17 and need career help please!

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Hi, my name's Nick I have been welding for about a year and a half, I can do Stick, MIG I've done a tiny bit of TIG, I can oxy fuel weld, braze and cut aswell.I love to do this stuff but I'm not sure what the future will hold for me, with the economy going in the toilet I am constantly worrying if I am making the right choice for making welding my career, I have heard wages of $11-$26 an hour and if your good you can make more. But whos to say that there will be work out there.I have about half year left in highschool, I'm getting scared to be out there all alone in the world, where do I go for a job? who can I talk to?should I start an apprenticeship in my local pipefitting union?I have no family just my mother and sister so its not like I have a dad or uncle or some friends where I can ask my questions which is why I am posting this here.as far as college goes, I'm thinking it will be a waste of money, no matter what I do it will be in building trades, I feel like there are so many things I want to learn but also don't know how to do it, I would like to learn carpentry framing and how to operate heavy equipment, electricity, brick masonry and cement floor finishing just so many thingsif anyone has some thoughts or suggestions for me please post! if you plan on being rude and ignorrant towards my questions then please keep them to yourselves
Reply:Learn as much as you can about math! Math is the back bone to all trades.With the list of things you want to do, I'd suggest going to work for a small industrial contractor. Or a large residential contractor. Either way, will have to non-union, your list crossed about four union lines.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I think you have the wrong attitude towards college to start with. Go to a respectable school and get a Mechanical engineering degree. From there you can major/minor in a number of areas including metallurgy or machine design or a number of things. From there the possibilities are endless, I have two brothers and all of us did engineering and all have great jobs. My older brother is the head engineer at an aluminum foundry in Texas, I'm an Aeronautical and Astronautical engineer and I'm currently an officer in the Air Force with a number of possibilities waiting for me when I retire at 43. My little brother was an ME like my older brother and he works as a DOD contractor with a TS clearance and is working on redesigning a cannon for some Navy ships. Sure you won't be out there doing the actual welding all the time, but you see to it that what you have designed is being properly constructed and completed. It isn't for everyone, but it leads into the industry and will keep you around welding and the construction trade. Keep your options open. Look at the big picture and where u want to be in 20 years...
Reply:Sounds like you'r walking in my shoes, my mom died when I was 17, my dad kicked me out of the house and i've been on my own since. I went through welding in high school and took my first job for a grumpy azz old timer, making $8.00 an hr, best thing I ever done. While working for the old timer I bought my first welding machine and done work on the side, on weekends, and at night, while still learning eveything I could from that old timer. Now some 20 yrs later I have my own business, and have been doing good for myself.As for as work goes the money for a welder now days is in the pipe field, if I were you I would find a job in a fab shop, and try to go to a tech school at night, that way you get best of both worlds on job training and school. Also remember one thing, don't let ANYBODY tell you your wasting your time, can't do it or anything negitive, it's your life and future, you decide what comes of it.Best of luck to you.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPLearn as much as you can about math! Math is the back bone to all trades.With the list of things you want to do, I'd suggest going to work for a small industrial contractor. Or a large residential contractor. Either way, will have to non-union, your list crossed about four union lines.
Reply:Originally Posted by mulinaxrodburnerSounds like you'r walking in my shoes, my mom died when I was 17, my dad kicked me out of the house and i've been on my own since. I went through welding in high school and took my first job for a grumpy azz old timer, making $8.00 an hr, best thing I ever done. While working for the old timer I bought my first welding machine and done work on the side, on weekends, and at night, while still learning eveything I could from that old timer. Now some 20 yrs later I have my own business, and have been doing good for myself.As for as work goes the money for a welder now days is in the pipe field, if I were you I would find a job in a fab shop, and try to go to a tech school at night, that way you get best of both worlds on job training and school. Also remember one thing, don't let ANYBODY tell you your wasting your time, can't do it or anything negitive, it's your life and future, you decide what comes of it.Best of luck to you.
Reply:Originally Posted by hankhillI have been thinking heavly on going into the pipefitter/steam fitters union and starting a 5 year apprenticeship when I get out of school.
