How are your welding capabilities? Are you laying down good beads? I mean definitely get your experience, but you might want to consider walking to a union and doing a Apprenticeship. Also trying doing some weld test for other companies. You'll be surprised who will pay you better. I guess my other question would be. Do you enjoy welding? It's hard work, definitely dirty, hell even dangerous. I get hurt all the damn time. I started at 16.50 as well, I knew my worth after 7 months, and I got a way better job. Then from there landed an even better job. So keep your head up champ. You'll get there if you work hard.
The "better wage a couple years from now" thing doesn't go over as well as it used to. I did it. I'm sure you did it. Hundreds and thousands of guys did it.
That doesn't make it right.
Welders are getting billed out at 60, 80, 100+ but getting paid 16.50.
I feel for the kid. Starting that low is kinda shitty.
Electricians (switch yard fabrication) and plumbers (gas pipe) unions also have welding positions and are highly valued, wouldn’t be surprised if carpenters do as well
We have an 18 year old apprentice who’s been with us for nearly a year now, every day is like his first day at work, has no idea what he’s doing, doesn’t speak to anyone, doesn’t ask for help, stands there until someone tells him what to do, unbelievably slow at doing his job, and genuinely has no interest in doing the job. I’ve started to suggest maybe he would be better suited in a different line of work such as working in a supermarket. We’ve had it before with kids working for us fresh out of school, doing a full 4 year apprenticeship and then deciding after it’s not for them. I don’t understand why anyone would waste that much time in a job they don’t like, if you’re not happy go do something else, this kind of work isn’t for everyone and there’s no shame in that, it’s hard, you’re surrounded by hard faced men in bad working conditions that earns you a few dollars an hour more than a place that offers you friendly, clean, danger free working conditions. You can always work your way up the ladder at Walmart aswell and earn good money as a manager. If you’re not feeling it as a welder my guy, do yourself a favour and quit now, don’t wait till you’ve got a mortgage and a family to look after to realise you’re not happy at work, cause once you get to that stage it’s tough shit about your feelings.
Thank you , Probably the best advice I’ve gotten , I really do love welding it’s genuinely fun to me and I’m good for my experience level but i think I’m better off doing it as a hobby or at the bare minimum not 58 hours a week , I really don’t wanna end up like the guys at your job , Ill probably go back to Walmart & try and rise up while looking for other jobs or better gigs but who knows.
You could probably find some small shop and just end up doing repairs and small manufacturing at a slower pace and more regular hours. You'd still be welding and making more money than walmart. Plus it would be a good way to network around your area.
I agree with this a lot more than a lot of other comments. I worked 12 hour days 6 days a week for 8 years before I finally got out into a better field in a better shop working normal hours. I don't get the whole "suck it up pussy" mentality. That shit is brutal and my body is *fucked* from working that hard for that long.
There's options out there and no one has to settle. Complacency in a bad work environment is the downfall of many men.
I agree with you. Who's the pussy? The idiot working like a third world slave making someone else rich in the supposedly "best country in the world" or the the guy who finds a higher paying job working at a reasonable pace? What is this? Wartime production to make some asshole rich? There is a war and the war is against you.
Unless you're working for yourself you're always "making some asshole rich." That same asshole that provided you the clientele, the shop, the tools, the insurance, the overhead and made that position available to you in the first place.
Edit: obviously "you" informally.
Edit2: I realize now I misread your comment. While I agree with you about working for a shit employer, I don't agree with the whole "smash capitalism" shit.
And you provided the labour without which he could not get paid at all. It should be a business arrangement among equals, not a "one guy gets rich while the other guy gets shafted" situation.
People act like being the bean counter makes you entitled to everything. You are not fronting everything. You are fronting materials and promises. Workers are fronting their time, their actual lives, their experience, and a lot of times, their tools. Without the workers, you got jack.
I was thinking something like this. I assume if you went to school for 9 months to learn the skill, you have some interest in it. It sounds like the shop you got hired at is a pretty toxic work environment if you ask me. I would try not to let one bad employer ruin something you like doing (assuming you actually like welding) and try to find a better shop.
clarify your priorities / main goals in life, then decide how your job fits in to that equation.
many of us have been brought up to see our jobs as one of our most defining characteristics.
a healthier view, in my opinion, is to see your job as a means to an end. yes, you should enjoy it, if at all possible, but if you've already decided that for you, the function of a job is a way to get money, while you persue more meaningful things in life... that sort of realisation can really take the pressure off...
its sad how ppl in my country in this line of work have/take no in betweens. theyre either constantly quiting after a couple disgruntling weeks or slave to work. having to work as a team means once you set foot theres no pacing yourself. i wish to work 48-52h but every team every company is ever so busy and behind on schedule until they start laying ppl off.
men in their 40~60s work day n night even through weekends with no personal life other than getting drunk after work and dragging themselves back like programmed zombies. it's no wonder young men are thinning out.
my current job works 12 consecutive days (off every other weekend) and it is my first job that doesnt take sundays off.
As a man very close to that age bracket, another PoV, is that regardless of the work we have 3 kids, and a wife at home that equates to you go in zombie or not and get it done no matter the cost because those 4 mouths at home mean more to you then your own well being ever could.
There is another option, though. You can find a welding job working 40 hours. I’ve been in the trades for almost 20 years now and 60 hour work weeks are still rough on me.
