weldingt wrote:You will always work for those who are willing to hire you.
You can increase that number by growing your skills, knowledge and experience. Not every welding job is gonna be the dream job. Some people always want more. The more may be money, challenges, responsibility, or who knows what.
There are tremendous opportunities in the welding field. Continue to gain knowledge and experience where you can. Don't settle on a process if you want to continue growth in the field.
If you are just looking for a check, and satisfied where you are, then one process may be the way.
Here is a page I wrote about becoming a welder. Not sure if I already posted it here or not. http://wp.me/p5Gzet-1y
I just read your article. It's good--it's the kind of thing I was looking for.
About skills and additional learning...I know my class is very basic--it's only 1 semester! With that in mind, the "what jobs to look for/seek out" question is really what type of industry/trades will help take me from being a complete novice to a "well rounded" welder?
It sounds like the Navy taught you a lot...my teacher is a journeyman pipe fitter/welder, and of course that is a 5 year apprenticeship. I could go that route (apprenticeship, not navy...I'm getting old for joining the navy)...but no guarantee that I'll get in right away. The other obvious choice right now is working 60 hrs/week running a MIG gun...the factory is always hiring! But it doesn't seem to me that the factory job will teach much in the way of additional skills--word is they lock out the welding machine so you can't adjust anything.
Anyway, just trying to make use of the time I have to come up with the semblance of a plan. It would be foolish to get to the end of the welding program without having any ideas of what I should do for a career...If I waited, I'd end up taking whatever job is offered out of necessity. I don't know how much choice I will have as it is, but I think it's better to have an idea of what to look for?