College welding courses

[Signals671]

Hi guys I'm just looking for a bit of advice if i may, I'm 31 and after leaving the army 4 years ago I'm trying to build a solid career for myself in welding, I have few years experience labouring for mech/pipe fitters , welders etc on power station shutdowns, the course I have enrolled on is city and guilds welding 2368 levels 1 and 2 (mma,Mig,tig, oxy acet). Eventually I'd like to work offshore, do you think this course will help get me a chance of a start anywhere to gain a bit more experience.

Thanks for reading

 

[Signals671]

Any one ??

 

[Engineer1964]

Hi,

Sorry for the delay in getting a reply most of us work during the day, and i've only just got in

Your Welding course is standard entry level, and should put you in the right track for a career in welding, your best bet now would be to "sell" yourself to engineering companies for a job as a welder, Dependant on your welding experiance to date and putting yourself through collage, i think that would impress most employers.

You would need a good few years experiance and a multitude of extra qualifications as well as health & safety exams to even start looking for an off shore job, best bet would be to concentrate on your collage course for now, it'll take you a few years to complete and see if you can get a decent welding job with a local engineering company, its a nightmare of a minefield, but stick with it and you'll do well.

 

[Signals671]

Thanks for the advice Gerry much appreciated

 

[Engineer1964]

Thanks for the advice Gerry much appreciated

No worries mate, Been there, done it sort of thing, we all started at the begining at one stage or another, Where abouts in the North east are you?? and what sort of area are you looking for work in??

 

[Signals671]

I'll be going to colledge in south shields mate, at the moment I'm in and out of work on various shutdowns on gas/steam turbines working as a mechy fitters mate and it's getting harder and harder to find work as theres that many semi skilled out there, I have a few Certs like first aid, harness training, confined spaces and other stuff. For about 6 months this year I worked on an hrsg boiler alongside welders, pipe fitters , platters, I completed my ace card level 2 in pipe fitting (assisting) so I would only need to do a 2 year improver ship , but it's welding that really interests me, maybe a pipeftter/welder one day lol. Andy