Hey all,

• I am launching a new site on the www.nti.edu site that will be found in the employers section.  It is called “Find an Employee“.  This will showcase additional achievements of our student’s above and beyond our degree. 
  • I am focused right now on developing the CSWA list.  I will soon be working on the CSWP list as well.
• If you have achieved additional certificates and/or awards please email them to cmaccormack@nti.edu. 
  • Subject line to read: “Find an Employee”
• I need the name of the certificate / award, date received and contact information of the people who provided with the item.
  • If you would like me to I will attach a link to your name your personal website “Face book, my space, Linkedin, etc…”  I will not attach an email address in an attempt to eliminate spam to your email.  If you do have me link to your website it is your responsibility to maintain that site.
• I look forward to help all of you showcase your additional achievements

Chris MacCormack

Since October of 2007, NTI has been offering the CSWA exam to the NTI students and alumni for free.  This is continuing.  This page is going to be dedicated to publishing our testing dates and training dates.

Testing:

• The schedule testing date are the Monday following the end of each semester The exam itself is a 3 hour timed test. 

Training:

• The training is comprised of four (3 hour) lab classes followed by the examination.  The objective of the training is to help people prepare for and pass the CSWA exam. The class dates are split up to allow students the opportunity to use SolidWorks in between labs to apply what they have learned. This class is not intended to make you SolidWorks experts although the test is about your knowledge of SolidWorks.

Fees:

Note: All CSWA courses include the test.

• NTI Students and Alumni:  $750.00
• All other persons:  $1500.00
• Fee is due the first day of class

Schedule:

• 12/7    1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• 12/9    1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• 12/14   1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• 12/16   1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• 12/17 CSWA Exam Day.  Must start @ 1:00 pm

Registration:

• email Chris MacCormack atcmaccormack@nti.edu, Subject: NTI CSWA Training
• Upon receipt of your request, Chris MacCormack will send out the course syllabus and registration form.
• Complete the form and fax it back to Chris MacCormack. Your spot will NOT be reserved until this form is received.
• A confirmation will be emailed to you by December 2.
• If there are not enough people the class will be postponed.

Instructors:

• Chris MacCormack:  952.944.0080 ext 134
• Dan Podzimek:  952.944.0080 ext 111

CAD software manufacturers are trying to ease the burden of the recession by offering trials of their software or reduced cost versions. Here are links to those software. If you have others, or you have any comments on these offers, please post a reply.

AutoDesk
Here is a specific URL you can use to get free Autodesk software. It does not require that you have a school email address. Please note, this is for a student version.
http://students.autodesk.com/?nd=or&id=1078&ic=yvDGIVLrhx

Select this option for the non student version, 30 day free trial offer of any Autodesk software. Be sure to select the right software type from the dropdown in the upper left corner before filling out the form.

SolidWorks
SolidWorks is offering a 90 day Engineering Stimulus Package. This has numerous learning resources, including tutorials, videos and forums.
http://www.solidworks.com/sw/esp/engineering_stimulus_package.html

Pro-Engineer
These guys are a bit stingier with the software. Students can register for a free student version here: http://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/forms/index.jsp?&im_dbkey=86840&im_language=en. For others, you can buy it at a reduced cost on their web site. Note the limitations.

After every CSWA exam I provide here at NTI, I like to congratulate the newest of the CSWA’s.  Today we had another great showing:

Starting off with Jessica Lewardowski who destroyed the test with the perfect 100% – Definitely in a class of the elite.

Others who are now proud recipients of the Certified SolidWorks Associate certificate include:

Ryan (never got his last name)

Cortney Gamlin (Graduate from the architecture program)

Thomas Hardenburgh (Graduate from the engineering program)

To all of these individuals, know that NTI is proud of your efforts and skill.  Keep in touch.

Thanks for a fantastic day to all of those who tested. 

It has been a long, fast and furious week here in room 159 at NTI.  I held the 1st Certified SolidWorks Associate Exam prep course with what ended up to be 4 outstanding individuals all with a common goal, to get help to earn an industry recognized certification from SolidWorks Corp.

