Starting A Career In Welding???

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Hi all, I've been a member for some time and I started welding as a hobby about 5 years ago. I love welding and working with my hands, but for 5 years I've persisted on working a job that I really don't enjoy. So, I've decided I'll be starting welding classes in the fall at my local CC. Can anybody tell me if I will be eligible to start working as a welder before I actually finish school/get certified?Garrett
Reply:Practically speaking you can start welding whenever you can pass a potential employers welding test.  You might be able to develop level of skill required for production mig welding before you complete your course.  Check some potential employers and inquire about thier testing process.
Reply:Many local shops have employees that work and then attend evening classes or attend day classes and work evenings.   You might ask the instructors before you start.  Often they know of shops looking for part timers since local shops often phone looking for new employees or upgraders that need a few hours.    Keep in mind that even if you complete a welding course you will end up on the end of a grinder when you start out.  Some colleges have a job posting board in the technical wing.
Reply:Correct.Be prepared to start off doing the grunt work. Believe or not it will make you a better weldor. At least you will be paid to learn instead of the other way around. Hopefully your employer will see you progress and advance you. It does not help him or her to see an unhappy employee bringing down the shop.Good luck and don't forget it take 10,000 hours to get really good at anything. At home study counts as well as school.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Be prepared to start off doing the grunt work.
Reply:Thanks!
Reply:be gracious, don't act like you know everything because nobody (I don't care who you are) knows everything there is to know. Always be willing to learn, never refuse a lesson from someone! If someone wants to show you something, let them. Even if you already know how to do it... Watch them anyway. Everyone has their own way of doing something. You might pick up on something they do that the last guy that showed you didn't. Watch everyone who is willing to teach you, then do it whatever way you find easiest for you.But yeah, if you can't weld great expect grunt work.Personally I'd look for an ASME pressure vessel shop to go work in. If you find a shop with non code units that's a great way to start off. Then when you get good at them, you can get certifications to move on to the ASME work, then a better shop... and work your way up the welding ladder.I only say that, because that's exactly how I did it... Now I'm making quite the nice living after I switched to a real ASME shop.I didn't intentionally start out like that... It just happened they were the only place that would hire me out of welding school at the time (2008). I got very lucky...Last edited by Hass; 02-12-2012 at 05:53 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by TxWelder99Hi all, I've been a member for some time and I started welding as a hobby about 5 years ago. I love welding and working with my hands, but for 5 years I've persisted on working a job that I really don't enjoy. So, I've decided I'll be starting welding classes in the fall at my local CC. Can anybody tell me if I will be eligible to start working as a welder before I actually finish school/get certified?Garrett
Reply:All good advice.  If you are going to go the Community College route, treat your classes like a job.  Your community college is a resource for the local welding / manufacturing facilities in the area.  You work hard to improve your skills, are active in school projects, welding club etc, and your name will come up in conversations the instructors have with employers, garaunteed.   I went back to a community college, to hone my skills after a lay-off.  I worked so hard there, they ended up hiring me.Jay DavisAWS-CWIC-60 Specialty Welding ContractorLoving husband, and father of two boys (