose? It'll always be an extra qualification.

[KoJo]

Drafting is not just about drawing lines. Your focus is architecture? Why?
A drafts(person) is not, hopefully not, just a pen. There were once such entities, once known as tracers. Their caligraphy skills would shake your socks off! Engineering knowhow? Ziltch!They're now called CAD operators. Mind blank. Software confunctional, Total. Don't challenge them on software moves! But otherwise, read typist. So! Drafters can command big bucks! We. They. Are a lessening available commodity. As a drafter, that's what you are. Along with welding rods, cutable steel plate, and other manager disposables. That's what you will always be. So! If you're good! Make them pay! You are only financial for the current managers tenure!
To get in? Take any opportunity! To stay there! Accept it up the arse. To make money? Become an agent! To retake your own values? Best of luck with that! I like drafting. I like engineering. I like being needed. That's needed, not kneaded. I liked being able to solve site problems, of which, the solutions of which, the current engineering manager had no idea! A good draftsman is an engineer that likes to explore, withot the confines of management. A good drafter takes in plate costs, site costs, environmental rules, statituary local rules, the fucking rules the fucking managers don't even know about, and those of the managers managers!
Cynical? No! Practical! Again! Best of luck! But the money is there!

[Adam]

I think you should make balance between work and rest.