Little point in chasing Codeings unless you know what area you intend to work in, even then any employer is likely to do a through the door codeing on the work they do..... Theres so many and there VERY job specific that hitting at one and it being correct is hard.......
When we employ new welders, we ask them to complete a basic weld test to prove that they actually know one end of a machine from the other. Then, after a period on non-structural stuff (usually about three months), we pay for them to take their codings for the type of welding we anticipate they will need to do. Our welders are not all coded the same.
I imagine a lot of other companies have a similar system.
You don't use numbers instead of words in application forms as well as forums do you? Loads of space on here to write the words out in full.
How do you get into a welding job? For any other job previous experience counts for a lot. But you can't get the working experience before you get the job, and nobody will offer the job without the previous experience.
I started out with a training scheme in a large company. I was moved up and after a few years I was able to move elsewhere. But that was in a different field - are training schemes or apprenticeships available for welding? Those would surely work better than more courses.
How did the professional welders on this forum get their foot in the door?
a up malcolm.you have just cheered me up no end! i think its the txt thing with the numbers.i will keep it proppa.ok?
being made redundant next week so would like to use my new skill in tig as mig is no longer challenging enough. i apply for tig jobs (with out numbers) but get the experience card thrown at me. my wife would pay for a coded course just to get me out of the way and send me to london and earn some money.
Try for a Mig job somewhere that also does Tig then once you've settled, show an interest in the Tig welding and let them know you have qualifications.
Tickets IE codings etc are fairly meaningless unless your looking for a job with that coding, they have a 3 year expiry time and a log of welding carried out also has to be kept...... Iv had various pieces of paper work all now are probably out of date, Iv only ever got them to do certain PAID jobs.... not all are welding related either, often IE the railways, the track needed a welding qualification then I had to do loads of crap on track side safety, woodland trust are the same, theres all sorts of site inductions etc, Iv even had tickets for diggers, gas handling all sorts, none are still valid...(what I'm trying to say is theres little point in getting a coding with no use for it)
Be flexible apply for jobs general fabrication(small would be best) would be your best root, then pester be keen and ask if you can have a go at this that and the other this will gain you lots of experiance....
IF you want to be a straight welder then bardocks or similar would train you... however jobs in "welding" are notoriously thickle, places like ship yards will stand you down as quick as they hire... Friends of mine have made some good money in the Nuclear/petro industry's, but they've had to work away from home, OK when your young free and single, but as or if you have wife, kids, dog etc it becomes far less fun...
As they have all said, having a "Coding" will be of little use too an employer, as its only kind of like and insurance policy and is very job specific, however having one does demonstrate that you can weld to a coded standard, which may well give you the advantage over another applicant who deosn't have one.
If you were going to pay to get one, I would go for something like a 3-4 Inch pipe, about 3mm thick in Stainless Steel, in Inclined 6G position, with tig.
Chances of finding a job for that exact requirement, are very slim, but it would demonstrate that you can weld pipes, weld stainless steel and in the toughest position.
BS 4872 is a welder qualification that can help you to get a job, it can be tailored to suit specific processes and joint positions, most colleges offer a course and there are loads of training organizations that do it, expect to pay about £1000, for a 4 or 5 day course, with each test about £70.
Just google BS 4872
If you want to earn a living welding pipework, not many firms will take you on without a basic 'class 2' qualification. The reason being virtually every pipework specification (which most prospective employers will have won their tender on) will require this as a MINIMUM qualification. Many colleges will offer this course as an evening class for a few hundred pounds + £150 odd for the test. By keeping this cert up to date will give you a 'foot in the door' for higher spec work where the employer will pay for the test. W/A
thank you all so much.just got in at a tig and mig workshop but dont do codes.looks like i will have to get one in stainless pipe 6g like matt1978 says and take a chance.
thanks again chaps