Testing dress code?

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So tomorrow I have to go take a weld test... and this is my first, so how should I dress?I'd imagine a decent shirt jeans and steel toes?
Reply:Like you're going to work.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPLike you're going to work.
Reply:Yep.Look the part...Believe it or not.. Used for a day or 2 clothes are better than nice and clean in this type interview...Trust me....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Okay, I think I can manage that list. Do you all take your hood and fr in with you as well?
Reply:Originally Posted by neuralsnafuOkay, I think I can manage that list. Do you all take your hood and fr in with you as well?
Reply:Right on. My only problem is I wasn't told what I'll be testing.
Reply:If it is for sure a weld test, then dress to weld…. If it is more of a sit-down interview, that might be different. I have heard some say they dress up, others just wear work clothes… When I went in for interviews I wore some nice carrhart pants(more like khakis) and a button down. If it was going to test only, then Id wear what id wear any day of the week.- Christian M.C3 Welding & Fabrication - CNC Plasma Cutting-Mobile Welding-Custom welding and fabwww.c3welding.com
Reply:It's an interview / test from what I was told.
Reply:Originally Posted by neuralsnafuRight on. My only problem is I wasn't told what I'll be testing.
Reply:Dress ready to test with all your tools.  I have seen people show up in shorts and runners expecting to do a weld test.  Part of a weld test in a company is to see if you know how to dress and equip yourself for the job.  I have seen guys screw up the test but were hired because they looked the part and the foreman chalked up the failure to nerves.  Usually he was right and if he was wrong he knew in a couple of days.  Having read your post I have seen idiots from temp agencies show up with some tools and a helmet in a cardboard box.  Total fail!Last edited by lotechman; 12-18-2014 at 07:46 PM.
Reply:Yeah. Has me nervous. I'm going through a local temp agency (apparently that's the only way to shove a toe in the door) and the lady said it was an easy test and she thought it was a 3g mig/flux...
Reply:I've got all my tools in a large bag. Chipping hammer, pliers, vice grips, knee pads, flashlight, grinder + extra disks, anything else that I'm missing guys?
Reply:There are lots of a holes looking for a job, and not so many people looking for work. Get the point? Show up like you're looking for work and aren't a stranger to it or afraid of it and you will be fine.
Reply:Originally Posted by neuralsnafuknee pads
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPBoy I'd leave those at home, and never tell anybody you owned them!
Reply:Originally Posted by neuralsnafuRoger that... out to the bin with those lol
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPGood man!
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopCare to explain why?My kneepads are my best friends at times.
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopCare to explain why?My kneepads are my best friends at times.
Reply:If I were looking to hire showing up with dirty clothes would get you about as much a chance of getting a job as showing up with a ball cap on sideways or your pants hanging down. Welder showing up without his own gear would be shown to the gate too.
Reply:Don't over think or over complicate this.  Walking into the interview you don't want to be stressed or worried.  Ask the temp agency for what to expect and what to wear.  They want you to get hired so they should be willing to help answer a few questions.  Do everything in the safest manner possible.  Safety, safety, safety!  On the job injuries are a huge liability, show them that you operate safely 100% of the time.  I'd rather someone fail a weld test in a safe manner than pass a weld test in an unsafe manner.  Sometimes it can be easier to teach someone to weld than to think and be safe.  Good luck in your interview!
Reply:You will be fine with a newer work shirt ironed and some good clean work pants.make sure you have all your own PPE.  If it's an interview for a welding job look professional for a welder clean but ready to work with all your tools. Confidence goes along way to. Don't be cocky just have confidence and don't under sell yourself. I have seen guys show up in fancy 150k rigs that can't weld worth a damn and a guy with an old worn out beat up truck and a well used sa 200 that could flat *** weld. Just take what you need to do a safe and good job.
Reply:Originally Posted by specopswelderYou will be fine with a newer work shirt ironed and some good clean work pants.make sure you have all your own PPE.  If it's an interview for a welding job look professional for a welder clean but ready to work with all your tools. Confidence goes along way to. Don't be cocky just have confidence and don't under sell yourself. I have seen guys show up in fancy 150k rigs that can't weld worth a damn and a guy with an old worn out beat up truck and a well used sa 200 that could flat *** weld. Just take what you need to do a safe and good job.
Reply:Originally Posted by mikecwikJust an observation.Two guys came in and knew how to do everything we needed.One guy came in and was nervous as ****. The know everythings got sacked in short order, nervous guy still has a job.Confidence man! Be safe and goodluck!
Reply:Here ya go:
Reply:Originally Posted by neuralsnafuGood to know cause I'm extremely nervous. First test and all...
Reply:Originally Posted by PipelinerHere ya go:
Reply:Originally Posted by PipelinerHere ya go:
Reply:It is a test. It is natural to be nervous. I don't care if you are a world class welder with hundreds under your belt you are still going to be nervous.
Reply:If it's not to late to add to your tool list......a wire brush, a file, and something to write with.  Don't forget a hood and gloves.Wouldn't be a bad idea to have extra batteries for the hood.  i also had extra "clear glasses". (Plastic now a days)I always dressed ready to work.  Just remember what you did in school and take your time and don't be afraid to ask questions so you know exactly what is expected. No question is too dumb.Good luckMike
Reply:Originally Posted by neuralsnafuI've got all my tools in a large bag. Chipping hammer, pliers, vice grips, knee pads, flashlight, grinder + extra disks, anything else that I'm missing guys?
