New boy looking for advice

[HaydnR]

Hello guys, thanks for having me.

I'm 6 months into an online course (have to travel for weeks of practical) which will get me level 2s in MIG, TIG and MMA.

My question is, those of you that didnt start as apprentices how did you get into the trade?

 

[Mark 2]

Architectural, Structural, manufacturing.? Really depends on what you want to do or what's available.

 

[HaydnR]

Architectural, Structural, manufacturing.? Really depends on what you want to do or what's available.

Anything at the moment, just want to get my foot in the door and some experience.

End goal would be structural

 

[HaydnR]

An apprenticeship through a training college would be my way, in my spare time I would look for weekend or part time work in an engineering works where I could get practising welding and gain the associated knowledge and experience.

Got a mortgage and a baby to pay for so don't think i could manage an apprenticeship, i just need to fidn a firm daft enough to hir eme for weekend work.

I wish i could go back in time and slap my self around the head

 

[Shedendman]

My question is, those of you that didnt start as apprentices how did you get into the trade?

Well,you 1st off buy a bedford ca,then a bedford cf,then you go on to buy a sherpa/daf then you have a great idea to buy a transit(smiley).
Then what you do is ask others in the know,watch them do the sticking ask so many questions until you go mad,after that
It's Practice practice practice,after that,you still wont know it all,every days a school day

 

[HaydnR]

Well,you 1st off buy a bedford ca,then a bedford cf,then you go on to buy a sherpa/daf then you have a great idea to buy a transit(smiley).
Then what you do is ask others in the know,watch them do the sticking ask so many questions until you go mad,after that
It's Practice practice practice,after that,you still wont know it all,every days a school day

The mechanic at work has already barred me from the garage unless I actually need to be there

 

[Shedendman]

The mechanic at work has already barred me from the garage unless I actually need to be there

Thats because he dont want you to see how much of a mess he makes

 

[HaydnR]

You will always get people like that, they fear you will steal their thunder, some even give bad advise to mislead, be weary until you are sure of them.

It's all in jest, I just peck his head and drive him mad usually resulting in him telling me to frig off

 

[Shedendman]

It's all in jest, I just peck his head and drive him mad usually resulting in him telling me to frig off

Fella,do your online course,get what you can from it,go and practice,keep asking questions/advice ESP ON HERE,i'm pretty damn sure if you're showing 100% interest,theres a member on this forum in sheffield,that might pass over a bit of know how

 

[HaydnR]

Fella,do your online course,get what you can from it,go and practice,keep asking questions/advice ESP ON HERE,i'm pretty damn sure if you're showing 100% interest,theres a member on this forum in sheffield,that might pass over a bit of know how

The main reason for the course is to get the bits of paper saying I can do I, I hope there is and they're daft enough to have me over to make a mess

 

[Shedendman]

The main reason for the course is to get the bits of paper saying I can do I, I hope there is and they're daft enough to have me over to make a mess

Good luck

 

[chrismac]

I would say, once you get the bit of paper and can actually do a decent job of the 3 types welding, you need to go knocking on doors and see whats out there, are you planning a move from your current job, (sounds like it)

You mention you want to get into structural, I would be looking at getting into manufacturing in an engineering shop what has a varied work scope, welding foot plates and cleats on beams all day every day might wear thin after a while (if I have grasped what I think you want to do), getting into somewhere that covers different work will open your eyes to how varied this work can be.

Good luck,

 

[HaydnR]

I would say, once you get the bit of paper and can actually do a decent job of the 3 types welding, you need to go knocking on doors and see whats out there, are you planning a move from your current job, (sounds like it)

You mention you want to get into structural, I would be looking at getting into manufacturing in an engineering shop what has a varied work scope, welding foot plates and cleats on beams all day every day might wear thin after a while (if I have grasped what I think you want to do), getting into somewhere that covers different work will open your eyes to how varied this work can be.

Good luck,

Absolutely agree I was just getting at its harder to get a job without relevant qualifications, there are most likely people without any formal qualifications who are more knowledgeable and skilled than those with.

In an ideal world i'll end up self employed with a mobile rig and a workshop, but thats all down the road a while yet i just need to figure out where the work is