Skilled Trades

How to Know if Welding Is the Right Career for You

Skilled TradesMarch 03, 2022

If you drove a car, crossed a bridge, or entered a large commercial building today, you can thank a welder, who performed some of the tasks necessary to make those things possible. Welding is the act of fusing metal parts together using heat, creating a permanent bond. Many products and the majority of structures built in the U.S. involve some kind of welding. 

In addition to manufacturing, welders also perform repair and maintenance work. And lots of high-profile companies hire welders, such as NASA, NASCAR, and Walt Disney World.  

If you’re looking for a new career, you might want to consider welding. It could be the perfect job for you if you like working with your hands, prefer not sitting behind a desk all day, enjoy the variety of working on different locations, and like building things.

“Welding is a good choice for someone who has an aptitude for math, an understanding of the basics of science, and a desire for an opportunity for a career implementing hard work, pride and success,” says Scott Deeter, welding program director at All-State Career’s Pittsburgh, Pa. campus. “The person has to have motivation and a willingness to learn something challenging.”

Deeter says personality traits of a good welder include ethics, honesty, and the ability to work as part of a group, as well as work independently.

The welding technician program at All-State Career Schools and Fortis Colleges and Fortis Institutes takes under a year. Deeter says students have to be willing to take instruction, have the ability to read and digest information, and work at each process until the goal is achieved. 

“We live in a society that allows for instant results for many things,” says Deeter. “This type of training requires something different. A student needs to enter training with the realization that learning welding is something that is broad as well as diverse and requires repetition and dedication. Some of the skills will take time to master. Each employer is looking for good folks that have these things, but they also need a person with a level of patience, promptness, and willingness to grow in a direction that suits their employer as well as themselves.”

If welding sounds like something you’d love to do, Fortis Colleges and Institutes and All-State Career Schools can help you get started. Visit our website for more information and to find a training program near you. Or call 1-855-436-7847 to speak with a representative today.