Welding Career Advice

I got into welding by accident. I started off in college buy college was not for me. On my first day of welding school, I could tell I was going to like it. I could see progress right away and knew that in less than a year, I was going to working as a welder making good pay.
I spent 13 years as a pipe welder, and then pivoted into aerospace welding. Along the way, I got my AWS CWI and SCWI, worked as a welder, welding instructor, metallurgical lab tech, and managed the welding training and certification program at Delta Air Lines Technical Operations Center.
It was a great job...until it wasn't.

[patrickgilbert]

I wish my 21 year old self would have watched this. Great advice for any young person, not just welders!

[MrAgummybear]

"Only added the 'tator' to be nice" you're awesome Jody xD

[bwinford]

When you get hired to a company always volunteer to go get extra training. You most often will have to travel and be gone for a time. It will be worth it. Let the company pay for those extra credentials. When the boss says "I need volunteers" your hand should go up. Immediately.

[liberalistbat]

Jody, you're an awesome person. You're the reason I have been able to get so far in college for welding. I don't come from a welding shop family or anything, and your advise has let me stay in the race with other students did have those experiences earlier.

[sjbl]

Jody, you are dead on with your advice.
As an old guy, a few things you said really rang a bell with me: Learn all you can about your job, including the "front office" jobs. As "the new guy" be the first in and the last out; don't be so impressed with yourself that you don't listen to the old timers; the first couple years do the dirty jobs that nobody else wants to do... there is value in those jobs; when the admin people start telling you "if you don't like it, leave" get yourself ready to leave, they will find out they can't be "administrative" if there is no one there to do the work.
Thanks Jody, that was a treasure trove of information.

[TorBoy]

10:12 Oh damn, that old timer advice is precious. It is universal and applies widely outside of welding. And it applies to all ages. Thanks

[SMCca]

I think one major thing that doesn't get brought up enough these days is the value of true hard work. No matter what you're doing, always work as hard as you can doing it. Doesn't matter if you hate it or think there's no value to it. Practice excellence in everything and the payoff may surprise you.

[bikesfightback]

i have an incredible amount of respect for you Jody... i also started out in college and tried to go for auto mechanics (which was full) and got thrown into a welding class....had an amazing teacher and loved it from day 1!! 19 years later after many jobs i am very happy with welding and have gain lots of experience and always learning more and hungry for knowledge. i hope to one day be a teacher myself. keep posting videos!!.. my wife looks at me funny that after a long day of welding i come home and watch videos about welding.

[LMG]

Jodi this all excellent advice. Welders have an excellent skill to make great money if they utilize the craft and diversify their skill sets. I welded 10years in industry from heavy fab, offshore O&G, mobile rig, and now I design and manufacture parts for a R&D Lab. I do machining, welding, mechanical repair, QA/QC, write reports in excel and word. This was all possible from welding and always learning wherever I worked. Back in welding college I never imagined I would be doing what I do today with all these valuable skills.

[patgraeme]

Most important thing he touched on, in my opinion, is that you can find whatever job you're looking for, but there will always be the same barriers. Its YOU who finds the school/apprenticeship, its you who decides to wake up at 5am, its you who decides they are gonna have an early night to get to work early, its you who pass the weld test, its you who doesnt apply and get no where. Im no where but have never taken construction lighly, next to truck drivers and concrete, there is no market bigger than what YOU are going to do

[naildriver]

One caveat to the school advice; if your welding instructor is a female, DO NOT treat her with any less respect just because of her sex. My instructor was a tiny little 5'4" 62-year old woman and she has over 40 YEARS of experience. I was constantly asking her questions and just being a mental sponge to get everything I could from the class. I love this channel. It has, and still does help me when I have questions or need some quick, easy knowledge...or I have a brain-fart day (they happen). Keep doing what you do, Jody.

[douglasalan]

Indian River...Good times.
Great advice JC I'm as old school as JC. I like job shop experience for young guys, even if less money than pipe. Learn punches, plasma, benders, ironworker machines, lathe, drilling, tapping, painting, hydraulics, saw sharpening, sheet metal ! Learn all you can get for 5 years or so. Then. Open a shop. I miss my ol mentor. He was incredible.I agree with the under the hood.Limited. It kills me to crawl under a machine and get back I still do ! When I HAVE to.

[denniskalivoda]

Jody, well presented in the life of a welder. Throughout your presentation of your life, I could see my myself the whole way. Everything you described of yourself is what a individual should take as what their future could look like. Myself started out in technical school, wanted tool and matching, no openings, took welding, during break got a job welding aluminum; Went back to school and completed course; Went to the service, came back worked as a maintenance man 6 years ; accepted a welding instructor at a technical school; yes, some confrontations with people, went to work for a Crane manufacturer, became supervisor of welding, promoted to manufacturing engineer of 16 years, disagreed with management; new job industrial engineer with large manufacturing company for 15 years, company cutback; Went to work for manufacturing company as a auto cad operator designing various equipment for 8 years. Retired and doing a little work in my garage now at the age of 81. Looks like a carbon copy, right Jody??

[elizabethdickerson]

I work with an amazing man, he has spent hours showing and teaching me things that school never did or could. Always stay open minded and willing to learn.

[RGSABloke]

Jody, I taught dental technology for almost 30 years, everything you said it right on the money and the principles you stated are applicable across disciplines. Thanks for sharing. Joe.

[EarthshipFreedom]

That's funny, same thing with me. Signed up for auto repair, they gave me welding. Best thing ever. 18 years later, still lovin it.

[Mfnmostdope]

I've learned some of the best tricks from the old timers. great advice man

[bigcliffe]

Lots of good advice....I had my welding equipment for quite a while but never forced myself to earn very much from it...I used them as hobby tools but when I was forced out of the airline industry in 2013 after 23 years...and 11 more years handling aircraft, I realized I had invested in a gold mine....I had tools that I could use to keep the roof over my head...help the children along in their studies and still have a little fun fixing my own cars...some things happen for the right reasons..

[Retroweld]

Very cool story and great advice Jody. Great meeting you in Atlanta. -Douglas

[daviddassow]

Great advice. My grandson appears to be enjoying his welding class in college. Looking for the next step. Your best advice was be nice to old timers, they know the short cuts. My dad’s joke, itimized bill from plumber, $10 for hitting the pipe, $100 for knowing where to hit the pipe. Thank you.