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The best trade schools focus heavily on instilling the right technical knowledge and abilities into students, but there are lots of soft skills that are also advantageous in such careers. These are skills or personality traits which you may have possessed since childhood, but could come in very useful throughout your welding career too.

Employers are keen to hire well-rounded individuals with a good mix of welding knowhow and interpersonal skills. They can be assured that their new workers will represent the company honourably while carrying out a thorough job for clients. Here are five soft skills which will help you to land a top job in your welding career.

Curious Problem-Solvers are Well Suited to a Welding Career

Whether they’re working on a small housing project or an industrial pipeline, welders carry out intricate work. The finished product is expected to last for a long time, so supreme levels of concentration are always required.

Welder school is the perfect destination for you if you’re detail-orientated throughout your everyday life. Employers want professionals who approach work meticulously, and will go the extra mile in completing a thorough job for clients. Engineering problems will occur, and the best welders relish the opportunity to find a solution.

Complex welding projects can present plenty of unforeseen challenges

Strong Math Skills are a Useful Addition to a Welder’s Skillset

Welding is an exact science, and each millimetre and degree is important in completing an effective job for the client. If you’re comfortable with numbers, then welding could be the perfect career move for you. It’s a great feeling when you’ve made the calculations and executed the plans perfectly. A competency for numbers will also come in handy in managerial roles later in your career, as you draw up estimates, file invoices, and complete stocktaking measures.

Strong Communication Will Please Your Colleagues and Clients

Welders often work closely with fellow tradesmen during projects, such as builders, electricians or HVAC technicians. It’s vital to be in sync with each other at all times, so that all tasks are being completed in the right order.

Good communication skills are a major asset, because they allow you to clearly explain any welding issues to fellow colleagues, and problems are resolved much more quickly as a result. Clients will also expect clarity about the progress of projects, so being able to give them thorough updates and lay out the status of the job in terms they can understand is vital.

Stay Organized to Complete Effective Jobs After Welder School

You’ll quickly develop the necessary technical skills for many different jobs at welding training, but good organizational skills are essential in maintaining the right habits early in your career. Welders use lots of different equipment, like MIG guns, plasma cutters and arc equipment.

Make sure that you have the necessary tools to carry out each individual job, because missing items will end up costing time and money. Keep equipment well-maintained by storing tools properly and getting them repaired when issues arise.

Stay Fit to Perform Challenging Trade Tasks

Physical, as well as mental fitness is important in welding, as you complete complex tasks in some challenging locations. As a result, keeping an eye on your physical fitness can be important to your professional career as well as your personal life.

You certainly don’t need to be a bodybuilder, but develop the strength needed to carry welding equipment and use it effectively. A steady hand will help you to execute strong welding joints that will last for decades.

Welders need to be physically capable of working in difficult spaces

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Everybody needs help when trying to start their career, so don’t ever be afraid to ask for it. Connections are essential in the workplace. They help people to find new clients and maintain positive relationships with existing ones.

While welding is a much more technical, hands-on role, professionals in this industry must also make sure to dedicate time to developing business relationships. A highly skilled welder won’t fulfil their potential if they aren’t able to grasp job opportunities while interacting with experienced professionals.

Building and maintaining a strong professional network is just a matter of developing a few good habits. Here’s a helpful guide on how to go about it properly.

Focus on the Right People for an Effective Business Network

We meet lots of different people on any given day, but only a small percentage should actually be nurtured as business connections. Welding technician training develops the skills to prosper in a range of different working environments, where graduates will be working alongside a variety of other tradespeople. Welders should therefore always keep an eye out for construction, HVAC technicians, electricians and other professionals. These people may require welding expertise as part of larger projects in future, so make sure they know your name.

In addition, you can also pinpoint approachable welding professionals in your locality to reach out to for advice and opportunities. This can be done by attending union or association meetings to bump into members, or inquiring about former students who have entered the trade while at college.

Make a memorable impression on professionals you meet

Make a Good Impression Through Social Media After You Become a Production Welder

There’s a fine line between being persistent and being annoying, but you must try to remain in touch with your professional network consistently once the first lines of contact have been established. They should know how to get in contact with you, whether it’s a phone number, e-mail address or social media account. You could make it even easier for them by printing the necessary details on a business card and distributing them to trade professionals.

Internet channels, and social media in particular, have become crucial avenues for tradespeople to connect. As social media is a public forum, make sure you strike a professional tone in your interactions. Keep your professional details up to date, and use your account to keep in touch with those in your business network.

