Did you ever think about starting a new career within the industrial sector? Are you looking for a stable, secure and long-term career with an unprecedented demand? This guide is for you!. In this article, we will explore the welding occupancy and guide you in order to become a skilled and qualified welder!
Who is a Welder?
Welders are required to repair and maintain essential infrastructure and are critical within the construction industry. They use their welding equipment to fuse metals such as stainless steel, brass or aluminium. Welders can also work within a variety of sectors such as industrial, manufacturing and construction.
Benefits of the Welding Career
Welding Jobs are in Demand!
According to chief government advisor ”the shortage of butchers, bricklayers and welders is extraordinary”. Businesses are struggling to find qualified and experienced candidates to fill their vacancies. That means that the wages are most likely to rise in order to attract the workforce. This also provides are long-term job security for any aspiring welders going through the training.
Welding occupation is also listed as an essential in the wake of the COVID pandemic.
No Need for a University Degree!
In order to become a welder you don’t need to partake in an extensive university course. While some of the ways include college qualifications they’re nowhere near as extensive and time-consuming as the full-time education.
Rising Wages!
Uk.talent.com reports that the average welder salary in the UK stands at £25.000 with entry-level positions starting at £21.000 and experienced welders earning up to £32.000 per year. This stands equally with the university-related occupations and requires much less training and loss-of-income due to education. Furthermore, you can progress your career into highly-specialised welding professions such as underwater welding where you can easily earn triple-figures!
Varied and Interesting Work!
A Career in welding can lead you to work within a multitude of industries such as automotive, construction, engineering, energy sector, shipbuilding and many more. If you’re enjoying working in different places and on different and you like travel – this occupation is definitely for you!
How to gain necessary welding qualifications?
College Courses
College courses are excellent for candidates who enjoy learning in the classroom and applying their knowledge in a practical way. They’ll also cover a multitude of welding techniques, giving you a knowledge of advanced concepts much earlier than apprenticeships
In order to find a suitable welding course near your location visit the national careers service search engine here
Apprenticeships and Traineeships
If you’re looking for a more hands-on approach and learning on the job is the best way of gaining knowledge for you, an apprenticeship
These opportunities are often advertised by local employees and are greatly supported by the government. That means you’ll also be paid for your time as well as gain knowledge. Apprenticeships often result in a job offer afterwards and are an excellent way to gain welding knowledge for people who cannot afford to dedicate the time and effort to a college course.
If you’re not sure about taking on an apprenticeship, a traineeship might be an option. These programmes can last from 6 months to 1 year and will provide you with work placement and a form of classroom teaching, preparing you for taking on an apprenticeship if you’re not yet eligible to do so.
Four primary welding techniques
The Welding world consists of many different welding techniques with varied uses. Some techniques are used for joining very thin metals together, others work well in harsh conditions. Throughout this section, we’ll have a look at four primary welding techniques so you’ll find out what you’re getting yourself into!
Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG)
One of the most common welding techniques is Gas Metal Arc Welding more commonly known as MIG welding. This welding process uses a shielding gas and wire electrode in order to heat two metals and join them together. This technique is relatively simple and is easiest to learn for beginner welders.
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick Welding)
Shielded Metal Arc Welding is more commonly known as Stick Welding. It’s one of the basic welding techniques. The welder is using a stick with an electric current in order to create an arc between two metals and join them together. This technique is commonly used within the manufacturing and industrial sectors as well as basic repairs.
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG)
This method is mostly used to join stainless steel and non-ferrous metals such as aluminium or copper. It uses a tungsten electrode in order to create the weld and is fairly difficult and time-consuming. Therefore this technique is used in order to create higher-quality welds without excessive clean-up.
Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW or ARC Welding)
Flux Cored Arc Welding is a technique similar to the aforementioned MIG Welding. The main difference is within the consumable wire itself. The Wire has a flux core that immediately creates gas around the weld and doesn’t need an external gas supplement. The high speed and portability of this method are highly valued. As a result, this method is most commonly used outdoors.
Career Progression
Your career in welding can lead to other interesting opportunities. You can become a specialised welder, In fact, some lucrative specialist positions such as underwater welding can offer a pay of up to £1000 per day! However, if you’re not looking for a adrenaline filled job other career paths are also open to you. You can become a welding technician or inspector among many other opportunities within the industrial world.
Find Your Next Welding Opportunity
In order to find your first welding opportunity it’s worth to either contact the companies directly or use recruitment agencies.
Here at Industrial Work Solutions we provide a variety of welding opportunities for our candidates. Browse our opportunities regularly for new welding vacancies here.
