The Complete Guide to Becoming An Electrical and Electronics Drafter

Decent overview, but I felt like it skimmed the surface on some things I really needed. I liked the salary breakdown, but I wish it had gone deeper into whether you can freelance or do remote work — it mentions it but doesn't really answer it. Still, it gave me a clearer picture than I had before. Fairly priced for what it is, but not the definitive guide I was hoping for.

I'm a junior in high school trying to pick between drafting and HVAC tech, and this book helped me actually understand what the drafting job is. The day-in-the-life chapter in particular made it real — the revision cycles, the engineer coordination, the sitting in front of a screen for hours. The self-assessment checklist called out some things I hadn't thought about. I think this is the right path for me now, but I would've liked a bit more on the stepping-stone roles between drafter and engineer.

This is the resource I wish I had when I was 18. It's honest and specific. I appreciated that it didn't just tell me to follow my passion and instead gave me real numbers and real job descriptions. The education comparison table was incredibly helpful — it showed me that the certificate path at my local community college was three-quarters the cost of the degree program, and the book laid out exactly what I'd be missing. I read it twice and I'm applying to programs next month.

As a career-changer from retail management, I needed straight answers. This book gave them. The chapter on breaking in without experience was worth the price alone — I did the portfolio exercises it suggested, built two sample projects at home in AutoCAD Electrical, and landed an interview in eleven weeks. The guide doesn't overpromise; it just gives you the information and lets you decide. Highly recommend to anyone even thinking about this field.

It's fine, but it reads a bit like a long blog post stretched into a book. I found the first chapter somewhat dull with all the detailed software talk — though I get that it's necessary. The salary info was useful but I think it was a bit optimistic on the entry-level numbers, at least in my area. I wasn't persuaded either way, honestly. If you know nothing about the field, this is a fine start, but don't expect it to make the decision for you.

Really appreciated the grounded tone. It's rare to find a career guide that doesn't try to hype you up or scare you away, and this book just lays out the facts with real examples. The chapter on who this career is NOT for was very helpful — I recognized several people from my electrical classes in the warning signs, and it helped me understand why some of them struggled. The online collection of job postings the author references in chapter 5 is also great. Solid, practical guidance.

The information is solid — salaries, education paths, the realistic workday. I respect the honesty. My only real complaint is I wish there was more depth in the 'Career Growth' chapter. I'm an experienced drafter already considering my next move, and the proposed adjacent roles were things I already knew about. For someone at the starting line, this book is great; for someone like me, it's a good refresher but nothing revelatory.