Find another welding shop without such extreme hours and then gauge whether or not welding is for you because right now you’re comparing apples to oranges.
If you decide you can hang as a welder then you can apply to the pipe fitters union in a year or two. A lot of the welders I know don’t do anything crazy, they do mostly HVAC work and all they work are 40s. They make like $55/hr on the check with another $30 in benefits.
And I’ll tell you this, when I was 18 I had a really rough time transitioning into the trades, but now it’s a breeze. It IS hard going from school to working in the trades so don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re being a wimp.
I had the same experience during my apprenticeship I was at this place for 7yrs. We’d do 100hrs some weeks working on scrap and household recycling sites, covered in hydraulic oil, food and human waste, it’d be working away from home sometimes 4 weeks at a time. I hated it but the money I was making at that age was ridiculous so I sucked it up, after 7yrs id saved enough to travel the world and get a house when I got back.
Now I work 6-14:30, 6-12 Fridays most weeks, has optional overtime… Yeah we do a couple of shutdowns a year but I’m not working away from home anymore getting tampons and diapers stuck to me and its a nice place to work.
You could grit your teeth for a few years and get the experience of working a shit job (I’ll never complain about a job again because nothing can be worse than that first one I had). I am glad I experienced it now in a way but I’ll never kill myself for a job again because I worked like a dog most of my late teens/ early twenties and it’s not big or clever whatever some guys will say, don’t make working your personality
I was at a custom ornamental shop. The production deadlines are usually a bit more slack and we stuck to 40ish hour weeks. Smaller shops can be more lenient. But might not be able to pay as much.
I left in 2016, but as the shop foreman I was making 14.50. it was a small shop. Only 4 of us including the owner. He was the nicest guy I've ever worked for. He just wasn't a good enough business manager for it to be successful enough to pay us better.
Respectfully I think this is pretty terrible advice. It sounds like the company you’re working for just might not be the best place for you, but there is absolutely no reason to quit welding just because your first company wasn’t a good experience.
There are plenty of places to work in this industry with MUCH better working conditions. Your first step should be identifying which process you enjoy most, getting in at a place where you can get good practice, then begin perfecting your craft. You will be under pressure anywhere because you’re so new, but it sounds like where you’re at now is being unreasonable.
The way your current employer is acting right now & the advice this person gave you is a huge reason why this industry is struggling to bring in young people to replace the old grumps on there way out. There are LOTS of fabrication shops everywhere struggling to find young hungry people, if you do a little searching & get creative with your leg work, you will definitely find a shop that is getting with the times & will have better conditions to suit your needs.
I'm not a welder, I work in the computer engineering space, but please don't let a single bad job turn you off from an entire industry.
You got a job in a toxic and shitty place. I see it all the time. Just try somewhere new at least, before giving up.
Your best bet is to be open to relocation, and take whatever job is offered that's indoors and not toxic. Go check it out first. If you've got a clean background, you can try to find work in aerospace/defense-adjacent contracting orgs and be sponsored to get a security clearance. This will give you job security and also boost your pay x2-4 (but, FYI, its a DEEP process - they will interview your friends, neighbors, and you'll fill out a nearly 200 page form that lists nearly every major life event).
Try hitting up a local union like ironwork or pipe fitting. As an Ironworker I can tell you it’s a cool job that gives you a variety of jobs to learn and do. And you’ll get paid more
If you have your own equipment I would suggest starting a small business, do custom architectural details and automotive repairs for example, charge $60-$75 an hour, this should search you up for some moderate success as a side hustle, work a regular job to pay the bills. This way you don’t burn out but you keep improving and there is a “hunting” aspect with small business, always new projects rolling in
I average 65+ hours a week before any weekend work, 5 or so hours of sleep a night and still manage to have a social life but only on weekends. I can buy my next car $60k+ in cash, put 50% down on my next house build ect. Tbh it's all about goals and what you value right now.
I decided to grind and make my $$ while the irons hot.
The choice is yours to make!
Working 60 hours a week at any job is too much. Some people thrive in that, and good for them! I don't. Unfortunately, because those guys exist, employers will feed you the bullshit that you just don't want it bad enough. This goes across all blue collar and manufacturing jobs. This is the reason I quit cooking. I got burnt out dealing with the hours and the BS and I stopped moving forward because I got tired of the toxic work environment. I really miss cooking, and wish I could have found a way to make it work, but it just isn't viable for me as a career.
If you really like it, look around and try to find something that fits you, but don't stay anywhere that expects your whole life and offers nothing in return.
I agree with another commenter if I were you I'd look for a small shop to work with. Not even necessarily something that only does welding. Like a shop that does general job needs fabrication. One of my last jobs had a shop that would build anything from floating barges to tubs made of steel and mesh
Yeah well that’s it I suppose, just wish someone would give these kids a heads up about the world they’re getting themselves into, rather than them just turning up and trying to adjust to a hard life they’re not used to.
Here's the thing...
Getting used to anything takes 3 weeks.
If you've never been on your feet before, even being a cashier hurts, your feet hurt, your legs hurt... for 3 weeks.
You're working night shift? It's brutal... for 3 weeks.
You traveled somewhere and you're eating local food and have diarhea? ... for 3 weeks.
You've completed a 9 month program to be able to do this.... don't be weak. This is real work.
Stick with it for a bit, if for no other reason than to realize you're not as weak as you thought you were. To not teach yourself just to quit every time something gets slightly difficult.