Use Initiative to Meet People and Find out More About the Welding Trade

Whether it’s your classmates, professionals, or your instructors, it’s also vital that you get some face-to-face time with other members of your business network while undertaking welding classes. You could organize to meet them for lunch or coffee to discuss some of the finer points of a welding career, and how to generate valuable business leads. Once they see your enthusiasm for the trade, they will be much more likely to recommend you to their colleagues when a vacancy arises or a welding task pops up.

Meet with welding professionals to learn more about the trade

You could also show some initiative by organizing to job shadow with a tradesperson, and you’ll quickly develop your skills further. You’ll likely meet many other professionals during a regular day on the job, thereby offering more opportunities to extend your professional network further.

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Errors are an unfortunate reality of any career, but can be particularly costly in welding. Doing a job incorrectly can lead to further repairs or the destruction of base metals, and welders need to consider many different factors before starting a new project in order to minimize the risk of something going wrong.

Fortunately, most common welding errors can be avoided by heeding the right advice. Many problems can be prevented by perfecting the right welding technique and making sure that all equipment is functioning properly. Others simply require a little vigilance and care. Read on to learn how to guard against some common welding mistakes in your future career.

Prepare Base Metals Correctly Before Welding

It’s easy for dirt, grease and other contaminants to build up in a welding workshop, and these can easily appear on base metals. Welding diploma holders will be aware of the importance of ensuring that these metals are clean before starting a welding project.

This can be done by grinding the metal to remove rust and dry paint, or removing liquid contaminants through the use of a suitable solvent. Failure to properly prepare the metals beforehand will result in a weaker weld, which is likely to crack again in the near future.

Damaged Cabling can Weaken Welding Power

Just because welding equipment is functioning doesn’t mean that it’s operating at full capacity. The cabling and connection should be checked regularly, as any damage can result in a drop in voltage and heat production for the weld.

Make sure connections to the welding machine are secure

Problems can occur if connections aren’t properly tightened during the setup stage, while damage is also possible if cabling is exposed to sharp objects or machinery. Check that all equipment is working properly to prevent frustrating damage from occurring.

Use the Right Current or Gas Level When You Become a Production Welder

Comprehensive welder technician training will help you develop the necessary skills for a variety of careers, including electric arc and gas welding. Keep in mind, however, that there are specific pitfalls to avoid with each technique.

Electric arc welders should be careful when choosing between the AC or DC current for their equipment. DC is most commonly used, but it can cause arc blow damage on metals where a magnetic field occurs. Using an AC current can overcome this problem.

In gas welding, keep a close eye on the problems posed by low and high gas levels. Unnecessarily high gas pressure can lead to an unstable welding arc, while low pressure can also cause defects.

Store Electrodes Properly to Avoid Major Welding Problems

Electrodes are used to fuse base metals together, and also contain the filler metal in arc welding techniques. They are a vital piece of equipment that needs to be stored properly in the workplace. Damp electrodes can lead to an ineffective weld, so keep them in a dry container. Dedicated electrode ovens are even available to keep certain rods at an optimum level of warmth and effectiveness.

Store electrodes in a dry location before use

Thick Metals may Require Multiple Welding Passes

Welders encounter metals of varying degrees of thickness, so treat them accordingly. Impatience may make you consider trying to weld thick metals in one pass with increased heat, but this won’t create a strong joint.

Multiple welding passes should be used in these cases to ensure a proper bond between the filler material and base metal. It may take a little bit more time, but it will save you the hassle of further repairs in the near future.

Solve lots of interesting engineering problems when you become a production welder.

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Qualifications are a necessity in almost any industry, and in the welding field it’s no exception. The Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) leads the way in training and certification in the sector, and is supported and recognized by the top organizations in the industry.

The Ontario headquartered group has offices around the country and is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada. The CWB’s impact on welding is much more than national, however. It has also become a worldwide leader in welding standards relating to certification, education, safety and membership.

Want to know more about this organization and the role it could play in your career? Keep reading to find out.

Why is the Canadian Welding Bureau so Important?

The Canadian Welding Bureau has been established for over 60 years as a leader in welding certification, and its regulation and oversight is vital to ensuring the quality, safety, and integrity of work done in the industry.

As such, it is mandatory to have CWB certification if you’re working in the structural and erecting industry in Canada. Many non-structural welding companies also choose to be voluntarily certified by the CWB, as they’re the only organization which offers nationally recognized credentials. Therefore, it’s important that the welding school you choose offers CWB certification.

CWB certification is required for a lot of welding work

What CWB Credentials can you Earn During Welding Training?

In a CWB certified program like the one offered at North American Trade Schools (NATS), students undertaking welding training will receive an industry recognized CWB Certificate of Achievement upon completion, and will also be able to join the CWB Trade Association.

