Time for new career???

[Michael ray]

I hope to get a few honest opinions, I'm about to turn 34.. had a rough few weeks at the auto shop and been considering a welding job. I have been welding since I was 12 or 13 with an old stick box, upgraded to a mig about 12 or 13 years ago and been tigging for about a year. I can weld almost anything with pretty good results. I completely understand electricity and most welding forms but never tried for a certificate or anything. I know work is work no matter what you do but I need a change in think. No kids or family so travel may be a welcome change. Is it worth pursuing a welding certificate for someone my age or do I just need to go see Dr feel good or something???

[cruizer]

Not really the best thing to get into work wise. Real slow. Best to stick with automotive

[H80N]

Where are you located...???... opportunities vary by region

[Michael ray]

Automotive repair has really been good but for the past year I'm just not happy...I used to throw a hot rod together in a month before I became a full time auto tech...now it's year 3 on my jeep and still got another year at this pace...and keeping up with all the new updates and tools gets to be a heavy financial and mental burden..been bleeding brakes on a chevy truck for 3 days now and I swear I make it worse every time I try something else..pressure bleed, autel scan bleed, snap on scanner bleed, gravity bleed, vacuum bleed...done everything except turn the **** thing up side down...

[Michael ray]

I'm in North Georgia, drive through Chattanooga every morning

[H80N]

I'm in North Georgia, drive through Chattanooga every morning

Welding jobs pretty scarce in your neck of the woods...

http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Listing...+TN&radius=100

[Michael ray]

I know, I have a good truck and camper though. My biggest concern is that I taught myself everything I know by tons of research and experience. Im not the classroom type if that makes sense and I know I'd probably have to take some classes and tests to even be considered. And the local community college teacher is my cousin that I taught how to mig a few years ago....so that's not helping me much. He has taught me more about tig but the mig and stick would probably be completely awful boring for me. I'm still researching and thinking. Can welding certifications or test be done without the class time? I know the class is probably a good idea but that's what they said about the ASE tests.. aced A1 through A9 first time in 2006, went back and nailed the L1 first shot six months later.

[Michael ray]

I have tons of equipment ready to use also, if that helps on a resume or contract type job. I don't mind using my own stuff, I know I maintain it and know what they can do

[MMW]

Reading your posts you seem to have yourself talked into it. You complain about the free time you don't have as you can't finish your jeep. Another career is probably not going to fix that. Most welders I know who work for someone do side jobs to make extra money so that tells you something right there. You can always work for yourself but you will most likely work 6-7 days a week that way. I would advise to steer clear of a welding career unless you have a clear path laid out for you with a great job waiting. I've been doing it for a living for 30 years & can't wait to retire from it. It is mostly a very physical job & it takes its toll on the body.

Entry level welders don't make decent money at least where I am. Even experienced welders don't make much around here. It's a different world than it used to be. My suggestion is to look long & hard before changing careers again.

[Meltedmetal]

It's a decision only you can make. I always thought learning the new stuff (like in automotive tech) was what kept it interesting. Do you work for yourself or for an employer? Self employment can look a lot better than it really is unless you are cut out for that. Sometimes the grass only looks greener on the other side of the fence. It sounds to me like you are getting restless. From a financial stand point you're current automotive skills should demand decent money in the right place. Free time to work on your projects is mostly about time management and as MMW says self-employment often doesn't give you more time rather it gives you less.
As for GM they need a serious talking to in the corner away from prying eyes, if you get my drift.

[Michael ray]

I have worked for myself in the past, looking back i miss those days. I work at a small local shop in the woods of North Georgia. I get paid commission. %50 straight up. I know that's unheard of but when you have weeks where the shop sweeper makes what I do because of delayed parts and customers not having the money when the jobs done, kinda makes me think shove it. I spend at least 100 a week just in fuel, 70 plus miles a day in a 12 mpg truck. Spend at least 100 a week on snap on truck then I supply 95% of the welders and consumables. The shop has a millermatic 135, I have 6 machines there... we do lots of trailer and truck repair and I am the only 1 that does that on top of all the day to day stuff that comes in. I'm going in today with a different attitude. From today on they are paying my price for any work, if that's not good I'll go rent a u haul and start loading. I know grass isn't greener on the other side but it might not be dying anyway. We have so much work there it's unreal, I can't even move vehicles in the parking lot it's so packed but people and parts and no money takes its toll. And the 45 minute drive gives me plenty of time to think and thats not good.

[Michael ray]

And as for free time, last thing I want to do is turn wrenches when I do it 5 or 6 days a week for everybody else. I'd probably hate welding after some time but if I weld all day I might feel more like using free time for the stuff I used to like. I used to love playing with hot rods and fast cars till I started working on cars everyday. And where we are is pitiful, seems like everyone runs one till it's completely fubared, then complain how they can't afford to fix or they always ask wants the cheapest thing you can do to get me going..new answer is take it to the dealer and pay dealer prices. We charge 50-60 hour, local dealers and shops inside Chattanooga are averaging 80-120 hr. I'm not the best around by far but I think I can do better.. we get all the bmw,mercedes,vw,audi,mini, all the weird bs from 2 other shops also, they send them to us for 60 an hour. I'm sure they are adding 25-30 percent and issuing their own work order...maybe I need a few days off

[MMW]

Judging by the "tone" of your writing you are just fed up with your current situation. Not a good time to make life changing decisions. You need to look at things like this without emotion & come up with a plan, whether it be welding or something else. I've seen too many people make knee jerk decisions & regret it.

As was said earlier only you can make this decision. When you do decide hopefully you have thought it through & are looking at the big picture & not just a month down the road.

[gnforge]

Worked in auto truck world for many years. Managed both mechanic & autobody for many years. Been self employed for 10 years now. Metal is in my DNA so what I do now is by far what I love most. Being self employed is tough to say the least but as for me I've been to far in life to work for business or production line all day long. I gross more and net less than any other work but that comes with territory, also clients don't always pay on time so that's a common. I work 10 hrs a day and many times 6 days a week but as they say I'm my own boss, ouch, but really my debt & payments are my boss. And in this world you never know if you have work next week Defiantly not for everyone not even for most. And in our small town there is now 4 self employed welders due to gas oil & coal bottom falling out. It's bad in our valley and most of these welders are doing other jobs to make ends meet. <br />
As for certified welders. It means nothing in our area. If you want a job the Co. will test you. You pass they hire you you fail you keep walking. <br />
All in all I love my work and I've been blessed greatly cause I've always had work. Never a day so far I haven't had a job. I guess that's good because I cant afford to retire at this job and I'll be working a long time. But I have the freedom of being self employed I can still chose what & when I work. <br />
If you ever make the jump, plan long and hard. Line up work and good company's ahead of time. Work for them in spare time or start part time. I worked two jobs. Or plan on eating roman noodles or starving. It's a hard road to travel. As it is with most good things in life<br />
Greg

[Michael ray]

I believe a man that's willing to get up and go to work can find something to do...I've changed paths in the past and don't really have any regrets... I did push 2 customer cars out of my way today and put the top end back together on the willys jeep. One of the customers came by, he didn't get the answer he was looking for but that's just how its gonna be till I decide. Did feel good to push those turds outa the shop and do something of my own.