Welding is not a career for the faint of heart – that’s nothing new, but a recent survey by a job search Web site ranked it as the fifth worst out of 200 different professions. Ironworker fared even worse, coming in as the third worst job for 2010. Knowing the passion and pride that welders and ironworkers take in their jobs, we suspect the Web site didn’t consult with any while conducting their survey.

The site ranked jobs based on five factors — physical demands, work environment, income, stress and hiring outlook. Although the results are based on what a typical job seeker would look for in a career, welders are often anything but typical and many find the physical demands and work environment to be some of the most rewarding parts of the job. The money can be pretty darn good, too!

Surveys like this fail to reflect the fact that many people thrive on physically demanding work and the rewards of creating things with their own two hands. People like this would never envy the actuary (the top ranked job in the survey) sitting at a desk and staring at numbers on a computer screen all day.

On a more serious note, these types of surveys can actually harm the welding industry by potentially scaring away people who would otherwise enjoy welding as a career or hobby.

They’ve had their chance, now it’s yours. Let’s hear why this Web site is wrong and why welding is a great career. Share your thoughts and stories about how you came to be a welder by posting a comment below.

Well, we’re just about through one of the most challenging and uncertain years for business in recent memory — and good riddance!  Here’s to a prosperous 2010.

Although we’ll all be glad to put 2009 behind us, the unfortunate reality is that changing our economic fortunes is not as simple as changing our calendars. Despite some signs that the economy is recovering, many individuals, businesses and industries continue to struggle through the ongoing effects of the recession.

Nevertheless, the new year does provide an opportunity to take a small step back and assess the lessons learned in 2009 and think about how to apply that hard earned knowledge upcoming challenges in 2010.

A common business practice when deciding on a course of action is to perform a S.W.O.T. analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that you expect to face in 2010? Do you plan to make any changes to your business in the coming year in response to the ongoing economic slump? Do you expect to see a strong pick-up in business next year, or more of the same?

Tell us what your crystal ball is telling you by posting a comment below

Summer’s over and school is back in session, but this fall, it’s not just for the kids. From South Carolina to Massachusetts to California, states across the country are experiencing huge surges in vocational and technical school enrollment among students in their 40’s and 50’s.

This should come as no surprise, given the state of the economy and the unemployment rate, but there are other less obvious reasons that probably share some of the credit for attracting more non-traditional sutdents into the trades.
One likely reason that the skilled trades are enjoying renewed appeal is that a plumber in China will be completely useless if your water pipes freeze and crack this winter — for the most part, skilled trade work cannot be outsourced to low wage countries. By contrast, employers are realizing that modern communications technology makes it possible to ship a great many jobs overseas, including engineers, bookkeepers, computer programmers and more.

Another possible explanation for increased trade school enrollment is the realization that these jobs can provide a very respectable living – in many cases, a journeyman willing to travel and work overtime can earn well into six figures.

And finally, popular culture must also take some of the credit for the skilled trade renaissance. Many new reality television shows, such as American Chopper, The Deadliest Catch and American Loggers, portray manual labor as a physically demanding, yet exciting and personally fulfilling life.

Are you seeing an increased interest in trade education among people over 40? What do you think is driving this trend? Share your thoughts on this subject by posting a comment below.

Going back to school to learn a new skill or trade – such as welding – has been a popular choice for many during these tough economic times, but a recent report in the New York Times casts some doubt on whether new graduates will be able to find work in their chosen field.

According to the article, employers are desperately in need of welders with very advanced skills, such as laying a flawless TIG weld on oil piping, but they are not looking for basic-level skills. Those with the advanced skills, however, are able to demand top wages and where they want to work.

“If you don’t hire in a day or two, the ones that can (lay an x-ray quality TIG weld on pipe), they are out the door and working for another company,” said a manager for an oil refinery contractor in Maine.

Part of the reason that employers are having such a hard time finding highly skilled tradesmen, according to the article, is that so many talented high school students are being encouraged to pursue bachelor’s degrees at traditional universities.

For those with basic- to intermediate-level skills, this presents a chicken-or-the-egg situation in which they need the work to increase their skills, but they can’t find a job unless they already have the skills.

Many companies maintain their own welder training programs, where they hire new welders with very little or no experience, but a good attitude, and they teach them the skills they need. These programs involve a significant investment from the employer that they might not be able to afford in this economic environment.

What has been your experience finding a welding job or hiring skilled welders? Are most of the job openings only available for advanced-level welders? If you’re a hiring manager, are you able to find welders with the skills that you need? Share your thoughts on this subject by posting a comment below.

The economy has forced many companies out of business recently, and many people are out of work, but there is still welding to be done. This may present an opportunity for enterprising individuals who can achieve a high level of efficiency, quality and productivity.

Starting your own small weld shop could provide the advantage of reduced overhead and employment-related costs that can burden larger shops. A leaner, more responsive shop can often provide a quicker turn around on orders and find profit in one-off projects that would be a wash for other shops.

Another reason this might be the right time to start a weld shop is that there are some very skilled welders out there looking for jobs. As we’ve reported in the past, companies often had a very difficult time finding skilled employees when there was a welder shortage. If you do need to hire on some additional help, you’ll be more likely to find experienced welders who can start producing from day one.

And, the economy will rebound. There is no doubt about that — only uncertainty about when it will happen. Embarking on a new business venture and taking on small accounts now could pay out major dividends when the economy picks up and those small jobs grow into significant revenue sources.

Of course, there are some things to consider before quitting your day job. How experienced are you at welding?  Have you written a business plan? Do you have enough money saved to support yourself with little to no business income for at least a year or more? Are you prepared to do the networking and door-to-door selling to land your accounts?

Starting a new business is always a risky endeavor, right now possibly more so than any time in the last 75 years. But where there is great risk, there can also be great reward for those who plan carefully and wisely.

Have you started your own welding business in the last two years? If so, what has been your experience? What advice would you give to someone considering opening a weld shop? Do you believe that now might be a good time to start a weld shop business? Share your thoughts on this topic by posting a comment below.