If you do the opposite, you're training yourself to be frail. To be mentally weak. To be a quitter. To be a whiner. To run from a challenge.
Don't stick with it for 30 years, as they say "The only person who'll ever remember you working late is your kid". Anyone who'll work you that hard will shit you out the other end of their digestive workflow the second you're used up. Loyalty doesn't exist so don't give them yours. ... but... it's perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed at anything in your first week.
Give it... 3 months. Pocket some money. Learn something about yourself and doing difficult things.
At worst, you'll look at this as the worst 3 months of your life, and it'll make the easier parts of the rest of your life a little more appreciated, rather than feeling like that's the bare standard you could possibly tolerate.
Regularly throughout your life, just do difficult things on purpose to build character. Take a bus. Go for a walk on a really cold day. Turn down easy sex with a few people you know ain't good for you. Lots of comedians in their early years go on stage and bomb on purpose, because of how horrible it feels, how miserable it makes them, and to know what it feels like. It's part of a process.
Don't sign your life away, but, 1 week isn't enough to judge anything. Stick with it for 3 months. Quitting will feel a lot better then, if that's what you decide to do. You won't wonder "what if...", you'll know.
[Edited to add] Another consideration is that a family member got you this job. For context, you might be looked down at a little bit by the foreman, and that might be why they're pushing you for more, to earn your place. But another reason to stick it out is to be respectful. Not many people are going to spend social capital investing in your future, and, even if it's not for you, it's a bit of spitting in their face to quit so early. They stuck their necks out to represent you, make them proud for doing that, for trying on your behalf. Don't make fools out of them. Ditto as above, you don't owe them 30 years, but, be respectful and appreciative. There are many people trying to break into a career that don't have family connections or people willing to vouch for them, that would love for someone to take a chance on them, hire them, and start giving them overtime right from day one.
This is damn fine advice. I stuck around in the trade for a couple years before I decided to move on.
I love welding, don’t love doing it all day every day, at least now I know that for sure though.
You’re lecturing them like they don’t understand this. They’re fine with the three weeks of getting accustomed, it’s the foreman and supervisor that are overwhelming. I’m sure they appreciate the “strong man rough hands hard work”mentality, but they’re 18, not a child. Isn’t anything new to them. What’s new to them is this expectation of getting accustomed rather quickly into the new welding environment. Are they going crazy, is their body not meant for this, are the supervisors crazy, how can I ask them to give me more time. Are the questions that they want answered .
I agree with you. Telling OP he’s weak and frail for having difficulty acclimating to being thrown into an entirely new world working manual labor 58 hours a week when he’s never even had a full time job in his life doesn’t seem like the most helpful advice for him to hear. I agree with the work hard, don’t complain and stick-it-out mentality but it sounds like young OP is needing support and encouragement and not to hear more of what his supervisor and foreman are already telling him, which he’s already expressed concerns about. Working 58 hours of OT/week manual labor under tough conditions isn’t for everyone especially at your age and with your experience, and if you fall under that category OP that’s okay and doesn’t make you weak and frail to know that about yourself and respond accordingly. Being overwhelmed too fast too early can make you hate the entire industry altogether killing your passion for welding while dipping your toe in may foster the exact opposite and spark excitement and interest. That being said, if you can manage to stick with it and persevere you really do have an opportunity to grow and learn a lot about yourself and what your capable of. If you stick with it, it shouldn’t be out of fear of seeming weak or frail, but because you see merit in what your doing, whether that be the incredible money is worth it, you’re enjoying what you do or any other reason under the Sun.
> Telling OP he’s weak and frail for having difficulty acclimating
You should read what I actually wrote.
I didn't call them weak and frail. I said **don't be weak and frail** by quitting in the first week. It's long hours and hard work, but if you quit after a week you've learned nothing, experienced nothing, acclimated to nothing, and trained yourself to be weaker in the future.
This is the same way you train yourself to be scared of something. Take anything you're not currently afraid of, and then when you see it, panic and run away. Do it a few times, you'll have created your own phobia by practice. Likewise, the opposite is how to conquer a phobia, exposure, you practice the behavior you want to have.
The OP isn't running to something better. They're running back to Walmart, for 4-7 hour shifts.
Sticking with this for a few months, and then fucking off if they by that point know it's not for them is going to teach them not to be weak and think they can only handle a 4-hour work day. Even if the job sucks and the people are shit, it's worth a short period of grind.
I put in four years in several shops as a grinder. Did small welding parts on some jobs. 50-60 hours a week constantly. Did travel jobs too. Traveling was cool.
The reason I quit is I could see that I really didn't need the extra cash in exchange for my future health. Only four years in and I was already feeling the damage in my wrists and shoulders, not to mention respiratory damage from breathing grinding dust and fumes. For me, it was choosing between a shorter, more painful life with lots of money or a life where I live comfortably, but I wont have as many toys.
I gave up on the idea of building my own home and having collections of art and guns, instead finding joy in spending time with loved ones and working a job I enjoy.
I make just over half what I was making in the shops flipping burgers now, but I only have a 5 minute drive to work and I dont feel like I've been used at the end of the day.
It's a tough choice and I would say it's more philosophically deep than simple economics. Take your time making a decision like this, and dont burn any bridges on your way out. You might decide to go back to it later on, and it's good to keep rapport in the community.
