Bringing in printed samples of your work can sometimes help in an interview.
Researching the company you are applying at and what type of work they do helps. I know that sounds incredibly basic, but you'd be surprised how many people don't do that. Go on Linkedin and look for people at that company to get an idea of what kind of work they do and what their roles are. Read up on the company website, and if you can talk coherently with them about their work they're more likely to hire you.
Recruiters like AeroTek can be useful when you're starting out in CAD work. I personally avoid them now, but they were helpful when I started. They can help you get your foot in the door with their connections. If you're nervous about doing interviews, the best thing is to go and do more interviews. Meeting with recruiters will give you that experience and get your name in their database of resumes.
If you can afford to pay about $100 get yourself Solidworks Certification. IMHO, it's a cost-effective way to get something you can add to your resume. Especially since you're just out of school, all that information is fresh in your mind so it'll be much easier to pass the exam.
Have you asked your teachers about their connections or places to apply to?
Source: former CAD Manager in Wireless Telecomm, currently CAD Designer in Natural Gas equipment. PM me for questions.
