At a cross roads...

[killa]

I’ve always been head hunted for a job in CAD since getting qualified a few years back, but this time I am writing a letter to a employer and haven’t done it before, further more it’s for a job that doesn’t require my CAD qualifications and doesn’t tie in with my experience.

I’ve thought about this for a long time now, I’ll just explain my reasons, so you know what the score is.

Currently I’m working 8-5 everyday (half 1 finish on Friday) at a PC doing CAD and various other computer type spaz.
I loved engineering in school and wanted to be involved with the mechanical side of it, I fell into CAD because I am very quick with a PC and learning software, but a few years have passed and my brain has pretty much switched off the drive to go into it further. I’ve put it down to I’m not that interested anymore.
I’ve been asked to take a HNC in engineering to further my skills so I can become a designer, paid roughly 22K or something at my place which to be fair is what I see as decent, I’m not prepared to manage or anything like that because I dislike what you have to do to get there.
The HNC, then HND to degree can take up to 4 years, so I’ll be 26 when I finish, I thought to myself, if I’m not happy like I am now 4 years down the line, it would be a waste of time for myself and them.
So I thought about other possibilities…..

If I move into a different field now but still in CAD, I’m going to take a severe pay cut and have to do a similar course to progress anyway.
So, I thought about something I’d be happy in doing, as this is a priority for me.

I went into my local bike shop and enquired, as I currently live with the missus and my out goings are pretty heavy I’m not going to be a mechanic, an apprentice is not paid enough to live where I live, in fact, anywhere in Cheltenham.
So it’s either sales or something, either kit and/or bikes.

I know all the guys in the garage, they are really nice people, the manager is female and I have her name…..
How do I address the letter?
Dear Madam?
Dear Mrs Smith?
Etc…

Secondly my CV is geared for CAD M&E work, but I have things like, managing a CAD team in there, good at talking to people, under each placement I’ve been employed in. My interests are the only thing that shows I have an interest in bikes. So how would I amend the CV to suit a bike shop?
I need a cover letter to, because a CV like mine would look a little strange going to a bike dealership.

Thanks BCF, and wish me luck please!
____________________
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Annabella]

Use her name...

Dear Mrs Smith


Use your experience, but try to emphasize what could be relevant to sales etc.
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[killa]

[Annabella]

You said you had her name.


If you know her name then address the letter to

Example Smith

then start with

Dear Ms Smith if you don't know if she is married or not.
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[killa]

Cheers Bella, didn't know if i put Ms.Smith if i didn't know.

Ta
____________________
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Annabella]

With the Miss, Ms and Mrs there isn't really any rule it all depends on the person.

Some married (and single) women are offended by the use of Ms. Though in the circumstance that their marital status isn't made obvious then one would assume that they are happy with Ms.

Far far better than calling a Miss a Mrs
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[VTR SP1]

Do they have any vacancies or are you just hoping they will see your CV and offer you a job doing what you want?
____________________
I rode the Nurburgring backwards.

[colin1]

funnily enough andy, going2fast switched from working selling stuff in a bike dealers to do CAD

so he may be able to give you an idea of how the jobs compare

personally i wd have thought CAD wd be more interesting. i think andy does too

being surrounded by stuff associated with a pastime u love doesnt necessarily mean a fun job, if u sell the same stuff day in day out, oh and there is the money too
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

[Zimbo]

From a career / prospects perspective, do the HND. There is no substitute for qualifications, without the HND two thirds of jobs in engineering will be closed to you for life. It doesn't matter whether the HND subject is relevent to the job or not a lot of the time, applicants are screened on qualifications and the fact that you have an HND in pretty much anything will get you considered for loads of jobs in the future, without it your application goes straight in the bin.

Working in a bike shop might be OK for now, but when you're trying to support three kids, a wife at home and a morgage, you'll be struggling on £20K including loads of overtime with no prospects for improving things, or managing reasonably well on £35K for a 37 hour week and get to see your family.

Do the HND.

[killa]

[anders]

Stay with the cad job!
____________________
Call me Mr. Blobby

[colin1]

yeah
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

[nrml76]

An engineering job has better long term prospects and greater job security than a sales job. While working around bikes may seem interesting, dealing with arsey customers all day, everyday will quickly get more boring than working with a PC.

[king kong]

What cad software do you use?

[killa]

I know what you're all saying but i have thought about the security factor, once you're in sales you can go to different dealerships and possibly take steps to become head of a team.

I use AutoCad 2005 and i'm soon to be going onto Solid works
____________________
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[anders]

[colin1]

yeah
pm going2fast and he will tell you as he went from bike shop to CAD
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

[king kong]

Why try and combine both, you going to use solid works, dead easy to design bikes perhaps, fairings etc, complie a portfolio get the further HNC, industrial design as well with graphic art etc.

I use Solid Edge 3D classic,

From one design draugher to another.