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I am interested in becoming a Welder.
#1:What does a typical day look like on this job?
#2:What steps would you recommend I take to prepare to enter this field?
#3:How much education would you say is needed to become a Welder?
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PRASANJIT’s Answer
A Welder is a professional responsible for assembling pieces of metal or repairing damage in components using heavy machinery that emits high heat, melting the metals into shape.
Responsibilities:
Interpret blueprints, drawings, and measurements to plan layouts.
Weld small and large components such as copper plumbing, beams, and pipelines.
Use specialized machinery for industrial welding and oversee machines that perform the same job.
Maintain and repair all machinery.
Welders may need a high school diploma or equivalent at minimum, but most attend technical school or community college programs to learn their trade, and employers prefer those with certification.
Responsibilities:
Interpret blueprints, drawings, and measurements to plan layouts.
Weld small and large components such as copper plumbing, beams, and pipelines.
Use specialized machinery for industrial welding and oversee machines that perform the same job.
Maintain and repair all machinery.
Welders may need a high school diploma or equivalent at minimum, but most attend technical school or community college programs to learn their trade, and employers prefer those with certification.
Updated
Jose’s Answer
Hey Abdiel,
Finally some questions regarding welding! Ok so at my place of employment a typical day begins with 10 minute stretching with safety as the topic daily, talking about the dangers of the job and the safest ways to do job at hand! After that we all go to our assigned tables where our blueprint are already placed on our table indicating what my project will be for the day. I analyze the print and make a plan on how I would proceed with my job the safest way possible. The good thing about welding is I'm sure 100% of companies are not worried about how long it's going to take you with the job, as long as you do it safely and to exact specifications. In welding being off by a 1/2 inch can mess up the whole project and the time taken to do the job is what employers will complain about, it makes sense because my little miscalculation just wasted maybe a half of day for me and the entire day for the field workers, because they cannot install a defective door knowing the locks are not going to line up so why install it. Ok back to the day I gather the material I need make proper cuts, bends, punches before beginning to fabricate and weld my door. oh yeah if your a welder most jobs have you fabricate your project yourself, so if your a welder you minus well study how to fabricate also cause they go hand in hand. I hope I'm not overwhelming you and your having second thoughts, welding is a great trade to get into! there's lots of positive things that come with it; pride is one of them. Once all that is out the way I begin the framing process I put together pipes, clamp them down make sure everything is in place before I weld anything! Once all that is done I analyze my project, double check everything, confirm it's right, then I begin the welding process. When finished I need to approve it before moving along. If there's still time in the day I can begin my next project. When I decided I wanted to be a welder I made the choice to go to a class that teaches welding! There is probably a 0% chance you will find employment with not knowing anything about welding, there's just too much to learn and no one will be willing to bring you in with not knowing what to do! If you do decide to be a welder I suggest you find a place that teaches how to weld. My class was only 6 months and I started my job when I was 4 mo. Into the program. The benefits of this are great, not only do you learn the basics you get hands on training! You can practice your welds until you feel confident enough to take the weld test. Once you pass the test I did in4 months right away I can look for employment in the trade! You will get certified which will be on your resume, and it gives you ammo when applying for a weld job! Employers will see even though your a beginner they know you know the basics in welding and won't need much training! The very first job I applied for hired me and I been there ever since. I was honest and told them I just completed a class and that's the only experience I have! If you decide your coming into the trade, that's what I suggest. It's rare and almost impossible to get a welder job with nothing in your past regarding welding experience. There is just too much to teach, and employers are not willing to take another worker and have them train you. So that is what I would do if I want to weld. Oh cool I already answered the third question! A small 6 month course should be enough. I gotta say with that little exp. You will need to make it up during the interview. That is where you make up your lack of experience your confidence. Go into a interview confidence, make them think if they pass you up it will be a big mistake. I hope I was able to answer your questions.
Study blueprint reading at home or on spare time.
Analyze your work see what you did wrong and fix it.
