newbie from south wales

[tristan190]

Hi guys, I've just joined this forum hoping for some advice to getting into a career as a welder. I'm 24 and I've had no previous experience in welding up until September when I started a night school studying ABC level 2 in welding and fabrication. Our course outline is to cover mma/arc, MIGs/mags and tig/tags. I've only currently been working on tig and seem to be picking it up OK. My course tutor who is a welder of 25 years suggested that tig is the one to get into career wise. I'm currently unemployed and looking for a career as a welder but I'm aware I will probably have to do a traineeship or apprenticeship, but if anyone could give any advice or suggestions I'd very much appreciate it!

Cheers.

 

[tristan190]

Any help please guys? If not any names of companies I can contact etc. I have googled it but I just need a starting point.

 

[BrokenBiker]

where in south wales are you? I know a place you can chance your arm in Cwmbran, he may not be able to take you on but might know someone who can. I did my level 2 mma course there

 

[BrokenBiker]

just noticed you are in Pontypridd, if you are able to travel, have a look at martin hall associates on oldbury road, Cwmbran.

 

[tristan190]

Cheers mate I appreciate the advice, I'll give it a look!

 

[BrokenBiker]

they do a fair bit of tig, but mostly boat stuff afaik, they do a fair bit of site work with stick and a bit of in house fab with mig and tig, his son also runs a wheel refurb gig next door using o/a and tig. great people to work with, if you are into semi-pro boxing you may know martin halls name as he was champion of his weight, and his boy was welsh champion about 2 years ago, not sure if he still is though, haven't spoken to him for over a year

 

[tristan190]

I've had a look and applied for a few, waiting to hear back from tata steel on an apprenticeship. If anyone else could let me know of other welding companies/apprenticeships that may be available in south Wales. I've covered tig and finished the practical aspect, got 2 distinctions in that and am on my way to my second distinction in mig, I've had a go at arc but from what I've experienced I'd say mig is by far the easiest but I think I'd enjoy doing tig most. I realise I'm sort of reviving this thread but I've no idea what to google as typing in welding apprenticeships doesn't yeild much for the south Wales area.

Thanks guys

 

[tristan190]

cheers for the replies so far guys, i currently have an interview for tata steel in porttalbot:
http://www.tatasteeleurope.com/en/careers/apprentices/south-wales/programmes/fabricators-and-welders

im unsure where to post this question but would anyone have any advice on a career path into becomming a pipe welder?, as i understand from my very limited knowledge in this area, TIG is the process used in pipe welding and this is my favourite process of tig/mig/mma so far in college.

im not looking for anyone to spoon feed me any info but just a starting point or sort of timeline as to how one gets into a career of pipe welding?

thanks,
tristan

 

[justin]

what college are you in

 

[tristan190]

Bridgend college

 

[lchris21]

Schwmae Tristan.

Good luck with your interview at Tata.

I work for the company, and sometimes have the misfortune of dealing with the apprentices................nah only joking !!! They are mostly good eggs....

Biggest tip I can give you is showing genuine enthusiasm for doing the job. Talk about your projects?? Have some examples of work you've done, fixing your cars/bikes mowers, welding nuclear reactors whatever....

you'll probably need a broad range of hand skills, not just welding. they'll teach you all aspects of the welding trade but you should be able to specialise later on. MMA is commonly used on plant, as trying to tig a patch on a 12" burst water main that's still live might be a bit challenging. We have that a lot of "exciting" welding jobs in the works

Read up on the company, and what we do, what we make, who our customers are.......

Demonstrate your commitment to working safely................its quite an intimidating environment to work in, but rewarding when you get your hands on the big stuff....

have some examples of leadership / initiatives you've led???

good examples of problems solving??

best of luck and let us know how you get on??