Reply:Whats up Nick?? You're a little ahead of me, but I'm also 17, and a junior in high school. I am in a welding program at my local tech school, and I'm pretty much in love. My family situation is kind of like yours, just me and my mom tho, no sister. I know that I really want to do fabrication work for myself, and a little repair. My mom told me that i can stay here with her for as long as I want to (not that i plan on living here when I'm 40), and so thats what i intend to do. Once I graduate, I'm planning on living at home and finding some form of a job, and working there for a year or two, at which point i will pack up my truck with a few personal possessions and some tools, take my money out of the bank, and drive off into the sunset. To somewhere warm, somewhere in the southwest. And then rent a shop there, and go to work. And then, it will either take hold and become a career, or will crash and burn, at which point i will pack my truck back up and come back to ohio, and then who knows what. Maybe try it again, lifes an adventure. Henry Ford had to start three car companies before one of them took off. Anyway, I'm really in no place to be giving advice, but just keep trying, and follow your heart.[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:I was in your shoes at 17 too. I learned alot from welding at home and in highschool shop class/metal shop. I was lucky to pick up welding quick and able to get my foot in the door at a local fabshop. I had to take a weld test and did pass it to get hired. I was lucky that the shop forman took me in and was willing to teach me more and learn alot in this trade. Welding is half of this trade, you also have to know how to fit,layout etc.. I also looked at unions but the way the economy is right now its hard to get in. If your area has fab shops around look around and see if you can get in as a helper. The only way you get better at this trade is by out their on the job doing it.Good luck!ShaneYa gotta spend money to make money!
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPIf you can get in, you'd be one lucky son of a beach! If I were 17 again, and had a chance to get into the Pipe fitter's union I'd jump on it with both feet! Do it, don't let your shirt tail hit your azz!
Reply:Your right, retiring at 43 would be boring. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket. A college buddy and myself started a company where we do inventions, get the patent, then sell off the patents for $$$. I also do all sorts of side stuff from welding to consultation for sikorsky. Been thinking about buying a mobile unit and go out on jobs, but for now not really sure which direction I want to head. What about starting your own welding Biz? Either way, you are going to have to go for some sort of schooling....which includes an apprenticeship program. Nowadays a diploma won't get ya much further than McDonalds
Reply:Originally Posted by welderShaneI was in your shoes at 17 too. I learned alot from welding at home and in highschool shop class/metal shop. I was lucky to pick up welding quick and able to get my foot in the door at a local fabshop. I had to take a weld test and did pass it to get hired. I was lucky that the shop forman took me in and was willing to teach me more and learn alot in this trade. Welding is half of this trade, you also have to know how to fit,layout etc.. I also looked at unions but the way the economy is right now its hard to get in. If your area has fab shops around look around and see if you can get in as a helper. The only way you get better at this trade is by out their on the job doing it.Good luck!Shane
Reply:Originally Posted by BCTimberwolfYour right, retiring at 43 would be boring. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket. A college buddy and myself started a company where we do inventions, get the patent, then sell off the patents for $$$. I also do all sorts of side stuff from welding to consultation for sikorsky. Been thinking about buying a mobile unit and go out on jobs, but for now not really sure which direction I want to head. What about starting your own welding Biz? Either way, you are going to have to go for some sort of schooling....which includes an apprenticeship program. Nowadays a diploma won't get ya much further than McDonalds
Reply:In my 40+ years some of the best welders I ever worked with were trained in the Navy.
Reply:Originally Posted by hankhillthank you for your post, sadly I hear that I am going down the wrong path more often than not, I have been thinking alot about working in the pipe fields, I was thinking about joining my local pipefitting union and starting a 5 year apprenticeship.how did you find your sidejobs and evening welding jobs just by customer word of mouth, I would like to do that for people too
Reply:Originally Posted by hankhilland yes I would hate to retire at 43, I want to have a job I enjoy so much that I fear retirement
Reply:You are ahead of the game by thinking about these things now. You may apply with your local Pipefitter hall and I recommend it because its good money in most areas. It could take a while to get in so have a plan to work elsewhere as a welder until they call you for work. Or better yet, get your pipe certs at a community college to increase your chances of getting in to the union. The UA apprenticeship is accredited and applies toward your AA degree. Once your apprenticeship is done, you can always get that engineering degree. A senior weld engineer with a large contractor can make around 200k.Good luck.UA Local 598
Reply:With job market being what it is, now might be the best time to learn, be it college on work scholorship or college with US National Guard at the same time, or enlist in USN, USAF, USCG if they would take you, (could not be a cooler way to learn than in their schools).  Room and board while you figure out what life is all about (65 here with BSME, retired and I still don't know!).   Then while you are learning you can figure out what you might want to do with your life...gives you some breathing room...and not wasting your time while you figure it out.  Good luck.
