Expert: Bob - 4/18/2008

Question
I'm trying to get a job in interior design but having a little difficulty in getting one because they are all asking if i got autocad experience,  which i haven't got and was wondering which autocad is best for me to study. (the one that interior designers use)

Answer
Hi
This one threw me for a minute.....You left out the rest of your qualifications,and, very importantly, your age bracket. (I give different advice to "computer generation kids" than to women going to work after their children grow.)

If you are trying to get a job in Interior Design, you need to have gone to school for it. I hope that no school omits the importance of AutoCAD.  Design firms have plenty of older designers who arent so great at it, so they want the new people to do the detail work, etc.

I hope you dont think that this is  profession one can do well in for merely having taste, no schooling??????????????????????  
That is if you want to be what I would call a Decorator/hobbyist and help people fix up their houses.  It is (sorry) insulting to us if you didnt notice we had to take tough courses to be here.

In any case, Interior Designers use the AutoCAD they own. Some use LT, others use AutoCAD Architecture, some use other programs, such as Archicad or Revit.

If you left out something like "I went to school years ago, before AutoCAD" -
A- You need to be very comfortable with MS Windows and the computer.
B- You need to understanding drafting (meaning you went to school)
C- I would take a few classes in community college etc -- and its better if the classes, after the basics, are design classes using AutoCAD.

I think it takes a year to get half decent at the program -- and you learn by doing projects on it.

Good luck. Write back if this does not help.

BOB