Welding Jobs

“I didn’t come to look and learn! I came to turn and burn! If I can’t light up, I’m gonna light out.”

If you are going to be a welder, be a certified pipe welder. That’s the way it was way back in 1977. certified pipe welders were making a lot more money than most other welders. It was a supply and demand thing. When I was still in welding school, I was completely intrigued by the stories I heard about big neon signs advertising welding jobs. I remember hearing stories about welders quitting one pipe welding job just so they could walk across the street and make a quarter more an hour, or being flown in by helicopter to an offshore rig to make a tough x-ray weld, and then getting flown back to land for a steak dinner. Sound good to you too? It beats the shit of some douche bag cracking the whip on you about getting a drink of water when it isn’t break time yet.

When you are a young man who just found direction in your life, stories like this are just what you want to hear. Its confirmation that you made a good choice, that you are really "in the game". I took my first welding certification test in 1978 and became a certified welder making $10.26 an hour. I worked in the union trades until 1990 and at that time the union scale in my region had improved to around 18 bucks an hour. But as union scales increased, the wages of Joe Schmo welder seemed frozen in time. In fact even today, I am amazed that some employers are only paying 9 or 10 bucks an hours for a guy to suck in smoke and hexavalent chromium all day.

But now things seem to be turning around. There is a welder shortage knocking at the door. Anyone with their eyes open could have predicted it. Phil Pratt –previous president of Hobart Institute of Welding has been beating the drum about a pending shortage of welders for about 8 years. He has spoken to congress and He even formed the grass roots effort of what he called the "IMAGE ARMY" in an attempt to improve the image of the welding industry.

His idea was that the reason that Moms and Dads discouraged their sons and daughters from a career in welding was because of the general perception of welding jobs was one of smoke, dust, and dingy low-tech jobs.He explained that some welding jobs paid more than white collar jobs. He even had a term for these jobs: "Gold Collar jobs". Good going Phil! You certainly called this one.

Welding Schools are popping up all over the country because of the welder shortage.Even Medix Schools are experimenting with Welding traning because of the big demand for welders. You heard it right! Freakin MEDIX Schools are into Welding!

They are known for classes for nurses assistants etc. but Welding?!! that just shows how big the demand is.

Now is a Really Good Time to be a Welder

• Learn all you can about every welding process and metal type. In other words be able to pass a test on plate, pipe, or sheet metal no matter what position and not matter what metal, Steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, and nickel alloys.

• Learn Tig, Stick, Mig, and flux core. And do this while you are in school. If your local Tech college does not have this capability, consider going to Hobart welding school, Tulsa welding school, or Carolina Energy Solutions.

• Then search job services like Post Your Resume FREE to Job.com and receive a free resume evaluation and career consultation. or Beyond.com Career Network and submit a resume. In addition to taking advantages of welding job placement services your school provides. You need experience so choose the job that offers good pay as well as good experience.

• Learn all you can from everyone you can on the job.

• Study and read about welding and welding metallurgy.

• Welding always goes with something. That’s why there are no welder unions. There are only pipefitter unions, sheet metal unions, boilermaker unions, etc. So learn the as much as you can about whatever trade you are welding in so you will be more valuable.

• Once you have some real experience, start thinking about the next big thing. Like transitioning into welding sales, or getting your CWI (certified welding inspector) cert.

• Be the GUY! What I mean by this is Be the GUY who knows welding symbols inside and out, Be the GUY who can read drawings, Be the GUY who knows metallurgy, heat treat, NDT.

Whatever, just Be the GUY!

Opportunities will fall in your lap if you’re the guy. Unless you are also a Dick (see below). Ok that’s a pretty good list of what TO do…Now lets look at what not to do:

• # 1 thing not to do is……….. Do not be a Dick

See Dick drink. See Dick Drive. See Dick Die... Don't be a Dick!

• Nothing will work as well for you if you are a Dick. People will not share information with you as much, and they will not want you to succeed.

• Do not spend all your money on women and drink. (Only spend a little bit on these things)

• Do not be afraid to work out of town in order to get some experience.

• Do not think your eyes are going to be the same forever. As cool as welding is, and as much as you might like it, realize that the day is coming when you won't want to be under the hood anymore.

• Do not just "get high and get by."

• And finally…Do not get stuck in a nowhere job and have to stay there because you got your girlfriend pregnant and you are in debt because you bought her a new car because it was costing her too much money to take a cab from her hotel room to the strip club.

Go right now to Beyond.com or Job.com and submit a resume. and Remember, Don’t be a dick.

If you need help with a resume for a good welding job...