need advices to become a welder

[justweldthis]

[career? What is the biggest challenge I will face if I decided to do it?

Thank you very much.[/QUOTE]

I am retired now, or retarded.
Take jobs from old customers

I charge 100 bucks @ hr.
I am mobile with with my rig.

Good luck,
Just Jim

[manwithresponsibility]

So what is your job now? Just wondering why you want to job jump into something you have zero experience in, have a family to support, and being middle aged.

Trust me when I say that we all want to do something different. buy something, or build something nobody else has, or work at something totally left field from your present employment. Been there, done it, and the grass really isn't greener on the other side of the fence even after all the hard work to scale that fence

Hello Cruizer,

I want to tell you a little about myself.You may just take it as listening to a story.

I came to Canada 5 years ago as a landed immigrant. I love this country. She is beautiful and peaceful. I worked as a card dealer in a casino and then supervisor in the past 5 years. (Back to the country I came from I worked as a telecom equitpment salesman.) The pay cheque is just not big enough to meet the growning cost of raising 2 children. I make $14.10/h now plus roughly $7/h of tips.Maximum 39 hours per week without any weekend and holiday off. I know as a first generation immigrant you need to work and live hard. I have done a few high school credit courses at my spare time and I am ready to learn anything I need to. I just want to find a well paid job and hopefully I can do it for a long term maybe till I retired.

Thanks.

[cruizer]

Well, Vancouver is somewhat expensive to live in. I'd say move out to one of the many smaller communitys, or even into Alberta like Medicene hat where the weather is much warmer than the rest of Alberta. And find something there in construction or oil field labourer. Make about the same but the cost of living is significantly lower. Hech you could get a cushy retirement home job there, and get paid more.

[cruizer]

I can't tell you what to do, but It's going to be a long road to become a journeyman anything. And to apprentice, even harder due to your age.

Most firms pick up the younger guys, because they are not set in thier ways and can easily be trained, they don't want the older guys, because they/we are set and rather stubborn. Even if this is not you, its the way it is.

Let me know what you decide.

Jeff

[manwithresponsibility]

I can't tell you what to do, but It's going to be a long road to become a journeyman anything. And to apprentice, even harder due to your age.

Most firms pick up the younger guys, because they are not set in thier ways and can easily be trained, they don't want the older guys, because they/we are set and rather stubborn. Even if this is not you, its the way it is.

Let me know what you decide.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,
After a few days' searching and asking around(conbined with replies for this topic here), since everybody is suggesting Alberta and schools in lower mainland have ridiculous long waiting list for welding program(the earliest will be fall 2013), I am going to choose the welding technician certificate program at NAIT in Edmonton. It will start from Feb to June 2013 if being successfully registered.The expense will be $4000 include books and supplies. And plus accommodation. I wonder if you have any comment on this school and the program.How is its reputation and quality?
Thanks for everybody's reply. I really appreciate it. Wish me luck!
Harry

[Hershey]

Sorry to be negative but at 38 with no welding experience you're in for a tough time.

I live in BC and have friends who work the Alberta oil fields.
The level C ticket realy is just for the kids to open the door into the trade.

What employers actualy want is years of experience in welding AND fabrication and
more importantly then the C ticket, all positions CWB tickets.

The first question they wil ask you at any interview is how many years of fabrication
you got, next is do you have your CWB. I've never been asked for my C ticket and
I've been around longer than I care to think about.

If you need to support your family now and not in 10 years time welding isn't going to do it.

[manwithresponsibility]

Sorry to be negative but at 38 with no welding experience you're in for a tough time.

I live in BC and have friends who work the Alberta oil fields.
The level C ticket realy is just for the kids to open the door into the trade.

What employers actualy want is years of experience in welding AND fabrication and
more importantly then the C ticket, all positions CWB tickets.

The first question they wil ask you at any interview is how many years of fabrication
you got, next is do you have your CWB. I've never been asked for my C ticket and
I've been around longer than I care to think about.

If you need to support your family now and not in 10 years time welding isn't going to do it.

There is a question I ask myself and the professionals who work in the area over and over the past few weeks:" Will somebody hire me after I finished the welding foundation program?" I don't know in Alberta it would be how much easier to land on a job,but so far a lot of people recommended to go there for a reason. Hopefully I will find somebody who will focus on my skills,not only on my age.Aged people are more consistent. I am ready for a tough time.Thanks again for your reply.

[Hershey]

One other thing I need to say, many people will tell you that Alberta is where it's at, you'll
get $100 an hour, theres loads of work welding etc,etc, (most of them have never been there, just repeating what they've heard)

As I said, I've friends who work the oil sands and firstly to get the big bucks you need pressure tickets, have been welding pipe for years and live away from your family for months on end in camps in the middle of nowhere.
Every weld will be x-rayed and they have to pass. Next, they regulary get laid off. They weld for a few months come back to BC for a few months, the $100 / hour soon goes when you're waiting for the call to return. It's a very nomadic lifestyle, great if you're 20 and single.

I saw in your first post that you make $14 an hour plus $7 tips where you are now, thats $21
an hour.....you won't get that starting out, $18 if you're realy luckly, probably $14. Can you support your family on that?

Just saying, give Alberta a try, but be wary of what you're told.

Best of luck buddy.