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Our main office is in Atlanta and all of the satelite offices are connect to the network T1 or T2 lines or whatever the number is up too nowdays. However, we do have several individuals all over the country that work remotely who are not directly connected to the network. They all connect through via the VPN as Brendan mentioned below. We also…[Read more]

This thread has grown a little since I last read through it, but I stumbled across a handy flowchart a couple of weeks ago that I’ve been meaning to post here. Hopefully it isn’t buried in the thread already.
http://inspirationlab.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/so-you-need-a-typeface/
Made me think of the many subdivision naming charts, such as this…[Read more]

There are a number of recent threads on this topic; I would suggest reading through…[Read more]

I am not sure anyone would say starting a business right after school is the best idea. But for us we had two options…work for minimum wage or work for ourselves. We did not have the choice to work at a firm doing AutoCad…and I know that a lot of people haven’t either. It does take longer to learn things on your own, I just don’t see the point…[Read more]

I don’t think this profession is worth massive debt.  UM is a good school and the job market is still too weak to expect a high enough salary to repay the debt you’d likely have from Harvard.  Not to say there aren’t benefits to going to the GSD, and it could make a difference when you head off to look for work (depending on a bunch of v…[Read more]

It depends on where you are buying them – direct from production nurseries, from re-wholesalers, or from retailers. It also depends on where your market is, how much reputation you have to build your value.
 
In my market, the well established upper level contractors get about 3.5 x the direct price of plants including installation, soil…[Read more]

I’m sorry if I misspoke Ellis. I absolutely think you ARE making opportunity for yourself. While trying to be encouraging to those that haven’t landed a job I inadvertently made it sound like doing AutoCad was less then owning your own business. I did not mean that, I wasn’t thinking how that would come across. Jon has applied for MANY AutoCad…[Read more]

Heather,
You seem to be saying a few different things here:
“How is doing AutoCad for years at a giant firm teaching you design?”
and,
“The hardest part is not the design”
and,”…do you think an employer is going to be more interested in someone that pulled themselves up and created opportunity or who bagged groceries at Winco…”
 
Isn’t “doing…[Read more]

I should clarify Maui Bob, “Any job in LArch would be better than working for my current position in the government.” I’m working for a low income housing program in NYC, you are designing parks on a beautiful Island in Hawaii.  While they are both government jobs, I’m assuming the working culture is very cery different.  Wanna switch for a week a…[Read more]

http://career-services.monster.com/yahooarticle//100K-jobs-women#WT…

April, Some people just can’t handle the truth! Its not pessimism…its the hard facts. No rosy pictures. 14 years in this profession, experiencing all the ups and downs and watching many former co-workers go into another career field…have led me to believe that this is such a wonderful financially rewarding field to be a part of.

Okay Craig, next time someone ask me, especially a student, I’ll tell them LA is great! A very very bright future, where its financially lucrative, lots of prestige, and probably retire after only 20 years in the profession. And did I forget to mention that all the young kids will want your photo and autograph too. Everyone should be a LA. There’s…[Read more]

Kim and Heather, Are you two serious?! I accepted a position on Maui 4.5 years ago after working for a private firm in Phoenix. About a year on Maui county, the firm in Phoenix went bye-bye. They laid off almost everyone during the great depression of 2009. Several of my former co-workers are still looking for an LA position or moved on to another…[Read more]

The best option for you is to use a vpn (virtual private network) that workers will log in to.  The vpn will allow remote users to access a networked storage device as if they were in the office, xrefs and file management practices don’t have to change, AutoCAD lock files are respected by machines on the vpn, and landf/x license management will…[Read more]

There is only one of those things I can comment on.  In regards to re-linking XREFs, you don’t have to re-link them if you set up the file system with relative paths.  Here is a link to how to setup a relative path system.  
http://www.caddmanager.com/CMB/2006/12/autocad-2007-xrefs-relative-paths/

Sorry I keep reading the thread and responding to individual. Come on here with questions. Locally, you will be competition. I have asked Andrew, Henry and Mark questions on here. All have much more experience then us and will give great advice.

Schmooze! Don’t underestimate beers and dinner parties. Accept all invitations and join your local Chamber of Commerce and go to Tips Lunches. We did that this year and it is making a difference.

I like to read what you write Andrew…you have good insight. 🙂 We have students apply with us for design work and I do laugh. There isn’t enough design work here…but I think this year we may have the 8-12 build projects. Hot dog! But yes, we get the whole enchilada.