Choosing Welding as a Career
Choosing the right career path can be a scary prospect for many people, young and old! For most of our youth we’re asked, ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’, yet more often than not, we simply don’t know.
Yet one lucrative career path that is often not mentioned during school years is a career as a welder. Welding is suited to individuals who are creative and practical, and in possession of a pair of steady hands and a calm and collected nature. It’s important to note that the environment you would work in may be dark and uncomfortable while the welding equipment itself can be heavy and is very noisy – so a great work ethic is integral. Welding can also be dangerous, a fact that must be kept in mind, even for the thrill-seekers amongst us.
To get started you will require a basic knowledge of metallurgy, engineering and chemistry – however all this can be gained in school if you choose the correct courses (and you pay attention!). It is most common for welders to become qualified via an apprenticeship; however there are other courses that can be taken should an apprenticeship not be a possible or practical option.
Work as a welder can include working for construction companies, manufacturing steel and plate work and even working on the construction of ships or aircraft. While some welders are employed by one company, some choose to work on their own and many work for a union where they will be employed for temporary contracts.
While the latter are both great ways to work because they offer so much flexibility in how much and when the welder chooses to work, neither are entirely reliable in terms of income and if choosing to go self-employed, the high cost of welding equipment must be taken into consideration.
In fact, the welding equipment is one of the big draws of welding as a career – many people find it really fun to use! And that’s one of the most important parts of job satisfaction – that you enjoy your work.
Welding is likely to become an even more lucrative career path over the coming years, since experts cite the industry as experiencing a significant shortage of manufacturing workers – a shortage that they believe is set to increase further before the need for capable welders starts to drop.
In order to find out more about welding as a career and the intricate details of the vocation such as the welding equipment it is advisable to visit workshops and schools, as well as to talk with experienced welders. The more research you do the more clearly you should be able to establish if welding is the right career path for you
It is worth noting that the most highly paid welders are often those who are willing to travel and go where the work is. Staying in one location may leave a welder out of work for some time, so the industry may not be suited to those with a family and a home who wish to stay in one place.
Having said that, perhaps you live near to an established factory, where permanent employment is highly likely. In this case, getting to grips with welding equipment may be the career change you need, and there is always the option to quickly move elsewhere should the need arise in the future.
This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of Westermans International. Amy writes on a variety of topics including welding equipment and welding as a career choice.