Due to start welding school, but...

[Hugh Jass]

I've been offered a place in a college to study a level three course in welding.
I did a multiple choice test and they were talking about level two, but when the test results came back they said I could move straight onto level three.

I spent the last year in night school doing oxy, mig and tig and have a level one certificate in this.

So I am wondering wether or not to go to welding school at all?
I could buy myself a mig and tig machine and practice in my garage and just ask everybody that I meet if they want any welding work doing for cost of materials.

I would like to become a welder in the near future, but not working will mean just living on my wifes salary and our savings.

So who is a welder and can offer me advice?
What about reading technical drawings? This is something that is asked for in many job adverts.
Could I teach myself this or is it only something you can pick up well at school or an apprentaship?

How easy would it be for me to find my first job. I was thinking of writing to all welding firms with in a fifty mile radius and asking for a trainee job and working my way up the ladder. would they hire a keen mature guy, who has made a few things in his garage or would they prefer me to have gone to school?

How did you guys start and did anybody change occupation to do this in their late thirties?

Sorry about the rambleing thread.

 

[Nomolos]

I think anything that gets you a piece of paper that says you can do X,Y or Z at level X is worth having.

Not saying that you can get as good as you need to be by having a go but if you want employment a piece of paper opens a lot of doors for you.

 

[tigler]

There are two aspects to someones appeal as a prospective employee, training/qualifications and experience.
Someone with just training and qualifications is less useful to an employer than someone with both and vice versa.
You need both to optimise your prospects but the experience can only be gained on the job, so be prepared to start lower down the chain. However, once you have had some years of experience, preferably on a wide range of tasks, you become a sought after commodity on the employment market for all the more rewarding jobs.