[TheForge] Job hunting...

[RIES NIEMI]

on 7/16/03 9:10 PM, Blake Williams at thethorin@hotmail.com wrote:

> Hey everybody, I have a question about finding a job.  I guess this could
> be for people in the Colorado Springs area but perhaps others have tips for
> me.  I am 18 and right now I work in a feed yard, been there for 4 years and
> it is a job that is going to take me nowhere.  I have taken 1 year of
> welding in HS and have tinkered around a bit on my forge but have had no
> real training.  I want to find a job that I can start at where I can learn
> more of a trade.  I am finding that a job in the metal field is kind of
> hiden, buisnesses dont get out in the public, you have to find them.  Where
> would be some places to look where not much experience is needed?  Thanks
> for the help in advance, Blake

Blake- speaking as someone who has hired quite a few young people over the
years to work in my metal shop, my advice is - go to your local community
college or vo-tech, and get a 2 year AA degree in welding. You will take
courses in metallurgy, blueprint reading, math as it applies to making
things, as well as really learning how to weld. Learning to work with hot
metal is a definte plus for any blacksmithing employment. If your local
place has blacksmithing classes, take em. Otherwise, try to save up and take
a week or so at one of the places nationally that does have blacksmithing.
The more you know, the more hirable you are, and since there are only a few
blacksmithing jobs, but lots of welding jobs, I would get the training as a
welder.
I know this is going to be a really controversial statement, but I can hire
someone with a 2 year welding degree into my shop, have them doing
productive work the next day, and teach them how to forge as they work.
On the other hand, I cant hire a blacksmith and teach him how to weld in a
day, or even a week. A good welder can pick up blacksmithing pretty quick- I
have trained 3 in the last few years. But learning to weld is something not
all blacksmiths can do, and certainly not always quick enough to make it
worth me paying em to learn.
So I say, if you want to work in the metal industry, learn to weld first,
then forge.  If you want to blacksmith as a hobby, thats different- just do
it. If what you really want to do is blacksmith above all else, find a
blacksmith, and hang around- sweep the floor, carry heavy stuff, and sooner
or later he will take pity on you and teach you something.

Ries