Tips to get work?

[Przemyslaw]

Hi Guys,

Newbie here wondering where to start when looking for a job in the UK (MIG/MMA). I just moved from Poland recently and not sure where to start- I'm quite flexible with location and able to relocate if needed.

So far I've been in touch with agencies, but nothing has happened yet. Any tips?

At this stage all suggestions welcome! I would really appreciate some advice from someone already in the field.

many thanks

Przemek

 

[zardoz]

There are factory production welding jobs a plenty. If you don't mind doing the same MIG welds over and over again all day. However at least you get your foot in the door.

The best thing to do with agencies is go in and see them yourself and let them know you want welding work. They WILL try to palm you off with things like working on the dustbins or in some boring food factory for minimum wage, but if you insist you only want welding work im sure they will find you some. Best to keep going in every week, and try to see the same person. If you have welding qualifications make sure they know about them. Take them in to show them. Ask them if they want to photocopy them.

I kept getting a knock back, again and again for not having production welding experience. These same production welding jobs that i knew i could do blindfold.I found out another work agency was also looking for welders for the same place, and i went there instead, and got in. To be honest i just lied and told them i had done the job before. (and i knew a guy who had worked there, so i knew what the job involved) But then i was confident of my welding. However man was it boring!

ps: if you have TIG experience with Ally/Stainless its much easier to find work, and the work if often less repetitive, As i found out. Which is why i am saving for an AC/DC TIG to get some practice in.

 

[lshigham]

Where are you? I know of a few jobs going my end of the world

 

[Buter]

Agencies?

Walk into a steel shop ready to work, dude! Find a mid sized to large structural steel joint - they usually have a high turnover of staff in both the skilled and unskilled jobs so they take on people when they get the chance. When the shop manager asks what you can do tell him weld and fabricate. You might be shown a drawing of a beam and asked if you can read it. You may be asked to grab a mig gun and join two plates (not a welding test, btw, the machine will likely already be on and set up, waiting for the next piece - if you can't stick 2 bits together then and there, the dude knows you ain't worth hiring).

You might be hired on to sweep floors, cut plates and pop holes in metal with a mag drill. Two weeks later a welder leaves and you get a small pay rise and a welding job. Two months later a fabricator leaves and you move up again...

While you are already working IN A WELDING JOB, keep looking for that job welding up choppers, race cars, pipe, aircraft, submarines... whatever it is you want to end up doing. Offshore? Worse careers in the world and usually 2 weeks on 2 weeks off. You could even move back to Poland if that was your wish.

Just my two cents, dude; other's opinions may differ.

Best of luck.

Buter

 

[Przemyslaw]

Thanks Guys.

Ishigham- I'm in London now, but looking around the UK really, so if I can get in anywhere else, I'll move!

Zardos- thanks mate, gonna try that approach and see if that will get me somewhere.

Buter- yeah, I gathered I might need to start at the bottoom first and climb up eventually. From your experience what location within the UK would be best- I'm starting to think London won't be the place to be for that kind of work. What do you think?

thanks guys- it's all super helpful, cos I'm not quite sure where to begin

Przemek

 

[Buter]

Hiya

I'm sorry, but I'm not qualified to give any advice on which bit of the UK would be best as I don't live there and never have. There should be plenty of work for you around London but I'd imagine the big steel shops will be outside the M25 to save on rent/rates.

My only advice would be to choose where you'd like to be and seek work there. Work to live, mate, don't live to work. Always ask yourself what you'll do at the end of the workday and at the weekends. If your passion in life is surfing, don't chase a job in Northampton.

Cheers and the very best of luck to you, sir.

Buter