BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A WELDER

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the importance of planning before pursuing a career in welding. He warns against blindly enrolling in welding schools without understanding the specific welding path you want to take, whether it's structural, pipe welding, or fabrication. The speaker advocates for a clear career vision before investing time and money into training, stressing that welding is just a skill that needs to be applied thoughtfully. He urges young welders to reason through their decisions and avoid the allure of quick money, aiming for long-term fulfillment in their chosen trade.

Takeaways

• 😀 Always plan before you execute. Pre-planning is essential for success in any trade or career path.
• 😀 Don't just learn a skill like welding; choose your career path first and then acquire the necessary skills.
• 😀 Know what you want from welding before you start training. Don’t just chase quick money or promises of high pay.
• 😀 Welding is a tool, not the destination. Decide what you want to do with welding (structural, pipe welding, etc.) before you invest in learning it.
• 😀 Don’t go into welding school without a clear understanding of the type of welding you want to do. You need a defined goal.
• 😀 The lack of proper guidance in welding schools can lead to confusion and frustration for students without a plan.
• 😀 It’s important to choose a career path that excites and motivates you. Passion for your work is key to long-term success and fulfillment.
• 😀 Learning welding without understanding the bigger picture is a mistake. You should focus on your life plan first, then learn the skills to support it.
• 😀 Don’t rush into decisions based on hype or instinct. Think and reason through all your choices before making big career moves.
• 😀 The welding trade, like any trade, requires thoughtful reflection and planning. Think critically about where you want to go with it before you start learning the skills.

Q & A

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of pre-planning before attending welding school?

The speaker stresses that before committing to the expense and time of welding school, individuals should have a clear understanding of what they want to do with welding. This helps avoid wasting time and money on a skill that may not align with their career goals.

What is the main critique the speaker has about welding schools?

The speaker criticizes welding schools for focusing primarily on teaching the skill of welding without offering enough guidance or helping students develop a clear career plan. This lack of planning results in students being unprepared for the career they want to pursue after school.

How does the speaker describe welding in the context of career planning?

Welding is described as a skill rather than a career path on its own. The speaker emphasizes that individuals need to decide on a specific career direction (e.g., structural welding, pipe welding, etc.) before learning the welding skill so that they can apply it meaningfully in their chosen career.

What advice does the speaker give to younger individuals entering the welding trade?

The speaker advises younger individuals to carefully consider their career goals before starting welding school. They should determine what specific type of welding work they want to do and plan their career accordingly, rather than simply learning welding without a clear objective.

Why is the speaker concerned about people coming out of welding school without a plan?

The speaker is concerned because many individuals enter the trade without a clear direction, which leads to confusion and a lack of success after graduation. They may struggle to figure out their next steps and end up wasting time and money without making meaningful progress in their careers.

What role does the speaker believe personal passion plays in choosing a welding career?

The speaker highlights that personal passion is essential. They mention that welding should align with what excites and motivates an individual. For the speaker, welding is about creativity and building, and they suggest others should pursue a welding career that aligns with their own interests and passions.

What does the speaker think about the idea of welding being a quick way to make money?

The speaker warns against viewing welding solely as a way to make quick money. They stress that it's important to understand that welding is a skill that requires dedication and planning, and people should not be swayed by promises of fast financial rewards.

How does the speaker suggest individuals should approach career planning in welding?

The speaker suggests that individuals should first decide what they want to do in the welding industry (e.g., structural welding, pipe welding, etc.) and then acquire the skills necessary to fulfill that goal. This approach ensures that they are not learning a skill without a clear application.

What does the speaker mean by 'reverse engineering' in relation to welding education?

By 'reverse engineering,' the speaker refers to the idea of learning welding first and then trying to figure out how to apply it in a career. The speaker believes this approach is backwards and suggests that career goals should come first, followed by learning the appropriate skills to achieve those goals.

What is the speaker's view on the role of tradesmen in society?

The speaker believes that tradesmen, including welders, are often viewed as lower-class workers. They argue that this perception stems from a lack of thoughtfulness in decision-making within the trade, and they advocate for tradesmen to be more disciplined, thoughtful, and strategic in their actions to elevate the profession's standing.