Where are all the skilled welders?

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Hello,Please read my blog and make your comments. http://www.ewi.org/where-are-all-the-skilled-welders Thanks!Jeremy
Reply:Some are right here on welding web. Others are at work joining metal right now, and yet more are looking for someone needing they're skills, that can pay decent wages.
Reply:Just got home from work.  Why, what do you want?Two turn tables and a microphone.
Reply:Originally Posted by PangeaJust got home from work.  Why, what do you want?
Reply:See there, I told you some were on here and some were at work joining metal right now. Like the man said "what do you want?".
Reply:Here I am.  Oh, I just reread, and you said skilled.  Now, if you had said metal craftsman, gifted, talented, supremely abled, gloriously artisan, or the one that metal yields itself to, then that would be me.  Skilled is just so common, so many skilled people in the masses of the ordinary.LOL, Just messing with you a little....of am I? Ha Ha Ha.
Reply:"The one that metal yeilds itself to" I like that!!....classic!I work at a cool place in Columbus Ohio. We are a weld engineering firm. We go out in the field and solve many welding problems. I am a skilled welder myself that has did the time in the field...oil refineries, shutdowns, gasoline lines.Our company is a leader in innovation in the welding industry and we hear every day from our customers how hard it is these days to find a skilled welder. When those ask "what is a skilled welder?" and "where are they?", it is hard to answer. This is why I am asking,"where are all the skilled welders?"And by the way.... we have an open position for a 'skilled welder' at EWI. This place is a welders' paradise...
Reply:in order to find skilled welders, the welders need to see the $$$$$$ .... no pay= no skill
Reply:Originally Posted by Scott Young... Oh, I just reread, and you said skilled.  Now, if you had said metal craftsman, gifted, talented, supremely abled, gloriously artisan, or the one that metal yields itself to, then that would be me.  Skilled is just so common, so many skilled people in the masses of the ordinary....
Reply:Just about every welder I know is the best in the world if you ask them. Some of them welded a muffler for their uncle once so the are awesome at 6g. Then there are the people who know's someone who's uncle was an underwater welder but died because its so dangerous. I on the other hand weld nuclear systems on Navy ships so obviously I MUST be the best. (note sarcasm used)CERTIFICATIONS:7018M- H.V.O10718M- H.V.O11018M- H.V.O9N10- H.V.O71T-1-HYM- H.O.V100S1 PULSE ARC 0,035- H.O.V100S1 PULSE ARC 0.045- H.O.VER70S-3 PULSE ARC 0.035 H.O.VER70S-3 PULSE ARC 0.045 H.O.VER5554- H.O.V
Reply:Of course this issue (whether it is perceived as a problem or not is yet another discussion) isn't new in the big scheme of things nor is it limited to welders at any snap shot in time. Sure these companies that make money off skilled tradesmen would just love to have these huge reserve pools out there waiting for them to call them up when needed. WTF? Need ten welders and choose from a pool of a hundred?  Is that what they want? I'm sure it would behoove contractors and corporations alike to train up hundreds of thousands of skilled welders just so they would be available at a moments notice. Hopefully it never happens just quite that way. You would have to better define shortage to get me terribly concerned. Is not having a few hundred setting on the couch in any given area wating for that phone call to go work for big ole important company XYZ called a shortage?"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:This reminds me of the two gals talking in the office. One having been divorced quite some time and looking for a new man asks the other "where are all the good men anyway?" The other gal says "they're all married honey." I think that's sorta the way it goes in the trades. Q) "Where are all the skilled welders?" A) "They're all workin.""The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyThis reminds me of the two gals talking in the office. One having been divorced quite some time and looking for a new man asks the other "where are all the good men anyway?" The other gal says "they're all married honey." I think that's sorta the way it goes in the trades. Q) "Where are all the skilled welders?" A) "They're all workin."
Reply:Good luck with your sales pitch!!!  These guy's don't need no junk like that!Welding is a craft passed down from skilled craftsmen to those willing to put the time in to learn it!How are you going to learn with no sparks!!! WTF.  Oh yeah I am not a welder but I can weld, forever learning!AEAD 200LE, Lincoln precision tig 185, Millermatic 251, Spectrum 625 extreme, Victor torch , Smithy 1220LTD. and  Do all C-4 band saw ,  Always adding.
Reply:To be a skilled welder You only need to be smarter than the metalPaulAnother day in paradise You only have to be smarter than the metal".   WeldiniMaking an honest living is nothing more than stealing from someone who can afford it and everyone feels good when it's over .      Weldini
Reply:Originally Posted by Heavy Metal ServiceTo be a skilled welder You only need to be smarter than the metal... Paul
Reply:Originally Posted by houseoffireGood luck with your sales pitch!!!  These guy's don't need no junk like that!Welding is a craft passed down from skilled craftsmen to those willing to put the time in to learn it!How are you going to learn with no sparks!!! WTF.  Oh yeah I am not a welder but I can weld, forever learning!
Reply:Originally Posted by jdidionAnd by the way.... we have an open position for a 'skilled welder' at EWI. This place is a welders' paradise...