Ask questions whatever your not sure about don't be afraid to ask.
Give yourself a test see how you do, have the instructor to score your welds.
Show initiative expose yourself/ put your name out there with pictures of your work.
Finally some questions regarding welding! Ok so at my place of employment a typical day begins with 10 minute stretching with safety as the topic daily, talking about the dangers of the job and the safest ways to do job at hand! After that we all go to our assigned tables where our blueprint are already placed on our table indicating what my project will be for the day. I analyze the print and make a plan on how I would proceed with my job the safest way possible. The good thing about welding is I'm sure 100% of companies are not worried about how long it's going to take you with the job, as long as you do it safely and to exact specifications. In welding being off by a 1/2 inch can mess up the whole project and the time taken to do the job is what employers will complain about, it makes sense because my little miscalculation just wasted maybe a half of day for me and the entire day for the field workers, because they cannot install a defective door knowing the locks are not going to line up so why install it. Ok back to the day I gather the material I need make proper cuts, bends, punches before beginning to fabricate and weld my door. oh yeah if your a welder most jobs have you fabricate your project yourself, so if your a welder you minus well study how to fabricate also cause they go hand in hand. I hope I'm not overwhelming you and your having second thoughts, welding is a great trade to get into! there's lots of positive things that come with it; pride is one of them. Once all that is out the way I begin the framing process I put together pipes, clamp them down make sure everything is in place before I weld anything! Once all that is done I analyze my project, double check everything, confirm it's right, then I begin the welding process. When finished I need to approve it before moving along. If there's still time in the day I can begin my next project. When I decided I wanted to be a welder I made the choice to go to a class that teaches welding! There is probably a 0% chance you will find employment with not knowing anything about welding, there's just too much to learn and no one will be willing to bring you in with not knowing what to do! If you do decide to be a welder I suggest you find a place that teaches how to weld. My class was only 6 months and I started my job when I was 4 mo. Into the program. The benefits of this are great, not only do you learn the basics you get hands on training! You can practice your welds until you feel confident enough to take the weld test. Once you pass the test I did in4 months right away I can look for employment in the trade! You will get certified which will be on your resume, and it gives you ammo when applying for a weld job! Employers will see even though your a beginner they know you know the basics in welding and won't need much training! The very first job I applied for hired me and I been there ever since. I was honest and told them I just completed a class and that's the only experience I have! If you decide your coming into the trade, that's what I suggest. It's rare and almost impossible to get a welder job with nothing in your past regarding welding experience. There is just too much to teach, and employers are not willing to take another worker and have them train you. So that is what I would do if I want to weld. Oh cool I already answered the third question! A small 6 month course should be enough. I gotta say with that little exp. You will need to make it up during the interview. That is where you make up your lack of experience your confidence. Go into a interview confidence, make them think if they pass you up it will be a big mistake. I hope I was able to answer your questions.
Jose recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Joe’s Answer
A typical day for a welder depends on what kind of welding that you would do, I will use the fabrication shop as an example. There are other areas of welding such as pipe welding or structural steel. In a fabrication shop the welder would measure, cut , fit and weld the steel together to make machines or pressure vessels or any steel equipment.
Some schools offer certificates or associates degrees in welding. The basic classes will teach you how to safely cut and weld the material, and after that the classes go into more specialized topics.
Welding is a skill that takes some practice to be good at it so don’t get discouraged at first.
I would recommend taking oxy-acetylene welding first as well as basic stick welding first then start looking for a job as a helper in a welding shop. That way you can practice what you learned in school on the job.
Good luck
Some schools offer certificates or associates degrees in welding. The basic classes will teach you how to safely cut and weld the material, and after that the classes go into more specialized topics.
Welding is a skill that takes some practice to be good at it so don’t get discouraged at first.
I would recommend taking oxy-acetylene welding first as well as basic stick welding first then start looking for a job as a helper in a welding shop. That way you can practice what you learned in school on the job.
Good luck