Looking to possibly redirect my efforts to welding. Can you spare some solid info??

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Alright so I've gone to college, worked retail, worked a career job, and well...I'm unemployed right now without anything to speak of. I'm looking at taking a local welding voc-tech class schedule to learn more about welding in general. They offer SMAW, GMAW, and Flux Core Arc classes and we are in a large large industry of ship/pipe fitting. I'm in Mississippi to be exact but general. I'm looking to move to a larger city though, Atlanta/Orlando would be nice. I'm still pursuing my field of study, but a back up plan is needed. Anyways, I'm a bit lost on what I should expect going into and coming out of this. Class looks to start out with basic stick methods as I missed the spring semester. I'm looking for PT work to fund an apartment right now, so if I have to do the full year/2 years then at least I won't be useless outside of school. I'm hoping once enrolled I can talk to the teacher about helper positions in the area. I come from an automotive background but more so watching friends fab stuff and oogling over posts like those on this forum. No tech training and definitely not much hands on. I do own a 220 MIG rig but at the moment have no where to use it. I'm competent and not a complete moron (haha!), so I feel like I could pick up a lot of information quickly. I'm good with my hands as well. I'm just a bit worried about the outcome and how things are viewed within the industry, especially with no experience having come from a technology based industry that you can't hardly speak to someone without experience. Coming away from schooling with a portfolio of work or examples of work, along with hopefully some certificates...is it hopeful that I could get into a basic roll and build up from there? A lot of guys here are doing ship and rig work, which I'm not keen on but I would probably give it a go and see what came of it. I'd love to focus on TIG with stainless/aluminum but I realize that comes with time.
Reply:everyone focuses on making money doing tig work, where im at you dont make money tig welding. money is made with the government or doing production, you make half the wages as a tig welder because everyone and their dog "knows" how to weld or was taught by a friend. the only companies that will pay you the big bucks are the ones who can afford to.if you can step across it I can weld it.
Reply:Can you explain what you mean by production? Maybe TIG is something I need to do on the side/for myself/extra money in the future. I'm open to opinions and experience of others to guide me because I don't know the industry at all. I don't even know exactly what type of welding I would want to do...aside from whatever makes me money.
Reply:Production as in manufacturing plants doing the same job 8 hours a day shift work, all that good stuff. I've been doing it for 4 years went to a tech college at 19 I'm thinking of going the self employment route myself. But I would say work three jobs before you do. Structural, custom fab and production. Quality, attention to detail and speed.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkif you can step across it I can weld it.
Reply:How long were you in school for and did you have a tough time landing a job? Production wouldn't be too bad IMO as long as I'm busy. If my mind can't wander then I am well off. I wouldn't mind the self route but it's a scary thing to look at to be honest. Maybe because I don't know the work and don't have the welding skills yet. I just don't care to be laid up in a trench welding pipe 12 hours a day  I'll do it I have to though.Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkLast edited by StoppedDown; 04-27-2014 at 04:11 PM.
Reply:Get into a Fab shop if you can as an entry welder. A good company will provide training/mentoring for novice welders. Learn solid fit-up and always improve skills. Get into a gas & oil fab shop like I'm at. Good non-union pay, winters indoors and variety of products makes for interesting work. Get proficient with cutting torch and gouging equipment.
Reply:Sweet, that sounds like my kind of gig. Variety is best but work will be work! Should I plan on having to finish both years or if I pick up quick enough to go ahead and try to find something mid-program? I imagine that is probably case dependent so I understand not getting g a "real" answer.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:I finished the 10 month course early, so after 9 months I had a job, all position stick, flat mig, I have flat flux core, learned how to weld all position gtaw, mcaw ,fcaw, smaw, gmaw all position with steel stainless and aluminium.torch braze and gas weld upto vertical up. Use of a cutting torch, arc gouger and fabrication, math and theory all crammed into a 4200$ 10 month course. Land a job the first place I applied I was management by 23 making 25/hr dropped out I management because I realized I took my course to weld not shuffle papers. (If I'm goin to manage anyone's business it's going to be mine.)Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkif you can step across it I can weld it.
Reply:Nice man, good work on that. Hopefully I can do something similar. I'm looking at 2 years but the first semester is GMAW GTAW and SMAW level 1 coursework. I'm going to set up a meeting for it all tomorrow.
Reply:Thanks I suggest a vocational route for anyone. After all the old school educated guys are usually the ones teaching the course. Always ask questions and keep learning and burning.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkif you can step across it I can weld it.
Reply:Originally Posted by ghaorwangthe only companies that will pay you the big bucks are the ones who can afford to.
Reply:Well, signing up and paying for a 8 week crash course at the local voc-tech for the summer. Supposedly they bring in the ship yard to test at the end so maybe things will go smoothly. I'm excited to be back learning something new and building a new skill! I don't "expect" a job out of this, but I hope for one.