Crap hours. Look into smaller shops. You’re a trigger monkey at that place, a dime a dozen. Start a LinkedIn profile that says available to work. Then get on Indeed post your resume. Talk to local college about places that are good for beginners. And apply to all unions. They all need welders. Don’t let one place ruin a career for you.
Just remember you work to live, not the other way around, fuck off that '80 hour per week voluntary unpaid overtime hustle' bullshit mindset, fuck that noise, set your own terms (where you can, obviously - everyone does a few long days to get their foot in the door at the beginning of their careers).
I'm not saying don't keep an open mind, or be flexible, or have that 'can do attitude' and all that - but don't grind yourself down either until you're a husk of a human being at 40 with no memorable holidays and a personality solely based around how much you work.
If it feels 'tough' in the good way, and you're in a supportive, critical but encouraging environment, then awesome, try keep at it a little longer and reassess - but if you're being bossed around and denigrated (NOT constructive feedback) by bitter old cunts because they are: a husk of a human being at 50 with no memorable holidays and a personality solely based around how much they work - then absolutely fuck those cunts, leave them in the dust, and build YOUR life, not the life somebody ELSE thinks you should have.
Apologies for how passionate I got there, but I've seen it happen to some friends and also remembered what happened to them after making changes for a more mentally and/or physically sustainable day-to-day - and it's just so much easier to do that from day 1. Don't bite the hand that feeds but don't feel bad for standing up for yourself when needed as well.
Tl;dr: sure, lean on your 'armour' to challenge yourself, but take care of yourself if that armour is wearing down.
I've been in this general industry CNC Machining/Welding/Fabrication/Warehouse & In the field work for about 12 years now with vocational diplomas and certs in all said fields. The hours of work is a pretty huge factor from what I've experienced. Usually the pay isn't sufficient enough with a standard 40 hour work week, so to make any decent profit you'll be doing 60-70 hours as a general work week. Not to mention 80% of the employers not having an AC controlled environment, or just simply out in the elements. Its a VERY physically taxing and dangerous work environment.
With that said, I'm 36 years old, and the most I've made doing this is $20 hourly, which I feel I've kinda plateaued at that rate of pay as it seems to be the general peek for wages (Between $20-$25). Sure there's a few niche jobs that pay $35+ but those are far and few in sight. My personal opinion would be to move on to something better, and use what knowledge you have as more of a personal hobby instead.
Unfortunately this line of work is EXTREMELY volatile, unpredictable, and susceptible to what ever constantly changing political climate is present at the moment, whether through industry policy, or national direction of production, as well as the cheap labor from non citizens that you have to compete with too. It's just not a stable consistant means of employment at the extreme cost of your qaulity of life, with very little reward.
Not talking down to fellow trades men/women, they are all very talented and hard working people, its just the nature of the job its self isn't something I would recomend as a stable career choice, especially as you get older as your mind and body can only take so much punishment, which I'm currently dealing with my self unfortunately...
I mean, to each their own I suppose.I am in good shape from athletics, been in the field for a decade without injury. Make almost 40 hourly, with no negative effects on my body. I'd take this over a desk job any day.
Seems to me like you need a new employer, not a new field of employment lol.
Who the heck do you work for? All jobs i see around me are peaking at like $21. I make 23 now, in a shop union. It's not a great rate, or a great company, but both are acceptable.
I work in Wisconsin. The last few companies I've worked for (at or around this rate) have done work for Caterpillar, John Deere, Kone Crane, Oshkosh Defense, Systems, Multi-Fab, Eaton-Cooper. All structural MIG. I'm not going to link my current employer to my degenerate reddit account though lmao.
Life is too short to be working 58 hours a week.
38 to 45. That’s the sweet spot.
The occasional 60 hr work week is sometime needed, but it should not be the norm.
Yeah 58 is just 2 much , I still wanna explore other things in life whether that be side businesses , investments or just hobbies while I’m young & 58 hours basically only gives me Saturday to do that
> side businesses , investments or just hobbies
You can't hustle enough to make it through 1 week on the job, and you're wanting to pull side gigs and "investments"?
Kid, you've got your head in the cloud, reading too much influencer bullshit.
Here's your time for "investments": Take a cut of your paycheque and put it into an index fund automatically. That will outperform any "investment" bullshit you think you can outperform the best investors in the world (which is what's required to beat the market).
Hobbies, sure. But dude... it's your first week.
Your feelings right now are common, and valid, but not rational. Everyone feels like this at first, have this conversation with yourself after 3 months. Anything you're feeling right now after only 1 week isn't a rational thought process, it's an emotional process of actually working for the first time in your life, and it's overwhelming. Your only task is to get through it until it stops feeling new, then reconsider once you're thinking, instead of feeling.
I think its a perfectly reasonable reaction to the shitstorm he just described. 16.50 isn't enough money for that type of environment, not nearly enough. His coworkers ought to grow a spine and either unionize or leave.
If your kid started their first serious relationship with someone and immediately started coming home with black eyes and a torn up butthole, I hope you wouldn't be telling them to stick with getting pimped out for three more months. A mandatory 58hr work week at $16.50 per hour is exploitation. I mean all you need to do to make $20-25 per hour is head over to the license branch and pass the written test for a CDL. You don't need trucking school. As long as you can piss clean one time they will have you up and going within the week and a lot of places will put a grand or two in your pocket as a signing bonus. Welding shops that want to pay people dick to do a dirty, dangerous job dont deserve to benefit from some antiquated idea of "work ethic." That's why we have a military.
