If you answered Yes to most of these questions, welding may be for you!

4. Read the text” Welding and Machine Trades” and try to find the following

Information.

Welding professions and levels

Trades where welding skill is used

Places/fields a welder can work at (in)

Personal qualities a welder should have

Welding and Machine Trades

Welding is a skill used by many trades: sheet metal workers, ironworkers, diesel mechanics, boilermakers, carpenters, marine construction, steamfitters, glaziers, repair and maintenance personnel in applications ranging from the home hobbyist to heavy fabrication of bridges, ships and many other projects. A variety of welding processes are used to join units of metal. As a welder, you may work for shipyards, manufacturers, contractors, federal, state, county, and city governments, firms requiring maintenance mechanics, and repair shops.

Welding, while very physically demanding, can be very rewarding for those who enjoy working with their hands. Welders need good eyesight, manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination. They should also be able to concentrate for long periods of time on very detailed work, as well as be in good enough physical shape to bend and stoop, often holding awkward positions for long periods of time. Welders work in a variety of environments, both indoors and out, using heat to melt and fuse separate pieces of metal together. Training and skill levels can vary, with a few weeks of school or on-the-job training for the lowest level job and several years of school and experience for the more skilled welding positions.

Skilled welders often select and set up the welding equipment, execute the weld, and then examine the welds in order to make sure they meet the appropriate specifications. They may also be trained to work in a variety of materials, such as plastic, titanium or aluminum. Those with less training perform more routine tasks, such as the welds on jobs that have already been laid out, and are not able to work with as many different materials.

While the need for welders as a whole should continue to grow about as fast as average, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for low-skilled welders should decrease dramatically, as many companies move towards automation. However, this will be partially balanced out by the fact that the demand for machine setters, operators and tenders should increase. And more skilled welders on construction projects and equipment repair should not be affected, as most of these jobs cannot be easily automated. Because of the increased need for highly skilled welders, those with formal training will have a much better chance of getting the position they desire. For those considering to prepare themselves to a meaningful welding-career, there are many options available.

There are also different professional specialties and levels, that should be understood to make an informed choice. Some of these are: welder, welding machine operator, welding technician, welding schedule developer, welding procedure writer, testing laboratory technician, welding non destructive testing inspector, welding supervisor, welding instructor, welding engineer.