Reply:I joined the Navy 50 years ago and am a retired Navy Chief, and I am often accused of being somewhat opinionated. Retirement after 20 years service, is not retirement in the sense of sitting in your rocking chair drinking lemonade.  In most cases, it involves a career change, taking on a new job and competing with others for employment.  You will have a leg up on most of the population, because you have been places and done things that defy description. The recruiting slogan; "It's not a job, it's an adventure" was certainly true in my opinion.After getting your "Retirement", you will get a check every month, and the use of the comissary and exchange.  Commissary prices seem to be about 20% less than civilian grocery stores, and shopping at the exchange saves me a lot too.While on active duty, the Navy took care of all my health needs, after retiremet I had the opportunity to avail myself and my family of low cost health insurance until I reached 65.  After 65 I went on Medicare and Tricare For Life, in the words of my physician "It is the best insurance a guy can get".  I get my medications from the Navy Hospital pharmacey at zero out of pocket cost for anything in their inventory.  If my perscription can not be filled by the hospital, any and all co-pays are minimal.Life in the Navy was not a constant vacation, but we had our good times.  Reality throws some crap in the game.  Some times were best described as hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.Try to do your best in school, because if you are inerested in any branch of the military, they will have you take an ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Appptitude Battery) test, the more you know, the higher you can score, higher scoring recruits are placed in more iterllectualy challanging jobs.I encourage you to go to college.  I did not start college until I was 47.  By that time I had some advantages over the younger students: 1) I already knew what beer was and had no need to further study that subject  2) I had allready learned about women, being married was to my advantage 3) I had learned to keep my eye on the prize, and not to sweat the petty stuff (there is an awful lot of petty stuff)I went to college while working full time, classes were on weekends.  In addition to what I was taught in college, I learned that I can do a lot of things even if I had doubts.  We are all capabile of learning and applying.If you are stiil reading, there are now very good financial incentives for joining any branch of the service.  The new GI Bill will help you pay for college. I belive you can get tuition assistance while still on active duty, in addition to military schools and correspondence coarses.In the Navy welding on ships is done by Hull Technicians and the Sea Bee rating of Steel Worker does the construction welding.  Both of these Ratings do a lot more than welding.  I had a Hull Tech tenant who was qualified to weld the pressure hulls of nucular submarines, as well as reactor piping.Steel Workers erect buildings (What do I know? I was an electronics tech while in uniform) I have lived in foreign countries, learned another language, visited a lot of countries, and have seen and done things most civilians can not imagine.  I think I am the only person on my block who has ridden an elephant.  After leaving the Navy, I worked at an industrial plant. I wondered why the other Maintenance Mechanics were always talking "poor mouth"; another maintainer , who was also retired Navy, pointed out to me that they did not a  have a Navy pension supplementing their earnings and so were only just barely getting by.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:My 2 centsThere are great ideas and direction posted here.You are just like many of us when you get to that age when you want to know what to do.The only person who knows that is you, it may not be today or the next but soon you will.List thing and look at the pros and con (what, were, and how).  Ask others what is involved in what they do not should I do that.  Just remember that a decision made today is what you think is right today.  You can change it if it doesn’t work out latter. And do not feel bad many go through changes I worked in 3 different professions the last over 30 years.If you try the military do something that is used in civilian life (not machine gunner, torpedo tech, parachute rigger, ect ).  If you enlist you can stay in as long as you want I did 4 years my daughter is in for 16 now.  I also learned electronics in the Navy and used it until I retired working on Cat and Mri scanning systems at 64.  All along the way I did projects on the side with cars, welding, building all types of things.  And I am still doing that.  Retiring is not the end of work unless you want it to be.There are no guaranties in life but it you work hard and do as good as you can you will succeed and be happy.Have funTom
Reply:Do not worry.At your age you can do anything.If you won the lottery tomorrow HANKHILL what would you do?That IS what you should be trying to do.You may like welding, but when you are 50 years of age and no one will hire you because you are too old. Then what will you do? That is even worse. If you like putting things together you might like to be a surgeon. Think big. And a 50 year old surgeon can keep working.Go to college. By the time you are through the economy may be a lot different.And your education will last a lifetime. You will always be respected.And college is not like high school at all.It has no fence around it. YOU GET TO CHOOSE THE courses you want to take.Many people will have had 9 different careers in one lifetime.The military like one forum member said is a good alternative. And the Navy may be the best for welding. But the military will never be as good as a college education.In the military you will be second class to anyone with any college courses.And if you graduate from college and cannot get a job the military will gladly accept you.They are looking for young college graduates. So do not worry. Just finish high school. And you will have already out distanced many others. Many kids do not even finish high school for one reason or another.Just hang in there. Do not listen to the TV or the news.JUST FINISH HIGH SCHOOL first.Then you can Go to college. Take engineering or anything but take what you DREAM THAT YOU WANT TO DO. When you do what you DREAM all of the pieces will fall into place for you.And you were SMART enough to ask others for help and that is a VERY good sign HANKHILL.ALSO ..forget what others want you to do . Do what YOU DREAM you want to do not matter how hard it may look. You can do it.The economy will always go up and down.Also I re read your post and you said you might not like the military.Think about this....Basic training only lasts ONE month.You get a paycheck every month.You get a room with clean sheets in a safe place.You get 3 meals a day with all you want to eat.You get medical care.You get training.You may get some travel.You get uniforms. The girls love those uniforms !At the end of your active duty you can go to college.Or you can do anything you want. But if you go to college FIRST (even two years) all those guys that are enlisted will be saluting YOU every time they walk past you!!!!!!  