Thread: Trying to change careers into welding and needing advice

Hi ,

I am trying to gain some advice regarding welding or boilermaking. I am trying to change from an unrelated field(healthcare) into welding. I am 38 years old so I'm guessing I need to gain a adult apprenticeship which I don't mind. I have been trying to find a course that will help me gain such an apprenticeship.

I am wondering if there is are courses at NSW tafe that I can give the best chances for gaining an apprenticeship. I cannot seem to find any "pre-appreneticeship courses" except for ones run by group agencies who require you don't have higher than certificate III (which I have). Most of TAFE courses obviously require you already have an appprenticeship. The only pre- apprenticeship I could find was panel beating, which I would like advise about as well. Should I at least try panel-beating even though I have been wanting to get into general welding. Is panel beating itself a good career? I really think welding is for me.

Is there perhaps a certificate or diploma course in welding, engineering, machinist etc that does not require me to be in an apprenticeship that I can do to help me?

Your advice would be much appreciated..

To be honest IMO about the only worse choices of trade would be mechanic (me) or aircraft mechanic.

If you like heating things up and sticking them together try and get a plumbers apprenticeship. Plenty of brazing and soldering in that and you'll get paid a bomb and always have work.

The only welders, boilermakers that get good money are in the mines and petroleum industry. It's hot dirty unhealthy work. Panelbeaters get barely more than mechanics.

I've been kicking myself for 25 years for doing the wrong trade. Luckily I studied engineering and got out of it, but if I'd become a plumber I'd probably still be one.

Be aware there is a LOT of understanding in being a quality welder. I can weld an aluminium can back together with an oxy and I've done a bit of most types, but to do it properly requires a lot of skill and experience. Note the words QUALITY and PROPERLY. Plenty of cowboys, but a good welder knows some stuff.

SorryI can't help with courses. Been out of it for decades...

mm thanks Damian.. I thought I had it nailed on this one. I also picked wrong careers and was very wary.. I better look into plumbing. I guess if there is welding in it too that can work too..either case welding or plumbing, I think it won't be easy to get an apprenticeship. Tafe does not seem to be oriented to career changers. I wish there were more prepatory courses into these trades to get the foot in the door. It will help a lot of people like me. Anyway, Thanks again damian. Hope ur doing what u like now. By the way is there any pre apprenticeship courses etc for plumbing..

Why don't you send a pm to NewLou who is a member here and did what you want to do. He changed occupation at a mature age to become a welder.


Peter.

In South Australia TAFE run engineering courses, I think its called Pre Vocation, a bit like an introductory course, for anyone interested.
Kryn

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

In South Australia TAFE run engineering courses, I think its called Pre Vocation, a bit like an introductory course, for anyone interested.
Kryn

The SA TAFE courses are open to anyone as far as I can tell. I did the Vocational Welding course (Arc & Oxy) 35 years ago, then the GMAW (MIG) course 25 years ago. I did the Introductory GTAW (TIG) course at Panorama last month and am enrolled to do the Intermediate course in February 2013. At no stage was age or current occupation mentioned as part of the enrolment process - and I am 57 years old and that didn't seem to be a problem.

I'm not sure if it's a SA thing or Australia-wide but I enrolled under the "Skills For All" program which meant that both the introductory and intermediate GTAW courses are completely free and the advanced course will only be $185 if I end up doing it.

Thanks everyone,

I think all other states have great courses except NSW. I would have to move interstate to do these courses which is difficult. I think there are some mig tig etc courses at some tafes in NSW but I don't know if they are adequate for trying for apprentices afterwards.

Any way I will keep looking..

I tried to PM NewLou but some advertisement stopped from entering any text ?? I did email but don't know if it got thru..

Originally Posted by GeeKay

Thanks everyone,

I think all other states have great courses except NSW. I would have to move interstate to do these courses which is difficult. I think there are some mig tig etc courses at some tafes in NSW but I don't know if they are adequate for trying for apprentices afterwards.

Any way I will keep looking..

