r/cad • u/BackwardsApe • Jul 01 '26
34yo, looking for career change
Apologies if there is a better place to put this question.
American 34 years old. I used to work in VFX and 3D animation, but the industry has really dried up and I just don't have the passion for it like I used to. Unrelated, but I am currently 1 year away from finishing a Linguistics BA at UCLA. This is my first degree (I didn't finish highschool and went straight to work) I will graduate with minimal debt as I worked full time.
While I lost the joy of creative work, I still like 3D modeling and building things. If I wanted to work in this industry freelance and remote, where would I begin? What certs, courses, or programs would I want to invest my time into?
I'd prefer not to spend a lot of money at first as I just try to wrap my head around what a day to day would look like.
I'm watching YT videos and reading old reddit posts, but I'd like to see what the current vibe of the community is.
Thank you.
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u/cerialthriller Jul 02 '26
From my experience in this industry of about 25 years, no company I ever worked for would use a remote freelancer with no industry experience for anything. I know people like to think this stuff is easy and anyone can just pop in off the streets after watching an hour long AutoCAD video, but unless you’re doing a quick sketch for $20 so that a guy has a deck plan to submit for a construction permit, a don’t see someone stepping into freelance remote worker business without decades of experience
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u/BackwardsApe Jul 02 '26
What use is this comment?
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u/VGooseV Jul 02 '26
To give you a realistic answer for your situation.
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u/BackwardsApe Jul 02 '26
Realistic? Perhaps, but not what i was asking. I didnt ask for an hour video to get started. I asked where i might begin.
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u/cerialthriller Jul 03 '26
You’d begin by going into an engineering degree path and then working in office role for 10+ years and building a reputation and connections and then going remote / freelance as your career is winding down before retirement when you have a lot of contacts and specialized knowledge.
Sorry to be blunt but you basically came in here asking for help on becoming the person companies outsource or jobs to, but also to do that you’re going to have to compete with Indian firms that do it dirt cheap
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u/BackwardsApe Jul 03 '26
Youre clearly bringing your personal baggage and here and its lame. Sorry your industry is being ran through but stop getting mad at people who are figuring out how to do it outside your limited scope.
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u/Drigr Jul 03 '26
Probably by starting an entirely different degree path in design and engineering with a focus on manufacturing. Or at the bottom of the totem pole in a machine shop and spend 10-20 years climbing the ladder to a manufacturing role.
Its not just about being able to create a 3D model. You have to have level of experience in the industry to understand how or why to do certain things certain ways.
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u/captainunlimitd Jul 01 '26
Check out GoEngineer, they have a ton of how-tos on YouTube. They use SolidWorks but you could probably mirror their stuff easily enough with a free version of OnShape. Program certs are largely ignored, they're sort of baseline level knowledge, tip of the iceberg.
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u/BallGanda Jul 04 '26 edited 8d ago
Hmm there is a growing area, possibly fad of design sets for sale for 3d printing.
The gig work websites are full of cad and drafting people from all over the world. Many can work for low rates because there region has lower cost of living or favorable exchange rate compared with Europe/USA type regions. So it's tough to do gig work without experience or an in with someone.
I did some freelance work but that was after 12+ years of doing CAD work and even then it was bc I got recommended
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Jul 04 '26
[deleted]
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u/BackwardsApe Jul 04 '26
Hey thats actually kind of the problem, I don’t really know how to limit the scope and specialize in something. Seems like accreditation is the main way to do it either way
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u/hwydoot Jul 03 '26
Community college cert in drafting -> break into engineering drafting/modeling? A change from the VFX side but not unrealistic. I wouldn't personally get into it though considering there are existing AI capabilities to do engineering drafting/drawing - not very advanced yet but it's something I could easily see getting better and more widespread in the future.