deciding

[thebrightfuture11]

Hello everybody,
I'm new here. The main reason I came on this forum is because I am wondering if some of you could give me some advice. I just finished high school this year and I took a course for one semester that taught some basic stick and mig welding. It wasn't my favorite thing, but it caught my interest. I'm going to work this year and have been trying to decide whether I want to take a 7 month program that would teach me SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, OxyFuel Gas, GTAW, and basic blueprint reading. It costs around $14,000. I don't plan on making welding my career, but I was hoping for more of a skill that I can use if I need to get a job in bad times. I was kind of hoping that after that I could go get a job in like Fort McMurray for welding, but I'm not sure if I would have what it takes in terms of credentials. So if anyone could give me some feedback on 1. if they think this is a good idea? 2. if I did it, do you think would be a good next step? and 3. do you think I could find a good paying job with this?
Thank you for reading all this.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum, not knowing anything about Canadian requirements for welding employment and certification levels I can't really help.

I do know in the UK a 7 month course would not really result in a person being a qualified welder, perhaps enough for some employment but limited in skills and equally limited in what welding posts they could apply for.

More importantly and let's be blunt..... you don't really seem keen on the trade, I understand some employment is better than none but my own personal working life started out like that, I became an apprentice sheet metal worker because I was told it was a trade for life and would always earn me money, the apprenticeship lasted 5 years and in all honesty it was 5 years of life wasted, I knew from the start it was not for me but still allowed the pressure of 'having work' to rule.....don't make the same mistake.

Good luck whichever way you decide to go.

 

[gavuk]

What do you want to do as a career?....welding is by no means an easy option ,and is expensive to kit up for at home.....electrical,plumbing,computers etc can earn more money with far less outlay for tools etc,,,,,need some more info,

 

[thebrightfuture11]

Thanks for the help guys.