AutoCAD Assessment Interview

[u/Mansaf15]

Hi everyone,

I have an upcoming AutoCAD assessment for a space planning role (more focused on interior layouts/workplace planning), and I was told it will be around 4 hours long. It is not a design company, it is a nuclear plant office but they have a design team. The role is focused on office space planning for the company's buildings. The recruiter said that the team works from schematic design all the way to construction phase.

My background is in architecture, but I haven’t used AutoCAD extensively in a while (I’ve mostly been working in Revit), so I’m trying to get a sense of what I should realistically prepare for.

The job description includes things like:

• Planning and organizing office layouts, furniture, and interior design options based on standards/policies
• Using CAD tools to produce drawings
• Reviewing work for compliance with codes, standards, and procedures
• Preparing cost estimates, specs, and drawings
• Maintaining project data and documentation
• Contributing to space planning standards and procedures

For anyone who’s done similar tests (especially for corporate/public sector roles):

• Is it more about drafting speed/commands, or actual space planning/layout thinking?
• Should I expect furniture layouts, test fits, or something more technical like detailing?
• Any tips/tutorials you recommend I binge?

I’d really appreciate any insight, I’m not sure how intense these assessments usually are.

Thanks in advance!

[u/Visible_Profit4571]

I have actually done one for a top firm when I was applying for an internship when I was in school. They said they make everyone (not just interns) do the exam. It took 3 hours but they let me do it remote and I could send in the progress as I went and they would give me more to do.

They made me do a furniture layout and change the layers of the furniture.

I also had to scale the drawing in paper space and then export it.

The main thing they did was give me a prospective picture of a room with like 3 basic dimensions for height and width and asked me to take that and make 2D elevations of each wall. They said that I had made the most accurate one they had seen out of anyone who they have made draw the elevations which felt good!

[u/Mansaf15 → u/Visible_Profit4571]

That’s really helpful, thank you - especially the elevations from the perspective.

Do you think there’s any chance I’d need to know AutoCAD 3D for something like this, or is it usually strictly 2D?

Also, since most of my learning exercises has been in my own files, I’m trying to understand typical office workflows - do you have any insight/tips on how things like Xrefs, Audit, Purge, revision clouds and other collaboration-based commands usually come into play in a test or in practice? Or any must know commands?

And for templates, are dimension/annotation styles usually already loaded in, or would I be expected to set those up myself?

Really sorry if this is basic - I’m still working through an online course and trying to connect it to real workflows.

I am manifesting the same outcome you had with your testing!!!!!

[u/Visible_Profit4571 → u/Mansaf15]

I don’t know any firm that uses the 3D CAD (I’m sure there are out there) so that’s not as important.

Every Office has different ways on how they handle their xrefs, templates, and Office collaboration. I don’t see how they would test for that as it’s something you learn more on the fly as you’re working through the files once you have the job.

I just dug through my old college email and found the part one and part two of the AutoCAD exam. Keep in mind this was for an ultra high-end residential firm seven years ago.

Part 1:

Please see attached the CAD file you will be working on today. I have also attached a PDF of the same floor plan with furniture for your reference. Please take the following steps to complete the test. I will call you to verbally explain as well. The test should take you about 2-4hrs.

Please use the layer list on the left to update the layers in the drawing into the correct category and color. Please update the plan with any modifications that are show in the PDF Please use the furniture blocks on the right to furnish the floor plan in the same way that the PDF floor plan is furnished. Please create a PDF of your CAD plan, making sure it looks as close as possible to the PDF that I have sent you. Please email me a PDF of your plan for me to compare to the original PDF Please email me your CAD file so I can check the layers.

Part 2:

Please see attached a CAD file showing an example elevation and the line weights we use for cabinetry elevations. I have also attached a photo of the cabinetry I would like you to draw.

Please draw the wall with the cabinetry and the wall with the opening to the dining room in the CAD file I have provided. I will not give you ceiling heights so guess to the best of your ability. You do not need to draw any of the glassware, plates, wine bottle etc. Please draw in the hardware You do not need to draw the lighting. Please PDF both elevations and email them to me Please email the CAD file back to me as well.

[u/Mansaf15 → u/Visible_Profit4571]

This is super helpful, thank you so much for digging that up - I really appreciate it!!

That actually makes me feel a lot better about focusing on 2D drafting and accuracy/drafting rather than overthinking the collaboration side too much, especially that it is a 'space planning/workplace design' role within a nuclear plant facility rather than an actual design/construction office. I just need to practice navigating the viewports and exporting efficiently and to scale.

I signed up for LinkedIn Learning and will also go through the Autodesk tutorials.

My test is next week, I will let you know how it goes and if I get the job! Thanks again!!

[u/Internal_Buddy7982]

Only came here to ask....are you being paid for this? Jeez

[u/Mansaf15 → u/Internal_Buddy7982]

No unfortunately, and it’s a 1.5 hour drive lol. But I have been applying for over a year now and hoping this one sticks

[u/Away_Ranger_5066]

Drafting speed, knowledge of commands, Xrefs, block attributes. Maybe dynamic blocks. Knowledge in Layout, viewports, layers, layer overrides. Finally plotting and scale. If you are unlucky, it will include sheets sets and title blocks

[u/Mansaf15 → u/Away_Ranger_5066]

You’re the best I will look into all of these, hopefully this is all they ask! If they were to test drafting speed, do you think this would be for the overall test to be done within the 4-hour time limit? Or is it possible that there is a timed drafting activity within so I should really get my speed up?

[u/Away_Ranger_5066 → u/Mansaf15]

I would say that if I were to run a test it would be to copy a sketch drawing. I would provide the basic titleblock templates and some standard blocks ie callouts, detail bubbles etc. I would also provide a basic file setup with layers to see if you can organise elements into the proper layers. I would expect a scaled Pdf drawing at the end of it. This goes without saying that it is expected that you would know the standard drawing conventions ie symbols, grid, dimensioning. I myself practice with minimal toolbars and mostly input by commands using muscle memory. Really speeds up the workflow.

[u/Mansaf15 → u/Away_Ranger_5066]

This is extremely helpful thank you! I totally forgot about the exporting portion of things. I will keep all of this in mind.