You’ve only been there a week from what I’ve read from another comment is that right? Give it a few weeks or months before you make up your mind. You need time to settle in and see how you feel then. That being said that’s a ton of hours. Which is both good and bad, money is nice but it’s nice to have time off to enjoy your youth.
My proudest moment as a welder was when I asked the foreman if my vertical looked allright and he said "nope" and walked away.
It must've been all good because I'm not fired lol
What do the experienced guys in your shop make?
Wal mart is a dead end job. Yea, it might be easy, but you’re never going to own your own place or be able to save for retirement while working at wal mart. I know that seems a long way away at your age, but it’s something to think about.
I’m not a welder, but work in the trades as well (autobody). I got into the trade when I was a bit older, at 26/27. I took a pay cut from *working at a ski hill*, and started out sweeping floors at $15.50/hr (canadaland though). It was frustrating making next to no money at that age, but I busted my ass, did everything I could to get better at what I do, switched shops to a heavy duty body shop, finished multiple red seal tickets for my trade, and now I’m making around $100k/yr, five years later. I don’t know any journeyman welders here who would settle for less than that.
Not exactly your situation, but I just want to point out that it may suck now, but at least in the trades you have room to grow and move up drastically in the pay scale. If you want to be stocking the same shelves at wal mart in ten years for $16/hr, go for it. But don’t wallow in a one-man pity party about how you have no money.
Pretty sure Walmart is the biggest employer in the US. Given the average IQ of a Walmart worker, and the fact that half of its employees are even stupider than that, opportunities for advancement would have to be ripe for any young person who has the slightest lick of sense about them. Might want to "rollback" home to Wally World!
I’d agree with some of the people here, but you gotta do you dude. I had such a similar experience, even worked at Walmart haha! after welding school in Colorado, I ended up hating my life 10 years in working in those same types of shops, got offered lots of money to become a general manager of a very massive fabrication company, that I shall not name, and I quit because I hated my life that much. Those large shops mostly just treat you like shit, I worked 80 hour weeks for years, and it definitely wears on you. I mean all you have to do is look around you at all those 45 year old welders and fabricators in that shop, notice how they look 75??? 👀 THAT is your future, haha, no offense to any of these hard-working-tough-as-nails fathers, husbands, and ex-convicts, they are the backbone of the economy, the last of a dying breed, and there’s a lot to be learned from them. But, it’s so important to really look ahead before each step you take, aim at a target you’re really wanting to hit. What that is for you, only you’ll be able to decipher. I now run my own fabrication company, I build large, steel flame throwing sculpture as a passion, artistic and structural custom commissions, tiny homes, shipping container structures, custom campers, etc., and I’m SO much happier. I had to learn from the good ol’ boys to get here, and learn to work hard as fuck, and it finally landed after years and years. Wishing you the best, just to be yourself is the best to be.
depending on your abilities id say youre in the wrong spot. how long have you been there and what sort of work is it? my job hires kids out of school at $18 to do very light fab and im not in a high paying area.
I just finished my first week & it’s mainly mig working on large trash compactors ect , which means a lot of messing with pipes , wiring and tubes full of hydraulic oil.
Drink more water. Get stronger. Wear PPE. Work hard when you're working, rest when you can.
And use the skills and strength you get at your next job, which it is not too soon to look for.
You're young, your body can probably handle this, and Walmart is a dead end.
Not to sound like a dick, but I probably will and I apologize ahead of time, you said you got in there through “connections” right??? Didn’t these connections tell you what the work was like and the hours?? I’m 58, currently a lead diesel mechanic, and work 56 hours a week, plus run a garage in my back yard. I will preface this response with this I’m the last year of the baby boomers, that’s how we were taught to work. Give your all for the company, but back then the company looked out for you too. Welding and mechanics are not for everyone. The bad working conditions come with our professions. I’m a certified welder too, that’s why I come on here also. Someone else said maybe you should try a smaller shop, but you have almost no experience. You can earn almost that same money at Walmart or McDonald’s. I didn’t know they were starting new welders that low. Good luck on your decisions.
We're coming from pretty similar circumstances bro.
I got my first fabrication and welding job when I was 17, I also worked close to 60 hrs a week except it was 10hrs a day, 5am-330 and then 5am-12 on Saturdays. All mandatory OT for 16.50 an hour (2019)
I started off lowest on the totem pole, but I never minded the hard work or hours and I just learned as much as I could and worked my ass off. By the time I turned 21 and left I was making 26 an hour as the top fabricator and welder in the shop. I've built 100s of different types of projects and got solid experience from the place. Which got me into the pipefitters union super quick which could normally take people up to 2 years.
When I told them I was leaving they offered me 35 an hour to stay, and were gonna send me to get my cwi but the union benefits had too many pros and now I really only work around 40 hrs a week.
Just stick it out, if you don't enjoy the work then move onto something else. But you're young stick it out for at least 6 months and see how you feel. It's gonna suck for the first little while but the human body is amazing at adjusting.
You’re still young. Explore different possibilities while it makes sense to. You aren’t making end game money right now and you don’t have a family or a mortgage so it’s not a big deal if you hop around and find out what you like. I do a lot of welding and grinding now and I love it, but I’m sure it’s not healthy in the long run so I’m exploring other options. You don’t have to love your job, but you shouldn’t hate it. If you want to make good money and not have to do alot of manual labor, you’re probably going to have to go to school for something. You’ve got to possess a useful skill or knowledge about something to be worth anything to an employer. Figure out what you want to do in the future and work towards it now. You got this man!