Students also have the opportunity to get CWB certificates for passing individual welding theory modules. Coupled with the hands-on, practical training you will receive, a course like this will ensure that you are full job-ready upon graduation, and have the credentials employers will require.

Welding training offers hands-on experience which can be carried into your future career

How the Canadian Welding Bureau can Help you as you Develop your Career

The significance of the CWB doesn’t end once you graduate. The Bureau offers assistance to welders of all experience levels, as well as certification for welding supervisors and inspectors. Classroom courses are available in a range of national locations, which can help you to upskill in specialized areas like ultrasonics, industrial radiography, and non-destructive examination.

If classroom courses don’t suit your schedule, a wide variety of online courses are also available which examine further issues such as health and safety, inspection methods and surface inspection. The CWB’s years of experience mean that all bases are covered if you want to expand your expertise as your career progresses.

Companies that want to retain their own certification with the CWB must also ensure that their staff are fully certified, and always follow approved welding procedures, meaning you could also expect to deal with the organization should you have ambitions of starting your own business once you gain experience.

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Welding looks pretty easy in the movies. Take two piece of metal, apply heat, then just stand back and admire the way they melted together. Of course, it’s a little more complicated than that in real life. There are a number of things that can go wrong in a weld, and mistakes in welding can have expensive or even dangerous consequences.

Fortunately, the risks of error are greatly minimized for graduates of welding training, and learning how to judge the quality of a weld further ensures that rare mistakes are caught right away. For the curious, here’s how welding professionals do it.

Graduates of Welder School Know to Be Wary of Pores

Even small holes can have a significant effect on the structural integrity of a weld, so new welders quickly learn to look out for the presence of this defect in the work that they do. The presence of very small holes – a quality known as porosity – is a subtle indication that a weld isn’t of the highest quality.

There are a few potential causes of porosity. The metal may have been contaminated with dirt or grime, for instance, or insufficient shielding gas may have been used during the weld. Whatever the case, porous metal is something to be avoided, so it’s important for professionals to use their experience from welder school to ensure their materials and equipment are fully ready each time they start a job.

A Good Weld is an Even, Clean Weld

Since welding means joining one edge of molten metal to another, the weld probably isn’t going to look perfectly clean. It should, however, be free of slag and other debris, and the weld material shouldn’t be too skewed to one side. Welds that have too much slag or an uneven distribution of materials were likely not performed correctly.

In the case of slag or other debris, it’s sometimes possible to chip away the waste material and thereby gain a cleaner look, but uneven welds can be a more difficult task to fix. Sometimes, it’s enough to add some extra metal to clean up the look. Other times, it might be necessary to grind out the weld and do the job over.

To become the kind of welder who only needs to do a job once, it’s important to complete electric arc welder training at a school that will give you plenty of hands-on experience. To learn by doing is to build the real skills employers demand and that will serve you well in a welding career. With this education and a little luck, having to go back and redo a weld will be a rare occurrence.

Clean, even welds such as these are the goal for welding professionals

Pros With Welding Diplomas Know Just How Risky a Leak Can Be

When welding professionals are inspecting their work, there’s a pretty obvious sign they can look for when working on some projects: is the weld leaking?

Welding is often used for structures that hold water or gas, so having a leak spring can be inconvenient and even dangerous. Detecting leaks of water will, of course, tend to be relatively straightforward. For gas leaks, the precise location of the problem can be detected in a number of ways. This is a topic well worth running by your instructors at welding school, who will likely have their own recommendations and justifications to share.

It’s worth noting, however, that many professionals swear by simple, soapy water. Just spraying a water and soap solution onto the weld and seeing where it bubbles up can be a surprisingly effective verification method.

Here’s a video from Northwest Ohio Home Inspections that demonstrates the concept on a pipe that is leaking gas:

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As an individual who is driven to find the career that is right for them, you know that postsecondary training is often required to move ahead in the workforce and become the type of professional you want to be. However, it can sometimes be difficult to determine which specific path forward is right for you.

If you are interested in the trades, then pursuing welding training is likely on your radar. This is a career that many professionals with different traits and backgrounds find to be both engaging and lucrative. That being said, there are certain things that indicate that you could be a particularly good fit for welding work. Keep reading to find out whether attending a trade school welding program is the right choice for you.

1. If You Are Good with Your Hands, Welding Training May Be Beneficial

Welding is a very meticulous practice, and professional welders need to be able to handle hazardous tools and delicate materials carefully in order to do their work successfully. If you have a particularly steady hand, have always had a knack for assembling objects, or have excellent hand-eye coordination, then welding collegemay be the perfect place for you to put these skills to good use.

