Years ago as an engineering student, I learned how to use SolidWorks 2000. I think I last used it in any capacity for a design project my senior year (2004,) and even then, it was just very simple parts. My skills have pretty much gone away entirely by this point fro non-use. I’m back in the job market, and while it does say on my resume I am familiar with SolidWorks, at this point that’s pretty much a bold-faced lie.
However, I certainly can’t go out and buy a copy of SolidWorks, or Pro-E, or AutoCAD, or what have you, because they are thousands of dollars. So how else am I going to get my skills back, so that I am less of a liar on my resume? It would be pretty sad to have an engineer who can’t use a CAD package.
You might be able to get a “student edition” for a few hundred bucks. Some software publishers are more or less strict about who qualifies for a student – some are OK as long as you don’t use it to run a business, and are happy to sell to hobbyists and people trying to brush up on their skills. Unfortunately, it looks like SolidWorks requires proof of registration in a degree program if you want to buy their student edition. And there are all sorts of sketchy software retailers out there selling pirated “student” editions, so be wary of where you look.
Perhaps there is a refresher course on CAD you could take from your local community college. That’d get you access to the software at the school, and possibly even a temporary license you can install on your home computer.
Short of less-than-legal means, there’s probably not a whole lot you’re going to be able to do unfortunately… I’m currently a student and even with the student discount, the limited programs are still quite costly (>$100). Thankfully I’ve found that the programs usually aren’t too difficult to pick up again even if you’ve been out of the game for a while. I hadn’t touched SolidWorks for about 4 years myself but I got the hang of it pretty quickly when messing around with it when preparing for a job interview.
It’s just the basic version of AutoCAD, but at least you can get aquainted with the new features and layout.
Commonly, if you buy a AutoCAD tutorial book it’ll come with a limited time trial CD as well. On a related note I have a book that came with a 180 day trial CD for ArcMap/ArcView - also a very expensive program.