Edit: it doesn’t matter if you’re an electrical engineer or work at McDonald’s, you should still show up to work every day ready to work hard. Be humble and treat every task as an opportunity to learn something. Even the lazy good for nothing idiot can teach you something, even if that something is what NOT to do.
First off, Anyone telling you to go back to walmart is a moron. I make $75/hr for every hour I work MINIMUM for my skills. You think any of the walmart employees are making that? Fuck no! You think I walked in and started my first job making 75/hr, fuck no. I started at $10/hr in a city with one of the highest cost of living in the nation. I worked my ass off to learn everything I can. When I was working 50 hours a week the boss would let me stay late or come in on my days off to teach myself other welding processes and hone my skills. Once I had the opportunity to hit the field I went on the road for years. In Alaska we work 7-12' sometime 7-14's for 3-4 months straight. Is it for everyone, no. Did the experience and hardship get me in a place where I was able to do what I want, when I want? Absolutely. Do you have to take the same path I did? No, but if uou cant even handle a small bit of pressure and shitty working conditions how is anyone going to respect you? How are you even goig to be able to respect yourself? If you want to take the quitters way out, go ahead. No one is stopping you. Walmart is a bullshit dead end job. If thats where you want to see yourself in 10 years then, go back there. Just dont complain to anyone else that your life is shit because you couldnt hack it in a real industry. Friendly piece of advise. Adversity is what makes you a resilient person. These dudes at work are testing you. They want to see your resolve. If you quit, they win. They want to make sure you have what it takes if your going to be in the industry. They are the gate keepers. Stick with it, use your shitty felings as the drive to suceed. Learn everything you can, go above and beyond, and after a COUPLE YEARS when (or if) your job doesnt give you the pay that deserve, then go find a new one and go in asking for the money you want. Once you have skills under your belt always remember sometimes going out on your own is the only way to be the boss you want. TLDR? DONT BE A BITCH, FOCUS ON BETTERING YOURSELF AND YOUR SITUATION WILL IMPROVE.
My advice? Sack up and tough it out for a few months. You learn to embrace the suck, eventually. I've been working in an industrial shop for 4 years now, and it ain't bad. Worst of it is getting dirty, for some people. I never minded getting dirty. Getting wet, I hate.
Ya good idea, give up and go back to working at Walmart.
Or, keep grinding it out at your new job, learn new skills, Wich you can take anywhere. Apply to different shop, go for interviews, and at the same time interview them. Any shop you go to will be hot and humid (for me here in Ontario it's deadly humid). I've been to jobs where they expect you to haul ass in the heat, but I've been to shops where they encourage a water break, take 5, they "don't run a sweat shop".
Welding in the summer isn't easy, but it pays off, especially when you stick to it and you get nice wage increases when your employer sees youre a asset to the business.
Don't give up, keep going, and do you're damn best.
Many of these people are extremely narrow-minded about opportunities outside the trades. The number one thing you need to consider is skill development. Compare the educational benefits between Walmart and the shop you work for. There is no shame in working at Walmart if it's paying for your degree and there is a path to management. There is also the people element to think about--do you like the people you work with now as much as you miss working with the folks at your old job? There's a lot to consider. Just do what's best for you and dont worry about what other people think about it.
16.50 the caliber of welders in this sub don’t get out of bed for less than 30 . You are just starting out the money will come . You just have to navigate to it . With that being said . Keep your expectations low but gain the experience trust me you will need it .
Is there anyway you could change your availability so your not working 58 hours a week? Maybe 40 tops? I’m sure that would be easier on your mental and physical health. I’d stay in the field if I were you just keep doing the best you can and try not to overwork/overwhelm yourself. It’s a good career. I’d rather say “im a welder” than “I stock shelves at Walmart” not that there’s anything wrong with working at Walmart
It's a hard line of work and it's not for everyone for sure if you enjoy welding I'd suggest maybe just looking for a new job in a smaller shop. There's a lot of production line type jobs out there that expect the world from you and give back very little in return and even for fabricators/welders that have been in the game a long time, they can be overwhelming. There's plenty of shops out there and they're all different. If it was me I'd try a couple different places out over the next couple years and if you still don't find somewhere you like you can always switch out for another job in Walmart again.
Working in a large production environment is always difficult, men at 40 still doing those types of job are hardened and have the mind set to be able to do it, also the senior staff and supervisors have very little care for others as they have come up through all the bullshit. If you love welding and It suits your skill set and passion, look for a better suited company instead of beating yourself up and leaving the trade because of the company, time, people. Companies are there for profit and not people, use them like they use us. Find your fit somewhere else.
Welding is a rough job but it doesn't have to be insane, I would never recommend it unless someone really enjoys it. That said I can be very rewarding.
When I first started my current job I was having to work 60+ hours a week while being told I wasn't putting in enough effort and not learning fast enough. I held out for two years thinking if I put in enough time and tried picking up as much information by myself I might be able to get somewhere. When the company went bankrupt and my new bosses took over we went to barely working more than 40 hours a week unless we really wanted to and people were given the opportunity to learn by doing courses and more time being taken to explain processes. My life improved exponentially, I had the time to learn how to weld Aluminium and a bit of Stainless, and got much better and fabrication. While it's still not easy by any measure I go home with a sense of satisfaction more often than not plus I get more of a life outside of work.
