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Students enrolled in a welding vocational program have already done some hard thinking about what kind of career theyd like to pursue, setting them well on their way to starting their careers. Now comes the tricky part how to actually find employment. For young welders who arent quite sure where to start, here are the steps to not only find a job in welding, but find a position in a company you will be satisfied with for long-term employment.
AUTOMOTIVE
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
(SHIPBUILDING, BOILERMAKING)
AEROSPACE
ENERGY
CHEMICAL
These different industries may emphasize different skills in their workers, like how it is important for structural welders to have both MIG stick welding as well as flux core welding skills. As you develop your welding skills, find out where your other passions lie. Do you like working on small, delicate projects? Would you like to help manufacture major products, like ships or aircraft? Maybe youve always dreamed of working on hot rods. Pinpointing exactly what type of projects you would like to work on will help you meaningfully narrow down your search.
Location can be just as important to your happiness as what you are actually doing. Identify what types of areas you would like to live in. Do you like to live in little suburban areas or be right in the heart of major urban centers? Do you want to live within an hour of a beach, or do you prefer being surrounded by snow-capped mountains? Do you mind humidity? Are you looking for a place with good public transportation? After you define what types of environments are the right fit for you, narrow down places that fit that description. Ask your friends what places they think of that fit your parameters. You may have more options than you think.
Some jobs may be limited in some areas. For example, a shipbuilding welder may not have much luck in Wyoming. Fortunately, where there is some type of infrastructure, there is usually a need for welders in some capacity.
Generally, it is much easier to find employment in areas where you are already living. Moving can be complicated, so employers feel more secure in hiring decisions knowing that the chosen candidate is in a stable, local residence. Job seekers will also generally have a better feel for the industry through local news and contacts. The more contacts you have in your area, also the more likely they will be able to help you find employment.
Secure An Interview
The interview is the main event in your job hunt. A solid interview can improve the standing of an average application. Alternatively, a poor interview can make employers back away from a strong application. Aside from preparing for the general employment questions (Describe a time you failed to meet your project goals. What did you do?), there isnt much you can do in advance. In general, though, there are a few guidelines to follow: Dress professionally, and arrive on time. If you know you are going to be late, call the office to let them know. Bring your welding gear to your interview in case they want you to perform a weld test after you speak with a manager. (You may not be told in advance.) Be honest, but positive. For example, if you say you left your former company because you couldnt stand your bosss constant criticism, your prospective employer may not take that too well. Instead, saying you wanted more independence in your job shows that you have a positive attitude about your work and maybe even demonstrates a quality they are looking for in their candidates. Be polite to everyone (everyone you meet around and inside the building). Talk about 50% of the time. Keep answers on topic and fairly concise (under 2 minutes). Dont interrupt, either, even if the interviewer does. Let your interviewer broach the topic of money. Whoever brings up salary first is at a disadvantage in negotiations. Either way, research what welders in your field (in your geographical area, if possible) earn. This will give you the average market pay rate and should help you set the range you are willing to work for. If you can find out what welders at the particular company make, even better. Never trash talk your former employers. Your prospective employer may worry that one day you will talk about them unfavorably, as well.
Most importantly, come prepared with questions about your prospective employer. Just as your hiring manager is trying to determine if you are a good fit for the company, you should be trying to determine if the company is a good fit for you. If you noticed any gaps in your research on the company, this is your chance to fill in the blanks. Ask about what specific work you will be doing, how your work fits into the greater scheme of the company, what the management structure or company hierarchy is like, etc. You should also ask concrete questions about the rest of the hiring process, when you can expect to hear back from your interviewer, and when you should follow up if you havent heard anything.
The National Skill Panel (composed of welding industry leaders, representatives from the American Welding Society and the National Association of Manufacturers, community college leaders, and government representatives) projects that between 2009-2019 labor needs will call for 238,692 new and replacement welding professionals across the five existing Key Welding Standard Occupational Codes (SOC). The total demand for skilled welding professionals during that time is even greater when accounting for the number of other welding jobs not included in the five key SOC Code welding occupations. In fact, even though the overall number of welding professionals decreased from 2002-2009, there were still consistent demands for welders throughout the United States especially due to retirements.
Resources: http://www.aws.org/research/vision.pdf https://netimpact.org/careers/get-started/job-search-steps http://susanireland.com/interview/how-to/ http://www.weld-ed.org/NR/rdonlyres/363B5036-3FB6-4631-B0DE-30B91EB82B88/0/welded_excutive_summ.pdf Tulsa Welding School (TWS) has campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida. Programs vary by campus. TWS Jacksonville offers training in Welding, Electro-Mechanical Technologies (HVAC/R) and Shipfitting and Steel Fabrication. Accredited School, ACCSC. TWS-Jacksonville is a branch campus of Tulsa Welding School, located at 2545 E. 11th St., Tulsa, OK 74104. Tulsa, OK campus is licensed by OBPVS and ASBPCE. Jacksonville, FL campus is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 2331. Accredited in Indiana by the SWIC (AC-0290) and licensed by the Mississippi Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration, License No. C-668. GI Bill Eligible (check with local campus for specific eligibility). For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who complete our programs, and other important information, please visit our website at: http://www.weldingschool.com/GEdisclosure.