changing careers and could use some advice

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so after cooking for 10 years im ready to change careers and i live around one of the worlds biggest dry docks and around several large shipbuilding yards which im trying to work for as a welder and my first question is is going to trade school a good way to get started, or to learn from the company in which they will take unqualified welders and train them, but getting in is hard as hell, any advice?
Reply:What kind of experience do you have? Have you ever welded ? Where are you located? What trade are  you trying to get into? Your question is a little vague, i think a with a little more info on who you are and what you want to do , you might get a better response from everyone. I joined a union, which has a 5 year apprentice program. 40hours a week on job training and 2 nights a week in school accredited through a local junior college. I would think it would be a little harder to get your foot in the door without schooling. In the economy we're in, it seems a lot of people are out of work. Any thing that can make you stand out from the next guy helps. My vote would be push for the school.
Reply:It would be very hard to start a welding job like that with 0 experience... Welding is not something you learn overnight it takes lots of hours of practice and failure. But if you have some welding experience it would be a different story. I can say that I can weld better then quite a few people that work with me that went to school. And I have only been welding a year. Granted I am a very quick learner and I'm not being cocky I'm being honest.
Reply:nope no experience what so ever in welding, and i live in newport news, and im trying to get a job at the newport news shipyard, and im applying for a structural welder position, and there only qualification skills they list Must be able to be respirator qualified.All candidates must pass Work Keys Test.Must be able to work assigned shift as production needs dictate.
Reply:i guess my real question is how do i go about getting into the trade, i have made it a goal to want to learn and do this but i have no real idea how to begin other then attending trade school
Reply:There is nothing wrong with school the only problem is it can be costly and it takes up time in the day, If you work full time you would have to do night classes... For some people that is not an option. I would suggest Buying a cheap welder and practicing at home and also try to find on the job training at the same time. Only problem is most company's will ditch you if you are not preforming in a certain amount of time. Also check out youtube there are tons of helper videos on there for the DIY'er like weldingtipsandtricks and a whole bunch of them. You could also talk to instructers at schools and see if they would do private lessons or if you could just pay to have time in the shop and practice.
Reply:thats why im thinking school economically it makes sense to get on the job training at the shipyard and what not, but if i suck im SOL and out the door
Reply:Originally Posted by joejoe8455thats why im thinking school economically it makes sense to get on the job training at the shipyard and what not, but if i suck im SOL and out the door
Reply:most jobs like what?
Reply:Originally Posted by joejoe8455most jobs like what?
Reply:Try to get on as a laborer or a welders helper.  Unless you have some experience working with metal you wull need to start at the bottom. Even with some schooling & certifications you will need to build a foundatrion of knowledge in the trade.
Reply:Do a search on  member Big65mopar here. He picked up a job there at Newport News. I forget what school he went thru, but he commented on it quite a bit while he was training before the shipyard hired him. If he doesn't chime in on this, Pm him..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:thanks ak i didnt even think of trying that out im applying for a few welders helper positions in the am, there is a lot of people hiring for them out here, thanks also dsw
Reply:PM replied.  Also keep in mind that the shipyard work for what department your applying to you most likely will end up working out in either the new build or the overhauls and of the two you don't want the overhaul for some scary reasons.  Each department actually encompasses several departments so x18 structural can be anything from structural to pipe to brazing while x32 sheet metal can be sheet metal to mechanic to tile installer ( not what you think ) to bag sewer ( again not what you think ) and so on.  Regardless of where your at though most all of the work is hot and sweaty in the summer and cold and sweaty in the winter and its always very dirty and very very dangerous.  The two things that get people fired in a heart beat are attendance #1 and the rules are strict on this more than any other job I've ever had so unless you or your immediate family are dying or dead don't be late and don't miss work.  The second thing is camera phones or cell phones in general but mostly camera phones which are not allowed along with anything that has a camera of any sorts inside the gates.There is basic training available at an onsite school but there is a time constraint and your reviewed daily though they don't tell you this right away.  Taking a program at a school before you go will actually help you out specially if you apply during the last month of schooling so that you can more quickly get into the yard with all your training fresh in mind and body.  I took 5 months off between the two and it cost me in forgotten skills and memory but I was able to work my way through it for the most part.Welding Supervisor Department of Corrections.
Reply:If you CURRENTLY have a job, consider learning to weld at entry level before diving in. The experienced shipyard folks can give advice on how to train for that line of work, setting up a training area at home, etc.
Reply:Generally the more skills you have the better but Huntington Ingalls will train you to both their standards and requirements that the Navy has.Welding Supervisor Department of Corrections.