Ever been curious about a job as a welder? Welding is a skilled trade with diverse opportunities and strong job prospects. But what exactly does a welding career look like? Let’s delve into the essential skills and training requirements, as well as potential career paths.
What Does a Welder Do?
The act of welding is simply fusing two pieces of metal together to create a stronger, safer finished product. Wherever there’s metal, a welder was likely involved, from framing skyscrapers to manufacturing fences and gates. Within this broad field, you’ll find a lot of potential careers.
Assessing Your Skills and Aptitudes
Before starting your welding career, you’ll want to make sure that this type of work is right for you. Some welders work high in the sky, while others perform their jobs in tightly confined spaces. Some have other advanced skills, such as engineering or SCUBA certification. Assessing what you already know how to do and enjoy doing can help you narrow your career path. Regardless of which direction you take, though, it’s important to have an overall knack for working with your hands, attention to detail, and strong basic math skills.
Getting Certified
The first step in your journey to becoming a welder is to earn a welding certificate from the American Welding Society. As you move through your career, you’ll likely want to add higher-level certifications. For now, though, just focus on the basic Certified Welder exam. You can take courses at a trade school, community college, or even online. If you already know how to do the basic welds, you may even be able to pass the exam with no formal training at all.
Welding Career Paths
With your new certification in hand, you’ll be ready to apply for a variety of welding jobs. These include, but are not limited to:
- Welder fabricator. Make metal objects from bridge supports to custom cars.
- Pipeline welder. Join together metal pipes for utilities, food processing, or even oil refineries.
- Shipfitter. Help build and repair watercraft from tiny tugboats to ocean liners or military aircraft carriers.
- Boilermaker. Focus on boilers, vats, and similar equipment for a wide range of industrial and commercial uses.
- Ironworker. Join the “Cowboys in the Sky” as you help build bridges, skyscrapers, stadiums, and more.
As you gain experience and additional certifications, you might become a Welding Supervisor, a Welding Engineer, or even a Welding Research Scientist. The sky is truly the limit.
Ready for your next role?
Cardinal Staffing has been matching candidates across Ohio and Michigan with just the right light industrial, administrative, and professional positions for nearly 30 years. With deep roots in these areas, we’re experts on the local job markets. Contact us to learn more or start searching for your next position today!