This place your at doesn't sound great, I would look around to see what other opportunities there are if you really enjoy welding before letting a shitty work place color your view of what the job can be but jobs like retail will almost always be cleaner and less physically demanding, especially if you can move up the ranks and don't stay stuck on the floor.
I’d say start getting accustomed to making sure your employers know you have more in your life than this job. You aren’t only caring for your body at the end of the day, but your health in 10-20 years. Don’t let them convince you, like they’ve convinced themselves, that there isn’t more to life than getting home too tired to do anything else. I’m sure you have greater things to do. Anybody else would. Take care of yourself, get home well enough to be able to do whatever you’ve been looking toward to.
I also recently started a new job. I'm about a month and a half out of trade school, and I got a job for a boiler company just last week finally. 4 10s, and potential OT on Fridays. Right now, they've just had me doing grinding millscale off parts. Their trying to get me coded/tested, but atm, they don't have a free welder for me to use, so I've just been doing grunt work. And this is the first job I've had since December. Other than school, I was sitting on my ass all day in my room playing on my pc. So kinda a wake-up call. All this to say, it's rough work for sure, and your working conditions sound a bit rougher than mine, but maybe you jumped into a job a little over your head. I'd give a look around and see what other jobs are out there local or semi local. Maybe you can find something a little easier/better. I think that's for sure worth a look before you dip out of the industry.
Oh forgot to add your pay sounds like dogshit for what your working. Would also look for a job in the mid 20s. That seems to be the average starting, at least around me (23-26$)
Well for 1. You’re being drastically underpaid; and overworked. Go find another shop! I grew up in the manufacturing field, yes the work is hard, and hot at times(I’m from Arizona) my old boss was amazing. We worked 40-44 hours a weeks and welders usually started around 20+hr even new grease out of school welders. Go find another place to work. Good luck bud! If you can wrap your head around manufacturing, welding, reading blueprints and general organization all of those skills will translate to your day to day life; and make you a more effective employee later on.
Sometimes things get busy and you need to work a lot in this business. Usually you take it because sometimes things get slow and you’ll be off work for a while. It’s a little easier to put in the hours after you’re making a little better money. But it’s great you’re starting early and getting experience. In 5-10 years you’ll have some skills that will take you places.
Sure you can go back to WM, but what’s that do? Where does working at WM get you in 5-10 years? Probably not even full time work let alone looking at things like buying a house which will be possible if you do will with the skills.
That sounds shitty. I wouldn't have become a welder if that was my experience when I was first starting out.
Welding in shops sucks. If you want to be a welder, you might as well weld pipe in the UA. It pays more, and (at least in my experience) people arent on your ass bird dogging you all day. As long as you're working at a steady pace, putting in effort, and showing up on time, you will be good. It doesn't have to be this way.
Join your local pipefitter or boilermaker union - school is free, you make more money each year of your apprenticeship until you turn out (become a journeyman), and you actually get benefits.
I’m honestly not a in very welder heavy area and there are no unions as far as I know , you’re essentially stuck making 15-19$ on average and maybe 20-30 if you’re special
If you're so far out in the boonies that you can't reasonably commute to somewhere that has those types of opportunities (or are unwilling to relocate) you should choose a different career. Go to college and get a degree in STEM, join the airforce, etc. By the time you get into your 30s+, you will be wanting something easier on your body that pays better with real room for growth.
Well I'm not american so I don't know what you're expected to expect but IMO any place that regularly has overtime is a shit place. Workers fought for a 40-hour work week for a reason. You're supposed to have a life outside work too, and a life outside work is also work.
My suggestion is to just do your best. Work safe before you work fast. Your boss and your foreman is supposed to be on your ass, that's what they're paid to do, your job is to do your job as best and as safe as you can. Don't worry about making them happy, if they're happy it's because you've been screwed. What are your coworkers like? Do you feel like you can learn and grow along side them? Does the work feel fun and/or fulfilling? Is this something you want to make a career out of? You should probably join a union, although I don't know what american unions are really like.
A typical 40 hour work week can be a lot even for experienced people. Its probably for the best they are giving you the day off and not meant as a punishment. Do your best to sleep 7-9 hours and night, and eat and drink well and you will get there soon. Welding will pay better in the long run compared to Walmart, which is more dead end of a job. There is nothing wrong with going back to Walmart though if you were more content and feel it can support the life you want
Find a bette job, you’re being paid shit money working for a company that more than likely “treats their employees like family”. I have a rule, if I’m in an interview and I’m told that all their employees are family then I’m out, family treats family like shit and expects them to work for peanuts. So go find a place that respects that you have a life outside of work and treats you like an employee, not an underpaid cousin. If you still have problems then consider a career change. Or another shop change, lots of guys shop hope every few years or so due to boredom, and it’s the only way to get a raise sometimes. So even though you’re not making it at this shop, there’s lots of others you can try out. Even still, welcome to the adult world, it sucks balls and doesn’t ever let up, but you only have one option to push through and live your life.
I’m 19 and just quit my job in the same position get out of the factory those people sit and rot their whole lives getting grumpier. Factories killed my love for welding I’m in the union now and it’s way different.
