Table 1Transition record

3D printing techniciantomechanical engineering drafter

A 3D printing technician already meets 70% of what the mechanical engineering drafter role asks for. The move turns on 3 required skills not yet in the profile.

From 3D printing technician

70%

Overlap1

To mechanical engineering drafter

18 Skills carried over

3 Required, not held

30.7 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 30.7

This move: 30.7 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the mechanical engineering drafter role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the 3D printing technician profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 18 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A mechanical engineering drafter role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a 3D printing technician background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held calculate materials to build equipment information skills
already held manual draughting techniques arts and humanities
already held use manual draughting techniques communication, collaboration and creativity
already held blueprints engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held CADD software information and communication technologies (icts)
already held advise client on technical possibilities communication, collaboration and creativity

All 18 carried skills, including the 11 the mechanical engineering drafter role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 11 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held mechanical engineering required
required, not held principles of mechanical engineering required

optional, not held material mechanics optional

02 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held liaise with engineers required

optional, not held create a product's virtual model optional
optional, not held review drafts optional

03 information skills 2 supplementary

optional, not held define part requirements optional
optional, not held read standard blueprints optional

04 constructing 1 supplementary

optional, not held maintain mechanical equipment optional

05 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 supplementary

optional, not held physics optional

06 working with computers 1 supplementary

optional, not held use CADD software optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a mechanical engineering drafter role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 18 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held CAD software knowledge
already held create solutions to problems skill
already held create technical plans skill
already held design drawings knowledge
already held manual draughting techniques knowledge
already held mathematics knowledge
already held mechanics knowledge
already held technical drawings knowledge
already held use CAD software skill
already held use manual draughting techniques skill
already held use technical drawing software skill
already held 3D modelling knowledge
already held CADD software knowledge
already held adjust engineering designs skill
already held advise client on technical possibilities skill
already held blueprints knowledge
already held calculate materials to build equipment skill
already held draft design specifications skill

8 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held define part requirements optional
optional, not held maintain mechanical equipment optional
optional, not held create a product's virtual model optional
optional, not held material mechanics optional
optional, not held physics optional
optional, not held read standard blueprints optional
optional, not held review drafts optional
optional, not held use CADD software optional

20 held skills the mechanical engineering drafter role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role 3D printing process knowledge
not needed by the target role ICT software specifications knowledge
not needed by the target role clean equipment skill
not needed by the target role design principles knowledge
not needed by the target role design prototypes skill
not needed by the target role determine suitability of materials skill
not needed by the target role digitization knowledge
not needed by the target role identify customer's needs skill
not needed by the target role industrial engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role maintenance of printing machines knowledge
not needed by the target role maintenance operations knowledge
not needed by the target role manufacturing processes knowledge
not needed by the target role monitor manufacturing quality standards skill
not needed by the target role operate 3D computer graphics software skill
not needed by the target role operate printing machinery skill
not needed by the target role printing materials knowledge
not needed by the target role printing on large scale machines knowledge
not needed by the target role printing techniques knowledge
not needed by the target role product comprehension knowledge
not needed by the target role prosthetic devices knowledge

4 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held mechanical engineering required
required, not held principles of mechanical engineering required
optional, not held material mechanics optional
optional, not held physics optional

Index

Other moves recorded from 3D printing technician

Full index of moves from 3D printing technician

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.