2. Welding Training is a Good Fit for Natural Problem Solvers

Welders perform many types of work. While they often help build and assemble pieces, they can also put their skills toward different types of repair work that involve metal components. A successful welder knows how to differentiate between different kinds of jobs, and how best to apply their skills to meet their client’s needs – they are problem solvers. If you have a talent for finding creative solutions to various problems, or if you want to develop this skill, then welding training may be the right fit for you.

Welding college is a great place to develop your practical problem solving skills

3. If You Are Mechanically Inclined, Welding College Could Be for You

In order to do their work effectively, welders often have to draw on mechanical knowledge and insight. Understanding how an object or piece of machinery functions is essential before you can improve or repair it using welding techniques. Without this understanding, you may end up introducing problems or mistakes that were not there before. With that in mind, welder technician training could be perfect for you if you have a keen interest in mechanics, and an eye for diagnosing and solving technical problems.

4. You Want to Learn to Read Blueprints and Specifications

Although welding is a very practical profession, not all of it is hands-on. Welders must also be able to carefully read, understand, and follow technical blueprints and specifications. This process requires careful attention to detail, and the diligence to follow very specific instructions. If this type of detail-oriented, carefully planned work appeals to you, then you may find welding to be a good outlet for your interests and skills.

Attention to detail will make it simple to adhere to welding blueprints 

5. You Are Motivated to Achieve Career Success Through Welding Training

Finally, welding college is a place that allows students to develop into qualified professionals at a fast pace. Not only do you learn the technical skills required to become a professional welder, but you are also connected with vital career opportunities.

For instance, the Career Services department at NATS helps students develop cover letters and resumes, learn proper job interview techniques, and utilize different resources to locate prospective employers in their industry. With this type of comprehensive support, welding college is the perfect place for up-and-coming professionals who are motivated to work hard toward career success.

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At top trade schools, an education in welding can quickly prepare you for gainful employment in an interesting new career. The prospect of such a fast entry to a new beginning is exciting, but for some students, the question of how best to manage tuition fees might put a little damper on things.

Fortunately, there are several financing options that can make paying for tuition much easier. Taking the time to explore some of the options that are out there can be a great way to simplify your financial situation ahead of starting your welding training, and leave you ready to focus on learning skills for your new career.

Curious about what kinds of opportunities exist for financial aid in Ontario? Here are a few avenues to look into.

OSAP Can be a Great Help for Paying for Welding College

If you want financial assistance paying for school, one of the best financing programs to look into should be the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Offered by the Ontario government, the program offers funding in the form of loans, which a student starts repaying after they complete their education, and grants, which do not need to be repaid.

Applicants are automatically considered for both kinds of funding, and it is possible to decline what you are offered if you don’t want it. Whatever form of funding you receive, it can be applied toward tuition, books and supplies, student fees, living expenses, and childcare.

You will need to attend an OSAP-approved school in order to be eligible for this type of financial benefit, but for those students who do attend an approved school, the application process is painless. If you’re a Canadian citizen, resident, or protected person and reside in Ontario, be sure to apply to this program—you have nothing to lose.

Apply to OSAP and see what kind of tuition support the program might send your way

Consider Getting a Line of Credit to Pay for Welding Technician Training

Student lines of credit are another type of financial aid that you may want to consider exploring. These are arrangements that can be made with a regular bank allowing students to borrow an amount of money up to a predetermined maximum, with the funds to be put toward school and living expenses.

The amount of money available through student lines of credit tends to be in the thousands of dollars per year, meaning this type of option can be a convenient way to help you focus on your education without needing to work as many hours on the side.

What’s more, interest rates are generally low for student LOCs, which means repayment shouldn’t be too difficult once you finish school and become a production welder. The median salary for professionals working in welding careers is about $23 an hour, which can provide quite a comfortable living, and allow you to repay any funds you have had to borrow during your studies relatively quickly.

Some Welding Colleges Offer Flexible Payment Plans for Tuition

If you’re not keen to take on loans or open a line of credit, you might still be able to get a bit of financial leeway if you attend a school that offers flexible tuition payment options. Choosing to attend welding college at North American Trade Schools, for instance, could allow you to split your tuition fee up into interest-free monthly payments while you are a student.

Some schools will let you split your welding training tuition into smaller payments

This can be the perfect solution for anyone who wants to set out on a rewarding career path, but isn’t sure they can manage getting all their tuition money together at once. With welding training lasting just under a year, it won’t be long before the monthly payments will end and you will be able to enjoy a great new salary as you start your welding career.

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Whether you’re transitioning from a completely different field or starting your very first career out of high school, becoming a welder will open up a world of opportunities.

