Hi All,
I am a freelancer who has been contacted by a small company to draw timber doors for them, from visuals into production drawings.
They are looking to find someone to replace their only CAD tech that is leaving, I have explained that I have work coming in from other clients (about 2/3 days worth a week currently) but they are having trouble finding someone and are willing to take what they can get currently. I did have a chat with the client and mentioned their best option would be to try and find a full time on site role but again they are finding it very difficult currently and want to bridge the gap until they can find someone.
I am never opposed to any of my work turning into a full time opportunity, if the money is good I think this may end up turning into one, as I went freelance accidentally and am looking to pivot back into the 9-5. This would also be a fully remote role, although I would look to travel in (2hrs) a few times in the beginning to try and gain an understanding of how the company runs and talk with the owner. The major issue I am having is the current CAD guy has built a whole drafting and quoting system that they use and it seems to be once he leaves the system goes with him. So I would kind of be restarting from scratch for them.
For reference my background is 4 years in Kitchen and Cabinetry construction, with 2 years in joinery and workshop before that, actual standing doors would be a new thing for me in that aspect. I currently freelance sub contracting for others so I have also never been the sole CAD person for a company before either which is a bit intimidating.
I’m looking for some advice here, what do people think about the situation? Has anyone had the same happen in their career becoming the sole drafter for a small company? It’s still early days so I can pull out with no issues and the client fully understands that this is not something I have done before. I have told him I would need an onboarding session but I fear the sole CAD tech may leave before I come onboard, sounds like they’re at the end of their notice period so I don’t know what onboarding I would have. I know timber doors are definitely easier to draft than an entire kitchen so that helps I guess.
Please let me know what you guys think.