THINK HARD on THAT POINT.Re read BCTimberwolf's post.  See what I mean? He is 43 and lots of possibilities.Last edited by Donald Branscom; 02-14-2011 at 05:12 PM.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:Listen to wat these guys are saying....mr. Donald branscom is a very smart man....he had some good advice on my post aswell "titanium welders and members of the aircraft industry??? Please help!"...i was just like you in highschool....I'm only 18 (graduated last may)....don't put much faith in the union....times are hard and the local that I'm trying to get into now act as if they couldn't care less if the got another welder certified through their program. Go to a community college and take a welding class that way you can still get a degree. See that's where I screwed up....i was top 20% of my graduating class and had enough scholarship money for a free ride with money left over each semester I could just spend on my girl....however I dropped out bc iwas told by the head instructor at the local that I could make so much money and that they would help me get certified anyway possible. Well I'm not certified yet.....im learning alot about the world the hard way and I've only been out in it for about 9 months! I taught myself to tig aluminum and stainless in highschool (even cans and razor blades) but you can't get a job weldibg cans together and there is no code for razor blades! Don't get me wrong I love for welding and its my passion....i know the job I want but right now I'm having to find my own way to get it. And you're gonna have to do the same! Never try to stop learning or practicing...its drive that will get you places! Right now I'm trying to tech myself to weld titanium. Btw piping isn't always glamorous......i did a stainless piping job in deleware at purdue chicken plant in october and the working conditions were **** bc the plant didn't shut down they had the lines running with us in their tryin to work......we were welding in a steam filled room with chicken heads and feet falling on our hoods and a river of blood running on the floor! So first figure out the pros and cons of each of the options in front of you then pick the one you think you will be most satisfied with down the road. Good luck!Last edited by Tigger18; 02-14-2011 at 10:52 PM.
Reply:I like that you see it my way Donald. I'm actually only 24 so I still have my whole career ahead. Your right too about going to college first and getting a degree. I see other kids my age DQed every day for medical and they chose an easy major just so they could get a commission in a rated position. They will undoubtedly get a job when their time in service is over, however I already know 2 guys that commissioned with me that got the boot and are back in college because their major isn't what they really wanted to do. I guess what I'm trying to say is do something that you are passionate about and will get you to where you want to be later on in life. I still can't believe that I'm getting paid to do what I do. I started out my AF career with 6 weeks at ASBC basically playing dodgeball and having a great time. Now for the last six months I've been on casual just waiting for flight training to begin. I swear it feels like I'm cheating the government but just in the last few months I've already gotten all of my certs for deployment including CBRNE and combatives. Not to mention having a Top Secret clearance goes a looonngg way in the civilian world once I'm out. Really keep your options open. I am in Air Force but I'm currently stationed on a NAS Pensacola and really I think any service you choose, you really can't lose. You will get every certification and even if you just want to serve your 4 years and get out, you're miles ahead of 95% of your peers and still have a GI bill to use for college. Just don't sell yourself short and look back in 30 years and wonder what if
Reply:I am an engineer (20 years in my industry) and have seen and hired more college degrees that I can stomach.  College isn't all it's cracked up to be.College is often a good choice - but not always, particularly if it means going into debt.  If you choose to go to college, use the local community college to get the first 2 years out of the way without going broke.  Work your way through school, don't fall for the "easy money" of student loans.  One of the saddest things I see are guys going $100,000 into debt to get advanced degrees and then spending 20 years paying that debt off.My advice is, choose work that you love and that you can see yourself loving in 20 years.  Choose work that can evolve into your own business.  Remember, you can always change your job.I spent 8 years in the US Army reserve - that is an excellent way to gain hard skills such as welding AND some financial benefits.  Talk to a few recruiters about the reserve programs.If I had it to do all over again I am not sure how much time I would have wasted on College.  In the interest of full disclosure, I just started my first son on a College program and have a few more to follow soon - but he taught himself to program in 'C' before he was 14 so his case is not typical.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:Sorry I have not been on lately, I want to say thank you for all the responses, im going to talk about the military with my mother, she did a few years in the air force.I still like the idea of starting an apprenticeship though, ill think and think about it all live every day as it comes, I just started doing overhead stick welding, 3 pass t joints with 6010 so its pretty interesting hahaThanks for the help again fellas, looks like I have some thinking to do.