April is National Welding Month, and Woven Metal Products is proud to call several talented welders our team members. Welders and aspiring welders in our shop can cross-train with more experienced team members, so they can gain new experience and skills, allowing them to move into more advanced positions with pay increases. We currently have four levels of welders at WMP: basic welders, specialty combo welders, advanced welders and expert welders / trainers.
Hear what some of our welding team members had to say about how they got started in their field and what they like best about welding, as well as their advice for future welders.
Interested in a career in welding? Apply for one of our open positions at https://wovenmetal.com/about#careers
CODY ROBERTS, ADVANCED WELDER
1. How did you choose the welding profession? I started as a helper and wanted to better myself in the company. I came in early to practice and practiced during lunch.
2. What do you enjoy the most about welding? What I enjoy most is seeing the finished product complete after starting out of a blueprint.
3. What’s a new technique or approach you think is helping in your work? My approach is to always study the drawing in detail before beginning, so you fully understand what you are building.
4. What would you tell students who are thinking of a career in welding? I would tell the kids to keep practicing your welds because nobody is perfect the first time.
DIANA CERDA, SPECIALTY COMBO WELDER
1. How did you choose the welding profession? In high school I took a class, and I made a BBQ pit. After that I was hooked.
2. What do you enjoy the most about welding? I enjoy welding because I can build things and shape the metal whatever way I want.
3. What’s a new technique or approach you think is helping in your work? I am making hooks and clamps out of scratch. It’s making my job easier.
4. What would you tell students who are thinking of a career in welding? I would tell them to go for it because you can take this profession anywhere. Welders are always in demand.
GREG DIXON, COMBO WELDER
1. How did you choose the welding profession? I was painting cars for a living, and it wasn’t a satisfying job. My wife’s father was a welder, and he offered me a helper position. I took the helper job, and on my breaks, I practiced welding. When I became proficient, I was hired as a welder.
2. What do you enjoy the most about welding? First and foremost, the money! Welding is a great skill to have, and I get personal satisfaction from building products and parts.
3. What’s a new technique or approach you think is helping in your work? Any trends to mention? I have been welding for approximately 16 years, and I have welded many different things: aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel, titanium. All of these required different techniques. An open mind and a willingness to learn are critical to becoming a skilled welder. Remember: “Be teachable, you don’t know everything,” and “You don’t know what you don’t know.”
4. What would you tell students who are thinking of a career in welding? Welding is a great skill to have. Welders will always have work somewhere. Learn as many welding procedures as possible. Mig, tig, flux core, subarc welding. I like to say, “Have more tools in your toolbox,” and “Knowledge is everything.”
JAMES WINTERS, COMBO WELDER
1. How did you choose the welding profession? After years of structural drafting, I always wanted to learn about the process of assembling steel.
2. What do you enjoy the most about welding? Being able to solve problems and create useful things.
3. What’s a new technique or approach you think is helping in your work? Listening to my supervisors’ advice and using prior experience to complete tasks. I also learn by watching others. You can learn how to do something or how NOT to do something that way.
4. What would you tell students who are thinking of a career in welding? If you enjoy a good challenge, it might be a good career option.
RYAN HENDRICKS, COMBO WELDER
1. How did you choose the welding profession? I tried it out as a class in high school and really enjoyed it. After I graduated, I continued to pursue it.
2. What do you enjoy the most about welding? I enjoy that it’s an art and you constantly get to work at it and build cool things.
3. What’s a new technique or approach you think is helping in your work? One of the new things I learned that helped me is that when welding pipe, don’t be scared to gap it extra when fitting it for your root weld. Being taught that technique helped me understand how much easier it helps when penetrating the root weld.
4. What would you tell students who are thinking of a career in welding? If someone more experienced than you offers to teach or show you something new or that might help, always take the opportunity to learn.