In 12 hours these alumni were introduced to, worked with and built up knowledge required for the CSWA exam and a knowledge of how to take the course.  Class started at 4:30 pm and ended 7:30 pm Monday – Thursday.   These alumni also showed up and utilized NTI’s CAD labs before class to work on the subject matter we reviewed the evening before.  These folks put a lot of effort into this course and I really appreciate that kind of effort.

I poured my guts out to help them succeed on this exam in one week.  These folks worked even harder.  Kudos to you four.  With this kind of effort you will succeed in whatever you do.

Today we took the test and I am proud to announce that Cortney Gamlin and Thomas Hardenburgh successfully earned the CSWA certificate.  The other two will attempt the certification again in 30 days but will be working with me between now and then to increase their knowledge of SolidWorks.   I will ensure that the second attempt will be successful! 

For those of you who are looking to add another certificate to your belt contact Dan Podzimek at ext 111 for the next training dates and time.  Dan is a new instructor here at NTI who is not only a Certified SolidWorks Professional but also the head of the Minnesota SolidWorks User Group.  He and I are tag teaming this certification class and I believe compliment each-other extremely well.

It is time to beef up the resume and load it with industry recognized certifications to put your resume at the top of the lists.

I look forward to meeting alumni in the future who accept the challenge of this course and exam.  Good luck to all the NTI alumni.

Chris MacCormack

To the participants of the NTI fall 2008 CSWA testing completed on Monday October 20, 2008;

Awesome job!!!!.

I have blogged several times about the CSWA exam but this time we had a group of people who completely annihilated the national passing average.  NTI had 12 of 13 students pass the exam and 3 perfect exams.  Those individuals are Jordan Lewis, Bill Jugovich and Nick Mickalek. 

In my course, I attempt to relay the importance of being able to quantify what you say.  Passing this exam is an example of being able to quantify your statement I know how to use SolidWorks Comprehensive 3D Design software.  Yesterday 12 people attained an industry recognized certificate that also helps them to quantify their skills.

For those of you who chose not to take the exam I am a little disappointed.  You came to NTI to get into the exciting and rewarding career of Product Design and Engineering Technology.  I work tirelessly to find new ways to help you set yourselves apart from other graduates in this field.  This exam is one opportunity for you to do just that.  You need to take every opportunity to set yourself apart from your competitors.

You will find in this field that their are many different certificates to be attained that will set you apart from your colleagues.  Those who take the initiative to prepare for and pass these certificates will find more rewards to come.  Those who chose not to take that kind of initiative will get left behind. 

With new innovations, technology and the every present global economy, we can never think we are no longer students.  If you are not learning you are falling behind and an exponential rate.  Over  the last year I can tell you that I have learned at least 5 new things a day.  Some of those lessons are taught to me by the students.  Others are from the research I have done to prepare curriculum that will engage a majority of my class.

Anyway, (enough soap box), I really want everyone in our building to congratulate our CSWA’s.  There are quite a few here now.  The new CSWA’s: Wayne Borden, Jenna Powers, John Henneman, Arlan Jobe, Sean Stoeckel, Issac Roberts, (One of the Gesch Brothers), Cory Christofferson, Carl Monson, Jordan Lewis, Bill Jugovich & Nick Mickalek.  These folks have earned my respect.

Hello all,

Now that I am overcoming my illness I would like to take a little time to comment on the SolidWorks World User Conference 2008.

To start with I want to mention that I ran into several architectural users of SolidWorks.  Hmmmm.  When I asked why they are not using Revit, AutoCAD, Chief architect many of them commented on ease of use and ability to do more.  I wish they could have provided more detail to these comments but I did find them using the SolidWorks Weldment tool for stick framing and structural design.  Then using those models in the COSMOS analysis package to ensure they were meeting code.  When I sold SolidWorks I worked with many companies that designed glass curtain walls, spiral stair cases, and the structural design of commercial building for much the same reason.