These are my views, I would do the courses that you are interested in, Mig and Tig
1) to find if this is your thing,
2) at least you would have some form of training and have an idea as to what to expect, work is available for 2nd class tig mig operators in case you couldn't get an apprenticeship straight away, but keep looking. This what I did personally.
3) it would be a good start as instead of a 4-5 year apprenticeship, you might do it in 2-3 years, (less years on low wages)
4) an employer would look favorably to you, as you wouldn't have to do as much trade school, sweep floors, typical 1st/2nd yr apprentice things, instead you would be earning him/them money from the start, as you would be able to do the same/similar work as a tradie.
Kryn

Don't. Stay in health. Manufacturing in this country is almost dead. The union is kept bussy fulltime ensuring that workers are getting their entitlements from companies going broke.
All our work is going to China and other Asian countries were labour is cheap. The last coal loader for Newcastle was built of shore, the gas turbine electric power station at Wangi was built of shore. There are heavy lift ships capable of of transporting huge tonnages.
There is a magnesium mine (i think in WA)were none of the infraftructure was built in workshops here, even the concrete footpaths were made in China and 10% of the labor for construction has to be Chinese.
Don't believe the political crap about a skill shortage. Most jobs are short term very few workshops can guarantee work more than six months or so into the future. There is a shortage on some of the magor projects in oil and gas but they are fly in fly out jobs (like the ones 60min made sound glamourous). These gobs don't suit everyone. They earn their money.
Ive been in the industry since the late 70s untill we have some protection for local manufacturing don't go into the metal trades. keep it as a hobby, that way when the temp hits 40 you can go inside crank up the aircon and watch te cricket.
DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN GROW UP TO BE BOILIES

Hope my rantings help
Kev

thanks for the feedback everyone..Didn't know trade and welding was in such a bad state..I will try to keep that in mind. What to do?

Maybe I should look into plumbing but I will try to the night courses for mig tig at tafe this coming february before I decide. Just how much welding is involved in plumbing..I would have thought it is only a small component?

I really have to change careers anyway..I don't have a choice there..just gotta make the right choice though


Hi KBs Penmore Just wondering what experience and qualification are neeeded to get into 2nd class welding? are the tafe night classes enough?

Have you ever tried welding before? Plumbers braze (Thermal welding) With oxy/fuel gas. Not Electrical Arc welding. I think these days doing a trade means stuff all. Do a riggers course or a scaffolding course. 7 days at the most. Easy and you barely have to think and you'll make about $2-3 less an hour than someone who has done a trade, (4 years worth of training).

Hi KBs Penmore Just wondering what experience and qualification are neeeded to get into 2nd class welding? are the tafe night classes enough?

Hi, about 40years ago, TAFE was under another name, Adult Education I think it was. I did 18months of a 2 year course, (left the area to do something stupid) but it was enough to get me in the doors. Started off with working in small trailers, working in different companies, learning as I went, one company, sent me to learn Aluminium welding, Oxy, arc,mig and tig.
I've had jobs where I was a better welder than so called "tradies". It's a matter of setting yourself a high standard and trying to better each weld everytime!!!!! Ended up Self employed for last 30years doing this type of work.
Boilermaking is basically a job whereby you are given a set of plans, and having to fabricate an item from scratch to finish unsupervised.
There are different fields in which welding can take you, Pipe work, pressure vessel in arc, specialty metals welding (titanium etc.)TIG
Second Class welding is basically unqualified, very basic trained used in production work.
These are my thoughts, they may not necessary be correct.
Kryn

I agree with most on this forum, boiler maker or sheet metal worker have great skill sets but I would be reluctant to do it as a career.

I would buy a welding machine and just start practicing do some night welding courses to get an idea, read a bit on the net to get more information.

As for TAFE in NSW I did a couple of subjects which was identical to apprenticeships in welding

In fact one course was just full of apprentices I was the only mature age, Ultimo TAFE (10 years ago) and I was not working in the area.

The night courses are all you need for your ticket(s), anyway call up the co-coordinator for the welding at a tafe near you and have a chat.

As a mature age you really need to consider doing your own thing, self employed.

I think plumber maybe sparkie particularly with all the solar growth, are more employable trades.

I changed my career at 40, am involved in some specialised plumbing area, self employed with no trade.

Good Luck

Pulpo

Originally Posted by damian

To be honest IMO about the only worse choices of trade would be mechanic (me) or aircraft mechanic.

=

As an aircraft mechanic, I am curious as to why you would recommend not to be one. There is very few vocations that will give you a six figure income on the tools and as a 52 year old, if I lost my job tomorrow I would be re-employed by the end of the week.