Welding Tips and Tricks

I just got certifide in gtaw stainless and mildsteele, also my mig 3g,4g. going for my certs in stick. but now i have no idea what kinda work to go after. anyone have an idea of a good place to start?....also jody you rock your tips have been so much help thx.

Welding is a very broad field to work in. What type of work you go after, depends more on your local economy though, more than anything else.

My advice is to look around, ask around, maybe make a few phone calls to several employers, asking what they might pay a welder.

Hell, I even put a fake "welders wanted" ad on craigslist a few years back, and I got all kinds of resumes, detailing where people worked, general job descriptions, and pay rates.

I felt bad karma for letting all those people apply, but hey, It also gave me pages of work contacts and knowledge. It was one of the smartest things I ever did.

As general advice though, large industial companies and/or unionized companies ussualy provide the best conditions, pay, and oppurtunity.(think aircraft, railroad, shipyards, oil feilds, ect.)

Let me make a comparison for you. When i was a teenager, i worked for a while at a little irish pub, as a cashier/dishwasher. My hours were weird, my breaks were irreguler and short, and I'm pretty sure i worked alot of time of the clock.

I also worked at a wal-mart. I had a fixed scheduale, my pay was always fair(if you can use the word fair and minimum wage in the same sentence), my breaks were exactly 45 minutes a day, and when i clocked out, no-one gave me a snarl when the place was still busy and i was heading home.

My point is, that you have enough certs to seek out whatever kind of work that you want, but larger employers are subject to much more osha regulation then say, that little family owned fab-shop in that industrial park, and they act accordingly.

But take what you can, and leave the rest behind,

good luck,
-Rick

Hell, I even put a fake "welders wanted" ad on craigslist a few years back, and I got all kinds of resumes, detailing where people worked, general job descriptions, and pay rates.

Isnt that illegal? :)

If your fresh outta school and dont have any field experience (I mean any field experience, even in a differant trade would be helpful) dont expect a whole lot. But you do have alot goin for you, thats your certs-A welders' certs are his money friend. Thats like his passport to a differant country, thats your passport to good pay and hopefully conditions. I wouldnt bother lookin at the want ads or anything, most companys these days dont even bother puttin in ads cause they get 4 or 5 guys a day comin in askin if they got work, which is what you should do. Go to every place you can think of that might need a welder with your certs and ask em if their hirin, and even if they aint see if you cant slip em a resume in case they hire in the future.

-Most unions are going to start you off as an apprentice, albeit probably second or third year to honor your schooling. You can probably get a job as a journeyman non-union, pay wont be as good and benefits wont be crap prolly, but after you get your hours you could white ticket into a union(thats what I did)

Dont be afraid to let your boss know you aint scared of doin the crap work the other welders dont want to do. Most of the more experienced guys that weld pipe or structural dont wanna weld pipe supports all day, cause it gets pretty boring after the 5th one. Although these days those guys are takin all the work they can get too.

Remember, "fluffin" your resume isnt lying, they expect you to do it (a little). Good luck bro

Edit-Be prepared to travel a bit too if your local economy isnt exactly booming. Dont be afraid to look around a little further out than you usually would these days.

Hi,

Thanks very much for this comment. It help me to think about my ideals.

Tks again and pls keep posting.

Apart from that, you also can ref more resources at: Welder job description

Best rgs

ekfinn,

I'm glad to hear you got past your meltdown. The work is certainly out there, if you're persistant enough.

I wouldn't worry about that 6g certification; certs are little more than gold stars on your resume'. As you know, most jobs will have a test on site to qualify you for the processes they need you to do. I've never held a single certification in any process (other than in-house certs), yet I'm about to leave for PA for some of the best money I've seen in years.

I'm always amazed at how little the local job shops are willing to pay, especially considering they want to wring every penny of it out of you like a sweat shop. On my first travel job, I had to cash my paychecks at the casino, because Wal-Mart woudn't do a payroll check that big. I was hooked.

Best of luck on the VA work. Things must be waking up. I got two calls within an hour of each other yesterday, and had to choose between jobs.

Steve

Man im glad its pickin up for you guys on the east coast, its still dead west of the mississip. Good luck fellas

Welding have its own new world. In simple words this have a broad area. So any where, where you can perform your best output you can start your work from there.