Reply:Simple fix.  1.  companies that need skilled welders need to sponsor HS welding programs, proviede training and equipment and certification exams and offer well paid guaranteed employment to students who are able to pass real or mock certification test prior to finishing HS.    2.  HS in general need to bring back all shop classes to the level of 30+years ago.  3.  100% tax breaks and incentives to companies that do #14.   Apprenticeships need to be as popular and as available as going to college after HS.Oh, to answer your question the "Skilled Weldors" alredady have good paying jobs.   You can't get something for nothing.  Tell your boss, customers they got to put their money where their mouth is.   you ain't going to find a 6G certified welder with 10 years experience for $10/hr and no benefitsbuddy of mine uses a welding shop in Long Beach, CA and the owner has told him if he could find top notch welder/mechanics with certs he offers then $45/hr on the spot to start. (he still has trouble finding them)  The welding Gene pool has shrunk cuz HS cut all their Voc programs for stupid computers...Last edited by soutthpaw; 12-15-2011 at 12:18 PM.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonI thought you had a training program. Can't you hire from you pool of students?
Reply:post a link to the job opening in the employment section of the forum..  I am interested to know what the salary is for this "highly skilled welder"Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Whatcha need?HammerFile Big Hammer------------------------------Here, let me Google that for you...
Reply:Originally Posted by jdidionNo we do not have a training program. We are a research facilty that specializes in all material joining processes. We are looking for a highly skilled weld technician. This is my point here, 'where are all the skilled welders'?.... I know they dont apply for our open position.
Reply:Originally Posted by jdidionHello,Please read my blog and make your comments. http://www.ewi.org/where-are-all-the-skilled-welders Thanks!Jeremy
Reply:Look's like you scared him off with the salary question? I would like to know that very thing, and where is your company located? Quite a few kids in the local trade school here would like to be placed, and I suspect that is in every trade school in every region, granted some are not that interested but should be able to find 2-3 in just about every program. How do you recruit or advertise your opening?  Edit, Edit, your in Columbus Ohio? Have you ever heard of the Lincoln Electric Company only a few miles away? They have a little known training program, might be able to send some candidated your way.Last edited by kolot; 12-15-2011 at 06:55 PM."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400Reading your blog further, are you a headhunter or employment service that get's a fee for supplying comanies with welders or are you strictly testing facility and engineering to make recomendations on process? As far as experienced and highly skilled, how can you expect young people out of high school or Tech school to have a broad range and upper skill level? As far as in house and getting them up to speed with instruction, I disagree, In the second world war they were taking houswives who had been previously stay at home mom's and turning them into some of the best welders I have seen, how do I know, because a little old lady (now) down the street was known to be a very capable welder, Her skills were honed in WWII production factories, and the time frame of the war was not that long when you think about it."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:Originally Posted by kolotLook's like you scared him off with the salary question? I would like to know that very thing, and where is your company located? Quite a few kids in the local trade school here would like to be placed, and I suspect that is in every trade school in every region, granted some are not that interested but should be able to find 2-3 in just about every program. How do you recruit or advertise your opening?  Edit, Edit, your in Columbus Ohio? Have you ever heard of the Lincoln Electric Company only a few miles away? They have a little known training program, might be able to send some candidated your way.
Reply:Originally Posted by kolotReading your blog further, are you a headhunter or employment service that get's a fee for supplying comanies with welders or are you strictly testing facility and engineering to make recomendations on process? As far as experienced and highly skilled, how can you expect young people out of high school or Tech school to have a broad range and upper skill level? As far as in house and getting them up to speed with instruction, I disagree, In the second world war they were taking houswives who had been previously stay at home mom's and turning them into some of the best welders I have seen, how do I know, because a little old lady (now) down the street was known to be a very capable welder, Her skills were honed in WWII production factories, and the time frame of the war was not that long when you think about it.
Reply:I can see all kinds of problems finding the right person for a welding job.  I have seen experienced pipeliners come inside and be shown the door the next day.  Each job requires a special range of skills.  Keeping in mind that to master a trade takes at least 8,000 to 10,000 hours.  Add into that the multitude of welding processes and there is no single person who will master more than four or five processes.   And when employers ask for a welder they often want a forklift operator, truck/equipment operator, machine operator and a fabricator.  Oh yes and now they want experience setting up CNC burning and forming.   It is wise to walk your candidate through the operations seen on a work day.  The final caveat is encountering engineers.  Often they are concerned about things that are abstract to the average welder.  I know of one engineer who had a partnership in a large contracting firm.  It was his turn to attend the negotiations between ironworkers, boilermakers and construction unions to determine who would have jurisdiction over different jobs at the site.  The man was totally demoralized by the language and casual confrontations between parties.  He had no idea how rough and tumble things were on a site.    In the real world if I am pissed at you I might question who your mother was among other things.  Ten minutes later we will sit down and have coffee together and everything is forgotten.  You say you want a welder???
Reply:That will be a tough one to fill since it requires decades of experience in a variety of disciplines beyond welding.You might post on the American Welding Society forums. Essentially you'll need a CWI who can communicate with engineers AND is currently an outstanding welder.
Reply:hmmm prolly working at there job as pangea said Skilled welders normally dont sit at home unless they choose tooI work in the nuclear field as a tig welderMiller Xmt 350Lincoln Ln-25Ahp 200xSmith Gas Mixer AR/HTig is my Kung FuThrowing down dimes and weaving aboutInstagram http://instagram.com/[email protected]
Reply:Originally Posted by jdidionI am the hiring manager for this position.
Reply:Originally Posted by jdidionhttp://www.ewi.org/about-2/careers-2Follow the link above for the job description. Lincoln Electric is 150 miles away from us. They also see our open position but like everyone is saying...the good ones all have jobs! The salary we pay is based on experience.... negotiable. If you are selected for an interview you will spend an entire day at our facility being interviewed by a half dozen welding engineers. After the interview you will be given weld tests. We look for unique candidates. they must first have the welding experience. then we look for how a candiate would do in front of our customers...the GE, US Navy, Rolls Royce. You must have both welding experience and customer service experience. This is hard to find. Anyone qualified?