Not only does a career in the trades allow you to do something you enjoy working with your hands, it also provides opportunities for advancement, an excellent salary, and flexibility to choose the direction of your career.

If you’re interested in becoming a welder, read on to learn why it has never been a better time to begin working towards your career goals.

Demand for Welders Across Canada is Growing

As the previous generation of welders retire and Canada’s economy sees improvement, skilled and experienced trade workers, including welders, are increasingly in demand. The industry needs excited, hard-working and talented young professionals to fill job openings and contribute to many of Canada’s growing sectors.

In fact, the Government of Canada predicts 30,800 new welding-related careers to become available by 2024, and only 30,300 job seekers to enter the market. This means that there will be more welding positions available than workers, which is great news for anyone looking to begin their career.

Top Welding Technician Colleges Are Accepting New Students All the Time

In order to begin your career as a welder, you’ll need to take welding courses, which will teach you about proper safety precautions, welding techniques, and more. In addition, by completing a training program, you‘ll earn an employer-recognized CWB Certificate, so you can join the ranks of other welders in the Canadian Welding Bureau.

The good news is that trades schools like NATS offer continuous rolling start dates, which means you can get started working towards your future career as soon as possible.

NATS offers rolling start dates, so students can begin training for your career right away

Graduates of Welding Courses Can Look Forward to a Stable, Lucrative Career

Welding careers can offer lucrative salaries, especially as you move up the ranks, as well as plenty of opportunities for growth and development. If you have big goals for your career, it’s best to get moving right away. Enrolling in a welding program will allow you to get the training you need quickly and efficiently, so you can break into the industry and start gaining the experience to work towards advancing in your career.

Welders Can Work in a Variety of Interesting Industries

Another fantastic reason to become a welder is the wealth of opportunities available to you upon graduation. Not only can you continue to hone your skills to specialize in different areas of welding, you can also work in many different dynamic industries.

In Canada, oil and gas is just one common sector you could work in. However, you could also work in transportation, the auto industry, manufacturing, or construction, to name just a few of the diverse industries that need trained welding professionals.

Welders can work in a variety of interesting industries and workplace environments

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Welding careers offer high wages, interesting work and great employment opportunity over the coming years, with approximately 30,000 job openings projected to arise in the sector across Canada by 2024. If you like the idea of pursuing this kind of hands-on career, enrolling in welding courses is a great way to prepare yourself.

While learning a difficult trade like welding can be challenging, with the right approach, acing your course material during welding training is very much possible. Just by following some of the habits of highly successful students, you can improve your odds of getting great results while at school.

Here are a few of the good habits you should consider getting into while enrolled in a welding training program.

Focus on One Thing at a Time While at Welding School

Welders know that when working with hot and electrified welding tools, it’s important to stay focused on safely completing a single task before moving on to another. A similar level of focus is important for succeeding at welding school.

Highly successful students realize that distractions prevent them from learning and remembering as well as they can, so they avoid dividing their attention as much as possible. If you want to succeed, you should too. Keep your phone in your pocket, pay attention during classes, and try to study in a quiet space, away from the TV and other sources of entertainment. Making these efforts to stay focused on course material can help you retain a lot more information and get better results.

Avoiding distractions is a valuable habit to develop during welding training

Highly Successful Students Make Personal Schedules

How do highly successful students balance their studies with other commitments, like being with family or working? They make a habit of scheduling their time every day. Applying this same habit to your own life can help you find success, too.

Try breaking each day up into hour-long blocks of time, and schedule your various commitments within those blocks (be sure to leave yourself time to relax, too!). This can help you keep track of everything you need to do, and gives you deadlines that can be useful for motivating you to get things done.

One great way to give yourself a scheduling advantage: Enroll at a school that offers flexible class times. For example, North American Trade Schools (NATS) offers classes both during the day and the evening, making it easier to find a course schedule that works for you.

For Exceptional Results at Welding School, Ask for Help!

Asking for help doesn’t come naturally to everyone. When experts are around and you could use some advice, though, taking a couple of seconds to ask for assistance can be a great way to not only solve your problem, but solve it quickly. This can free up your time to do more work, or to spend more time on a different challenge. Successful students usually aren’t afraid to ask for help, and neither should you be.

Welding courses are typically based primarily on doing hands-on work. That’s why it’s best to ensure you enroll in a program that is taught by experienced welding professionals, like the one offered by NATS. The instructors’ welding careers have given them expert insight into the tools, techniques, and theory behind welding, and they will be happy to share what they’ve learned to help you find success.

Ask the expert welding instructors at North American Trade Schools for help when you need it

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