Hello dear community!
My management asks me to evaluate a potential candidate on his level on SolidWorks and AutoCAD. I've never done this before and what's more, it will be remotely for a Belgian candidate. I think there are online tests but I don't know if they are reliable... I'm also afraid of being too demanding
Do you have any ideas?
The ideal is to give it something simple to design under SW in accordance with your job and achievable in the time distributed.
For us I had taken a small lift table with mechanical parts, boiler work, assembly and few commercial parts. (commercial part supplied)
And I provided him with a detailed plan of each piece in pdf and or dwg for example.
Then in 5 minutes I asked him to widen the table (to see if the 3D was coherent) and finally analyze the 3D and his way of drawing each part, of constraining...
For autocad ask him to extend a conveyor belt or something like that.
In any case, ask him for something as close as possible to what he is likely to do next (pure drawing in copying, no design because that's not what is required, evaluation on the software)
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Hello
for my part I evaluate the method more than the result, because everyone in 1/2 day knows how to use SW parts + small assemblies + MEP.
But what is essential, if this person is recruited for design, is to have a little experience of course, to know how to use SW, of course, but above all to have a sense of the job, manufacturing techniques (how it is done), materials, assemblies, environments, etc...
Otherwise OK with sbadenis
Nice DoubleL mission
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Thank you for your answers! The problem is that it would be remote, in Teams meetings... so it's difficult to get him to use the software
Hello;
You can ask Visiativ to send you the part they used at the Mycad Fair but it wouldn't be nice...
Otherwise, as suggested by @sbadenis , a paper plan to be transcribed in 3D with the instruction "as simple as possible but using as many different functions as possible", with a small document describing your expectations of the style:
- entirely constrained sketches.
- Do not overload sketches.
- Use the Drill Wizard.
- use mechanically welded machines.
- Use sheet metal functions... folding / unfolding...
And under Autocad:
Draw at Scale 1:1 in the "Object" space and then use the "Paper" space to scale in a title block.
Then why not a small MCQ to evaluate your knowledge of Solidworks and your mechanical knowledge in general...
Unfortunately I have nothing to offer you, I was delicately excluded from the recruitment process under the pretext (fallacious if you ask me...) 
of "you're really too demanding..." »
All to be adapted to your speciality / trade.
Kind regards.
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thank you for your answer indeed I'm also afraid of being too demanding
See if he does well, quickly...
If he doesn't know one or more features, for me it's not worrying he can learn if he's fast, resourceful...
On the other hand, if it is messy, nothing is constrained, the sketches are blue and there are not a few good ratings compared to the paper plan, there is little chance that it will improve.
For me, the software part, if he is resourceful, is not really a problem, on the other hand, if not ordered, even if he knows the software...
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Hello
You can always have him take the 'Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional in Mechanical Design' revision exams
https://www.solidworks.com/certifications/mechanical-design-cswp-mechanical-design and you click on "sample CSWP exam (pdf)"
And this one for MEPs: https://www.solidworks.com/certifications/drawing-tools-cswpa-dt
and if you have more specific needs: SOLIDWORKS Certification Program | SOLIDWORKS
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Hi @DoubleL ... and good luck with your mission!
As said by some comrades, I start from the principle that software remains only a tool. And like all tools, learning happens.
On the other hand, what is important in my opinion is to see if he has the "methodology" to work with the software. If he knows how to anticipate the fact that he will have to make later changes, if his way of making the sketches is already planned for the drawing or if the two are not linked for him etc etc.
So, the best way to do it in my opinion, is to send him one of your 2D plans of a loan with the assembly plan (or not for that matter) and let him redraw the part.
Then, as it is remote, ask him to send you the finished part by email in order to analyze it and see if it could be integrated into your assemblies
And almost, the best of the best, would be to analyze it with him to see his reactions to these remarks. If he has forgotten through stress or if it is not his way of doing things at all. See if he knows how to question himself and evolve his way of drawing, etc etc
But I admit that the remote side is still hot!
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Thank you for all your answers, I'm going to do a test this morning with a remote handling via Teams from SolidWorks to see what it could look like...
I would also do via teams, looking at what it does and how.
If necessary, this can allow a small readjustment during the drawing process if a subtlety has not been understood.
Does he have Solidworks or does he have to take control of your PC to have SW?
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I think it will take over my PC
Bjr,
I usually make them go through the SW tutorials which are really basic for a SW pro but it gives me an idea of the speed of execution. I explain that it's just to rust your fingers.
Strangely enough, I'm always surprised because he may spend the morning there while a sw pro completes the thing in 1 hour max.
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At one time he was dragging a set of MCQs on this site to test himself on the knowledge of the functions of the SW modules.
It was supposed to be used to determine training needs.
Since he is going to work on your machine, you can prepare a small file of a subset, delete one or more "essential" parts ask him to recreate it. Make a modification that requires adding a function to see if it can edit the existing one or if it will go for it and work in rough mode.
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Hello everyone, test done! without any problems (of preparation) for my part but I think we did well to do this test...
Thank you all for your ideas
Hi @DoubleL
Maybe pay attention to the units used in the project, with why not a trap in a possible design. Without being too vicious. Or something else just to evaluate a bit of a logic of resolution.
At the same time, that's why he's a pro 
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Cool if that helped. The difference between people who know how to sell themselves and people who know how to work^^
Just out of curiosity, what technique did you opt for from a distance?
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I gave him a manufacturing plan for a part from us to remodel it then a small test on AutoCAD with import of a STEP to convert to DWG and some basic manipulations
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