I met with educators from around the world and discovered some very interesting things.  In Finland schooling is very vocational even down to the elementary school level.  The instructor that I met from Finland discussed how by the age of twelve their students were not only proficient in designing/analyzing in SolidWorks but also manufactured everything they designed.  That Is a country that is embracing technology and science to increase their global economic standing.  

For the students here, as you enter your chosen profession you need to work hard to make our country change gears and do more to encourage science and technology in schools.  you can do this many ways; mentor students, meet with government representatives, work with your company and encourage them to join organizations like FIRST http://www.usfirst.org/.  This organization gets companies to donate 6 weeks of their time to adopt a group of students from a school to design and build robots for a Superbowl style competition complete with vendors, sponsors, Presidential visits and prizes.  Last year the competition was so big it had to be held in the Georgia Dome.  Check it out.

I also picked up some great quotes.  I will focus on this one : “There is no partial credit in the machine shop”  translation for architecture students : “There is no partial credit on the job site”.

Lets examine this quote – At the end of the day if you have not put all of your effort into ensuring your design, documentation and communication is not 100% accurate with no chance of being misinterpreted your company will have lost money.  IN manufacturing as soon as the machining tool starts the customer owns that piece of material and the time.  If you did not locate all of your features, size all of your features, apply the appropriate tolerances as required for the design to work correctly, etc… or dimensioned your design in a way that can be interpreted as loosely as government laws, gossip or other prominent books that people follow you did not do your job.  This will reflect poorly when it comes time for review.  So, take a little extra time.  Review your work.  Ask your self over and over again “Why will this not work?”.  Have other review your work.  Ask them “Why will this not work?” When you think you are done get up.  Walk around.  Come Back ask one more time ” Why will this not work? and have I missed anything?”.  Then get it approved.  You are responsible for your own actions and work.  Be the best.

More to come

Chris MacCormack

This past week, students have been participating in real and mock interviews. Interviewers often start with simple questions, then move to tougher questions, like “How much money do you require?” or if you have been in the field a while, they often ask “How much money do you make?”

As an interviewer, I am looking for a straight, no-nonsense answer: “I expect to start at a wage that is comparable to others within your organization who have my education and experience,” is an acceptable first response, as long as the dollar follows: “$36,000 would be acceptable.”

But how do you get to a number? First of all, do your homework. Ask for informational interviews at the companies in which you want to work. Research the occupation. Go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Check out the averages. Then, know the statistics of those graduating from that college (NTI’s are posted on the web site).

Then, you need to know how much money you need. Go to the “Jobs Now Coalition” to do a little calculating. One of the reasons this is a good tool is that it lists things like medical care. This is good because you can use this to calculate the value of benefits a company offers. For example, health care for 1 adult in the 7 county metro area costs that person $134/month on average. This is how much the person pays out of his or her pocket, including deductibles. So if the employer pays 100% of medical deductibles, that is like money in your pocket. (See Carol.com to get an idea of medical costs)

Be aware that some costs are not listed on the above web site, so you’ll need to add some costs…like loan payments!

Let’s start with financial aid. How much did you borrow or are you planning on borrowing? The more you borrow, the more payments you’ll be making. Go to the “Financial Aid Calculator” if you don’t know the amount of your payment. The Federal Stafford Loan has a fixed interest rate of 6.8% and the Federal PLUS loan has a fixed rate of 8.5%. Perkins loans have a fixed interest rate of 5%. The max loan length is 10 years.

Want a new car? I hear that a lot from new graduates. It may not be the wisest decision. The average rate for a new car loan in the twin cities area is 8% for a $20,000 fixed-rate loan (assuming you have “very good” credit, which means making your student loan payments on time). Your payment would be $400 each month for 5 years. Let’s say you don’t have such good credit. See eLoan.com for up to date rates and payment calculations (based on your credit worthiness).

To summarize: don’t sit there like a deer in headlights when someone asks you how much money you want. Research both the pay of that job and your needs. This will help you make an informed decision and look prepared in the eyes of the interviewer.

-Amy