Reply:So I think it went well. They had me doing mig down hill... started out on 1/16th steel, then we finished up on some 18 or 16ga galvanized. First thought was aw ****, no respirator... just kept head outta the smoke as much as I could... and didn't burn through...Last edited by neuralsnafu; 12-19-2014 at 05:18 PM.
Reply:@ neuralsnafu - recall CEP saying something a while back when someone asked about a 3G SMAW test:  have hacksaw blades, picks, sharp chipping hammer, files, etc at the ready.  You want EVERY opportunity to clear slag from your welds......assuming this is a FCAW-S?  Don't assume you will be able to use a grinder between passes.  Good luck!Last edited by ManoKai; 12-19-2014 at 06:34 PM."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:Originally Posted by ManoKai@ neuralsnafu - recall CEP saying something a while back when someone asked about a 3G SMAW test:  have hacksaw blades, picks, sharp chipping hammer, files, etc at the ready.  You want EVERY opportunity to clear slag from your welds......assuming this is a FCAW-S?  Don't assume you will be able to use a grinder between passes.  Good luck!
Reply:The most I ever had was 3 employees at a time, and only hired a total of about 7 or 8 over 10 years. The best guy I had and the only one who was there the whole time was the most unsure of himself. He was also the worst welder, but he was the best worker and easiest to get along with. The best welder of the bunch was Phil, but he was also the worst worker. He knew he could weld so he thought he was worth more than the others.  The trouble was he did half the work per day because he spent too much time either whining or bragging about his skills. So don't worry too much about being nervous, if they know what they are doing they will see your skills right away even if you mess up the test.Last edited by welderj; 12-19-2014 at 08:54 PM.Yeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:Great thread! I'm going on my first welding test too, tomorrow. Kinda nervous myself as I don't know much about the test either as the HR lady said its possible that I may weld test. Its def a interview though and I'm kinda wishing I bought some cleaner clothes for this. I wasn't expecting this interview to be sprung up on me, but, hey better than no interview.  All I got is some blue Nomex cintas pants that if anyone wears nomex they know all the orange spots that are made on it when it gets hit with slag/spatter. My whole pant leg is colored with orange spots lol.   I believe the test is going to be aluminum mig (for dump bodies) but this company has like several different branches of companies so it could be anything.  I've never done aluminum mig on top of that. Dynasty 200DX   (2014)Millermatic 211 (2015)Optrel 864   (2014)Smith Medium duty MBA 30510 (Xmas 2014)Tennsmith 16ga 4ft finger brake (2015)Trailblazer 325 EFI and excel Thermal dynamics Cutmaster 82Miller maxtron 450
Reply:Originally Posted by outdoortGreat thread! I'm going on my first welding test too, tomorrow. Kinda nervous myself as I don't know much about the test either as the HR lady said its possible that I may weld test. Its def a interview though and I'm kinda wishing I bought some cleaner clothes for this. I wasn't expecting this interview to be sprung up on me, but, hey better than no interview.  All I got is some blue Nomex cintas pants that if anyone wears nomex they know all the orange spots that are made on it when it gets hit with slag/spatter. My whole pant leg is colored with orange spots lol.
Reply:Ya i did end up wearing my current jobs tan pants but changed into my nomex pants enroute to the test location as the test location was somewhere else than the actual interview. Didnt know that at the time though.Dynasty 200DX   (2014)Millermatic 211 (2015)Optrel 864   (2014)Smith Medium duty MBA 30510 (Xmas 2014)Tennsmith 16ga 4ft finger brake (2015)Trailblazer 325 EFI and excel Thermal dynamics Cutmaster 82Miller maxtron 450
Reply:Just go like you are gonna work take everything chipping hammer, wire brush ,grinder in case they like let you use one, take extra lenses for your hood , welding gloves and a sleeve will help and a rod holder the instructor almost wouldn't let me take test cause I didn't have mine but in showed his there Web site that had a list of everything we were to bring we had to take our own welder hot box and everything else
Reply:Ya, I already took the test, so I might as well let everyone know how my first ever welding test went. :  I pretty much failed it miserably. lolAs I said before, I didn't even know what the test was as the HR lady didn't know. So the test was 4 pieces of angle steel maybe 1/8 thick (it was pretty thin) set up like a picture frame. I was to weld the inside of the "picture frame" with mig. There was one for steel and another for aluminum. The guy handed me the Mig gun and said here you go. I asked about the settings, and he said that the settings are set up fine. I then asked about possibly test welding on some scrap. He said that shouldn't be nessecary. So away I went.  It was supposed to be that I would go horizontal, vertical up, overhead, vertical down.   Basically most of my experience so far has been tig and stick so it wasn't as easy as you all might be thinking. Plus, I think I have a blister starting on my left middle finger as one of my problems with this test was the fact there was no where to prop. Anyway, looks like I need some more practice with mig before I end up going on a weld test for it again. -Maybe more of an excuse to get a Miller 211??? lolDynasty 200DX   (2014)Millermatic 211 (2015)Optrel 864   (2014)Smith Medium duty MBA 30510 (Xmas 2014)Tennsmith 16ga 4ft finger brake (2015)Trailblazer 325 EFI and excel Thermal dynamics Cutmaster 82Miller maxtron 450
Reply:I would not be to worried about that.  Having a unknown weld test with no adjustments and no practice with their machine seems like a strange way to go about hiring someone but maybe there are more welders than jobs and they can afford to be picky.  I would think that going from tig and stick welding to mig will be fairly straightforward, with a little bit of practice you will be fine.