How to Start a Successful Career as a Mechanical Design Engineer - Roadmap

Present Status of College Students Who are Pursuing Engineering:
More than 60% of Mechanical Engineers are facing the following issues during college time, like, 

• Not focusing on Specialization in one CAD software. 
• Don’t know about Domain Knowledge. 
• Don’t have to focus on “Type of Industry” to build a career. 
• Not focusing on market value in the design domain to build a career. 
• Not knowing which software is used by which industry in which domain. 
• Not having opportunities from college campuses for design role jobs, and so on.

These are some of the issues arising with engineering pursuing students. Also, let's talk about some more issues that arose after passed out.

Present Status of Students after Passing Out:
Once you pass out, to find an opportunity in the design role, you will face issues, as, 

• Off-Campus or walk-in drives where, companies prefer to hire at least 6 months or 1-year experienced candidate, who can directly start working on the company’s live project from the first day of joining.
• More than 80% of the companies do not hire freshers in, off-campus, or walk-in drives because they always look for candidates with domain knowledge. 
• In, off-campus interviews, more than 1000 candidates come and their resume contains software knowledge skill like CATIA, UGNX, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, etc. Of those candidates, only 10 to 15 candidates have learned about the domain and they only get shortlisted for the job role. 
• Hence, only CAD software knowledge is not useful to get a job easily. You have to think about what the industry is looking for. And Industry Prefers Domain Knowledge. 

Till this time, we have seen the problems faced by the mechanical for Design Job Role. Now, let's talk about, How to Get a Design Job Role with Industry Expectations. You can get the job role you are looking for by understanding what the industry expects from you.
 

Roadmap to become a Mechanical Design Engineer:
Step 1: Build a Strong Foundation with Advanced level Knowledge of CAD Software like, CATIA or UGNX with Surfacing and CAD Methodology. 
Step 2: Gain Strong Fundamental Knowledge of domains like Plastic, BIW, Press Tool, Mold, etc. 
Step 3: Utilize the Gained Fundamental Knowledge by working on Actual Industrial level Projects. 
Step 4: Practice more and more on Industry level CAD Tests and crack the first round of interviews that is of CAD Tests or Tool Tests.
Step 5: Prepare for a Technical Interview which will be 80% based on your step 3 Projects and 20% on your previous experience if you have.

Now, Let’s talk about each step in detail.

In Step 1, Build a Strong Foundation with Advanced level Knowledge of CAD Software like, CATIA or UGNX with Surfacing and CAD Methodology. Don’t go for learning of number of software. Learn one software in depth. Focus on which industry you want to go for and which CAD software that industry uses.

In Step 2, Gain Strong Fundamental Knowledge of domains like Plastic, BIW, Press Tool, Mold, etc. Domain knowledge is nothing but choosing which type of material you want to work on. For Example, if you want to work on plastic material then you can choose a plastic domain. Domain knowledge is nothing but understanding your work field or area of interest thoroughly including manufacturing processes & selection, material properties & selection, design guidelines, feature creations, safety guidelines, etc.

In Step 3, Utilize the Gained Fundamental Knowledge by working on Actual Industrial level Projects. Industry-level projects are the most important points for the utilization of skills learned in step 2. Also, this step helps you crack the interviews. Your 80% questions of the interviews are completely based on the projects. Do at least 1 or 2 projects. And if you do that then you are not a fresher for the companies. You become the right choice for the companies to shortlist you for the next rounds.

In Step 4, Practice more and more on Industry level CAD Tests and crack the first round of interviews that is of CAD Tests or Tool Tests. CAD Tests are also important according to the selection point of view. You have to prove to yourself that you have the domain skills by working on the given CAD Test. This CAD Test is having a time limit, say 45 to 90 minutes. And within that time, you have to solve the CAD test with proper guidelines. The solution of CAD Test with Guidelines matters the most. If you solved the CAD test 100% without guidelines then the company will still reject you. But if you solved the CAD Test 80% with guidelines then you will be getting selected.

And, in Step 5, Prepare for Technical Interview which will be 80% based on your step 3 Projects and 20% on your previous experience if you have. If you don’t have any prior experience then 100% project-based questions will be asked in the interview. In a technical interview, you have to show your skills and you have to prove yourself in front of the interviewer.

Now, we understand this roadmap, Let’s Take an Example for more understanding. Consider that your Dream Industry is the Automotive Industry. Now, the Number of Automotive Design Domains is. Plastic Product Design, BIW Product Design, Lighting Design Domain, Seating Design Domain, Wiring Harness, Press Tool Design, Mold Design, And More. Now, the CAD software used in these domains in Automotive Industries is. CATIA and UGNX. Hence, Choose only One CAD Software plus One Domain. As per the market, High growth is offered by the Plastic and BIW Product Design Domain in the Automotive Industry. Now consider that you have chosen CATIA Software plus Plastic Product Design Domain to build your career. Then follow the following steps to make yourself 100% ready.

• First Learn Advanced-level CATIA Software; Master level Surfacing; and CAD Methodology. 
• After that, start Fundamental learning of the Plastic Product Design Domain. 
• After that, start working on Industry level Projects like, Door Trim, Floor Console, B-Pillar, Headliner, etc. 
• After that, start practicing CAD Tests. Practice one CAD Test at least 2 to 3 times. 
• After that, take knowledge of Tolerance Stack-up and GD and T. 
• The last is to prepare for a Technical Interview.

If you follow these steps then nobody can stop you from becoming a successful design engineer and surely, you will get the design role job.
Now, understand, How will ISOPARA be going to help you. ISOPARA has CAD courses, Domain Courses, industry-level Projects, CAD Tests, etc., made by industry experts of having 20+ years of experience in the same domains. These courses make you fully ready according to the industry's needs and what the industry is looking for. You can get all fundamental knowledge here, at www.isopara.com, with industry-level projects. 

Every CAD test is unique at ISOPARA and contains the concepts through which you can crack the CAD Test easily. ISOPARA makes every candidate ready with Mock Interviews taken by experts and placements in OEM & Tier 1 industries. For more details, visit, www.isopara.com. Also, you can call on the given number (+91)-8329556560. We are always here to build your career.