7 AutoCAD Interview Questions (With Sample Answers)

Updated 8 September 2022

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CAD is a computer-aided design in which professionals use several design software and techniques to create technical drawings. AutoCAD is one such professional CAD software to develop two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) drawings and models. During an AutoCAD interview, recruiters can ask varied questions to assess your knowledge of creating drawings on a computer and how well you understand the dynamics of the program or how efficiently you apply design concepts to execute a design process. In this article, we share sample answers to seven AutoCAD interview questions to help you with your preparation.

7 AutoCAD Interview Questions And Example Answers

Here are seven AutoCAD interview questions that recruiters may ask you, along with their example answers and why recruiters ask these questions:

1. How do you define CAD and why do you use it?

When recruiters ask this question, they seek to assess your knowledge of CAD and its applications. Your answer may help them to better understand how you use it throughout your projects. In your response, mention clearly what CAD is and for what professionals use it. To prepare an impressive response to this question, think about how you use CAD for your varied projects.

Example answer: 'CAD is a term that you may apply to several programs that help users to create technical drawings on a computer. It is an interesting process in which users may structure the properties of these drawings. Professionals around the world utilise CAD to develop accurate models for different components. These models can be both simple and complex. With CAD, it becomes easy to create, modify and improve designs. For instance, when an organisation uses CAD to document its manufacturing processes, it may increase its productivity, precision, collaboration and 3D visualisation and analysis.

I use CAD because its functionalities are not just limited to mechanical and electrical designs. It impresses me a lot whenever I am representing data geometrically. Not only am I able to visualise this data, but other people also understand the data points clearly. Its users particularly appreciate its big data visualisation capabilities.'

2. List the steps that you follow before setting up a drawing in AutoCAD

Your answer may help hiring managers to analyse your methodical approach to using AutoCAD. They intend to understand how well you know the software and if you possess the ability to follow the steps that are involved in drawing an element in AutoCAD. With the help of your answer, they may also examine your knowledge of Units, Limits, Snap and Grid. An excellent answer to this question includes all the steps in the correct order.

Example answer: 'It is important to follow the steps in the right order to set up an AutoCAD drawing. First, I identify and set the Units that I plan to use for the project. Then, I determine and set the drawing Limits. After this, I select Zoom All. Then, I focus on setting a suitable type and increment for Snap. In the last step, I set a value that I plan to use for Grid.'

3. Tell us about one of the features that you usually fix with AutoCAD

Hiring managers ask this question because designers commonly use the program for executing design commands, along with varied functions within different CAD software tools. Your answer helps them to determine your in-depth knowledge of AutoCAD. Prepare a response that explains how you use AutoCAD to fix a feature and support this explanation with an example.

Example answer: 'I mostly identified and fixed corruption issues with drawings and illustrations using the AutoCAD software. These were some elements that team members had completed previously. I utilised additional vertices and the program found the exact location of the zero-vertex lines. Then, I deleted these lines. This helped me to automate the error analysis during the remaining design phases.'

4. Enumerate some key benefits of AutoCAD

With the help of your answer, you may explain how AutoCAD helps professionals to draw and edit 2D and 3D designs efficiently. Include in your answer its useful features and how these features allow the user to save time and remain productive. You may also discuss why it is a popular tool among AutoCAD designers worldwide. To list its key benefits, you may first mention its popular functions and then its advantages, like availability, usability and feasibility.

Example answer: 'AutoCAD is a robust designing and modelling tool that professionals prefer over other CAD software tools because of its many features, like 3D modelling and visualisation, photorealistic rendering, surface and mesh modelling, smart dimensioning, parametric constraints, 3D scanning and point cloud generation, 2D drafting, drawing and annotation and 3D navigation. Designers from around the world are able to use it in their native languages, like English, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Polish, Hungarian and Russian.

Some of its key benefits include its user-friendliness, easy availability, high accuracy and data transferability. Its interface is easy to understand and navigate and the user can quickly zoom in and out with just a mouse scroll. Its monthly subscription option offers flexibility to architects, civil engineers and manufacturers. By choosing suitable measurements and scales to show an object's size approximation, the user is able to draw accurately. You can also share project files with other team members easily. It saves both time and money, as it identifies and eliminates problems before they manifest.'

5. What action do you take when the dialogue to enter attributes does not appear while initiating new AutoCAD designs?

Recruiters ask this question to assess your skills that may be necessary to troubleshoot AutoCAD errors. Give a response that shows interviewers your ability to identify and solve software issues. A suitable answer to this question may show your problem-solving skills, along with your proficiency in the operation of AutoCAD.

Example answer: 'I encountered this error when I was working on an important project. A new designer had submitted their drawing in AutoCAD, which I was analysing. I noticed that one parameter required modification to an attribute. I used the command prompt, but the "Enter attributes" dialogue did not appear. I knew how to fix this error, so I called the designer to share with him how to fix this issue. Instead of zero, I reconfigured the variables to values of one. This fixed the problem and the command prompt worked again for that design file.'

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6. Define the role of LAYMRG command in AutoCAD

This is a question that helps recruiters find out about your knowledge of layers and objects in AutoCAD. To give an appropriate answer, first tell recruiters what the outcome of the LAYMRG command in AutoCAD is and then list the steps. Listing the steps in the correct order is crucial to giving a structured answer.

Example answer: 'To merge layers of several objects, designers use AutoCAD's LAYMRG command. They can follow a step-by-step process to implement the command. First, they type LAYMRG and press the "Enter" key, after which they select the objects whose layers they require to change. Then again, they press "Enter". After this process, the designer selects an object of the target layer on which they are required to send the selected objects and then they again press "Enter". With this step, the designer transfers all the objects of the selected layers to the end layer. This also removes the selected layer.'

7. Can you share with us the different options a designer uses to create a circle in AutoCAD?

With this question, interviewers determine if you know the six options designers use to create a circle in AutoCAD. Different designers employ different options but knowing all of them may help you to answer this question aptly and impress hiring managers. Consider exploring the options for other objects as well, as interviewers may ask you about the methods for drawing a rectangle or a triangle.

Example answer: 'The default method for AutoCAD's circle tool is Center, Radius. Including this, there are six options to create a circle in the software. The second is Center, Diameter. The third is 2-Point. 3-Point is the fourth option. The fifth is Tan, Tan, Radius or Tangent, Tangent, Radius. Tan, Tan, Tan or Tangent, Tangent, Tangent is the last option.'

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