interview test

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All right guys, I realize that I may be a little new to welding in the world as supposed to in school where certain things are provided and direction is not something that would be frowned upon. I had an interview today that I'm pretty sure would have worked out well had I prepared "properly". Unfortunetly thats not the way it happened. I was given two pieces of steel 1/4 thick, the interviewer saw fit to tack the pieces to a baseplate for me. i didn't ask for it and by the time I had all my gear on it was done already.This is what it looked like overhead. (its just a microsoft paint drawing bare with it please)  How am I supposed to effectively weld the metal when the groove/joint I'm supposed to weld looks like this? Mind you that this was with 1/8 6011 electrodes. So not only is it a dig electrode but there are gaps.If the general census is that I should be prepared to do such things on a regular basis then please alert me to that fact and I will take measure to enable myself to do such a weld properly. I was under the impression that a fabrication shop is not going to provide you with such a f*cked up piece of material when they are looking to fabricate a quality item/product. Again if I am mistaken then please let me know. Any and all comments / tips / genral info will be greatly appreciated.
Reply:who tacked it?
Reply:Originally Posted by mastrtcalI was given two pieces of steel 1/4 thick, the interviewer saw fit to tack the pieces to a baseplate for me. i didn't ask for it and by the time I had all my gear on it was done already.
Reply:I think you failed when you did not question the procedure?Rather like someone handing you an apple and asking you to make orange juiceI called on a job in the paper, the add included the company name address and phone number. When I walked in I overhear a guy on the phone saying " all that information is in the add if you can't figure it out I don't need you", I worked there for 3 years.Last edited by Fat Bastard; 03-17-2009 at 08:57 PM.
Reply:In many shops, things are not perfect or textbook.   Just do the best you can with what you're given to work with.  Sometimes you'll have to get creative to figure out how to make it work.  You will be better for it in the end.   It's worse in the field...MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:The interview I had before this one, about 1 month ago. The fit up I received was even worse then the one mentioned above. When I asked him how I was supposed to go about welding such a ****ty piece of material he muttered that he couldnt tell me. When I am asked to provide a vertical weld with 6011 on 1/4 plate, I understand that, I can do that. Am I supposed to break apart the interviewers tacks and reset it? find a cleaner piece of metal? If an ad in the newspaper says company name phone number and address then theres no reason to call and ask for any of the info that is very clearly available in the ad iteself. The owner did the right thing by responding the way he didA potential employee should be able to do exactly what is asked of him. In the event that I am asked to perform vertical horizontal flat or overhead even I can do that provided that I am given the proper opportunity.  Thats a proper fit up.A fit up thats missing chunks what the white area is intended to represent. Is that the proper way to give someone a welding exam?
Reply:Maybe its like the drunk test.  Recite the alphabet backwards.  You can't and they know it. If you try, then yer drunk!OR  you could have turned the heat down, buttered the heck out of one side (filled the space) and covered it with a nice cap.  BUT would you want to do that for a job?David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by mastrtcalThe interview I had before this one, about 1 month ago. The fit up I received was even worse then the one mentioned above. When I asked him how I was supposed to go about welding such a ****ty piece of material he muttered that he couldnt tell me. When I am asked to provide a vertical weld with 6011 on 1/4 plate, I understand that, I can do that. Am I supposed to break apart the interviewers tacks and reset it? find a cleaner piece of metal? If an ad in the newspaper says company name phone number and address then theres no reason to call and ask for any of the info that is very clearly available in the ad iteself. The owner did the right thing by responding the way he didA potential employee should be able to do exactly what is asked of him. In the event that I am asked to perform vertical horizontal flat or overhead even I can do that provided that I am given the proper opportunity.  Thats a proper fit up.A fit up thats missing chunks what the white area is intended to represent. Is that the proper way to give someone a welding exam?
Reply:Neither do I
Reply:I've done that to potential employees myself.  Don;t take this wrong, but a trained monkey can take a perfect setup and weld up the joint.  I am guessing that they were doing as I have done and was looking for someone who would think for themselves and get the job done.  The last two guys that I was considering hiring came in and I gave them both two pieces to weld.  the first guy took the pieces.  (intentionally bad fitups) and made a mess of them.  Then went to complaining about the test.  The second guy took the first and after taking some time got it filled in and capped then asked me if he could reset the next two pieces himself.  I told him to go ahead that he was gonna be welding it.  and he proceded to put in an excellent weld.  Wanna guess which guy got hired?  Techinically speaking the first welder probably was the better welder in a perfect siutation, but we weren't always gonna be in a perfect situation.  I needed someone who could think and adapt to get the job done.  In 80% of the work I do you aren;t gonna get a perfect fitup.  You gouge and grind it out best you can, fill it in and cap it.   sometimes the tests are not about the ability to weld as much as a test of the ability to think.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Well thats a damn fine response. I appreciate that. Any ideas on what to do in the aforementioned scenario with 6011?
Reply:David just about covered it. Originally Posted by David ROR you could have turned the heat down, buttered the heck out of one side (filled the space) and covered it with a nice cap.
Reply:Originally Posted by mastrtcalWell thats a damn fine response. I appreciate that. Any ideas on what to do in the aforementioned scenario with 6011?
Reply:the welder is held responsible for the finished weld, no matter how crappy the fit, metal, conditions, position, etc. In the process of making a weld, next to the last task is welding. Never attempt to correct a sorry fit, bad metal, etc with the weld. If you do so, you will end up giving excuses as to the poor quality of the weld you made. As with most things, the prep work makes the final product.....I have never tested in where another tacks up the cupons..?Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:thanks guys
Reply:After seeing the fit,  I would have just asked, "Are you sure you have enough rods handy to weld that up?"  Problem solved.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Whatever, seems to me the guy conducting the interview, possibly the same guy that signs the checks, can give you whatever test he wants to, good or bad.  Deal with it.  It's not the only job opening out there.
Reply:Originally Posted by mark8310Whatever, seems to me the guy conducting the interview, possibly the same guy that signs the checks, can give you whatever test he wants to, good or bad.  Deal with it.  It's not the only job opening out there.