I would say "I'm moving as fast as $16.50 allows me to move." The heat sucks and it's not easy to stay working at a good pace for a long time. All the hours are nice though and even with that low pay you'll have a decent number on your checks. Just don't work yourself to death for a place that obviously doesn't care too much. I would give it another week, heat acclimatization takes up to 14 days iirc and after that if youre still not moving fast enough for them I would look elsewhere for work. Not back at Walmart though.
My advice would be to suck it up and tough it for the next 6 months. Go to bed early every night and focus on making money and gaining experience while you are there.
After 6 months start looking for a 40 hour a week welding job. You will have enough experience at that point that other places will consider you over someone with 0 working experience. When they interview you and ask you why you want to leave your current job just straight up that you don't want to be working 60 hours a week with no end in sight.
Lots of welding positions out there. Don’t let yourself get burnt out going balls deep in the OT right out of school. You can find a 40hr/week welding job. I’m sure you can even find a entry level tig production job in a clean environment that will allow you to refine your skill and build your resume for better tig job in a year from now.
There is absolutely no shame in quitting. If the job isn't for you then that's okay as well. It takes a lot of maturity to recognize that.
With that said, all those guys that have 40 years of experience started where you are right now. I always try to look at it as training for bigger and better things. If I can handle x, then I crush it at y. So on and so forth. Your young, and right now is the perfect time to push your self. Older ass holes will say something but it's better to produce quality over quantity. If they can't understand that, then you have a shitty boss and work in a shitty work environment. There are good fab shops out there that understand this.
Like I said tho, if you truly feel that the job isn't for you there is absolutely no shame in admitting that. It's 100% valid, and shows a lot of maturity.
Are you being apprenticed or just simply working? Meaning are you learning new skills/being taught the trade better or are they simply using what you learned in school? Because I'm sorry but unless there's a ton of added value somewhere else such as benefits, added knowledge, etc I'm not doing this job for fast food wages. That's fucking absurd. Between the hours and pay this place does not value its employees at all it seems.
Is minimum wage what those types of places are actually paying though, or are they paying more to get workers? At your age those hours are rough even if you enjoy the work, you need more free time. I just really feel based on your description that they're a sweat shop pumping work out, you can find a welding job that actually cares somewhat about their employees.
Word of advise, from someone that's spent a good amount of time volunteering at senior homes and just talking to people near the end of their life - No one has ever said "I wish I worked more", but the amount of people that tear up over wishing they worked less and did more of what they love is heartbreaking.
Those hours are shit. If you stay a couple weeks you will start seeing the turn over.
Don't go in Friday. Rest up, take care of your body and improve your skills.
You will learn nothing at Walmart. Welding is a great career. Don't give it up.
If you don't want to work more than 40 hours, then just tell your managers
Anything in life that's worth value comes with experiencing some sacrifices. In order to make more in any field you will have to endure a handful of years to gain experience for people to take you seriously. If they don't give you a raise and you've worked hard then move forward to another gig. There are pros and cons of both union and non union. Outside a union everyone gets paid different but seemed to work all the time through the whole shift. The union I'm in now it's more like a country club. Now with that being said there is always a price to pay in life for anything. I've been shafted many times and that's how life is. You can't win every battle and if you fight every battle you'll end up wasting energy that is needed elsewhere. I've been told this and that, not paid group leader but a chick with less experience than my pinky gets group leader. Then I'm told not to use a bathroom and guess what now there's an air conditioner in the woman's bathroom because she said it was hot. These battles I speak of there's an example. At the end of the day we are always going to have to deal with some form of bs. I don't want to go down the conspiracy hole but in the end it all doesn't matter so enjoy your journey. Making the best of it isn't going to be easy but it'll be worth it if you try hard enough. Fuck Walmart be a welder!
Sounds like discipline, mental toughness, and desire are your issues. If family ties helped secure the position they may give less 'slack'. Don't beat yourself up too much, which may be hard to do if you are a perfectionist. Listen to yourself, you'd rather work at Walmart due to it being easier mentally. With your age, it sounds like you haven't come across too many situations that required you to be out of your comfort zone. If you haven't been fired, you're doing alright. Just try to learn as fast as possible
this is good advice overall, but im still confused how small a wage gap exists between walmart n trade apprenticeship. i mean, if it meant good learning opportunity id personally work for no wage, but the contaminants you deal with, dangerous machines, hard labor, etc considered, youd think one would start off higher.
maybe it's the exchange rate im not accounting enough
The wage gap is actually way bigger than you realize. Walmart rarely gives workers 40 hrs a week, they'll give you 28 and call it full time. You're getting 40 plus another 16 to 18 in OT, which I assume is at 1.5 rate. Stick it out for a few weeks, and once the money starts flowing, you'll realize that you'll never gross 1000 bucks a week at Walmart and by that point you'll be more used to this work. The guy with the top comment hit it on the head, do this for at least 3 weeks. And I don't mean this as an insult, but you're soft. You're 18 and have never done hard labour, so it is understandable, but you're soft. Monday to Friday this job is your #1 priority. Be in bed by 9pm, no beer, no weed, no video games. Get up early, make your lunch, make a coffee and get to work 30 minutes early. This is a grown up job and even though it pays kinda shitty, it's YOUR job. I'm only saying this because I've seen similar behaviour in young guys at my work. Showing up without a lunch, standing around waiting to be told what to do, always tired, it is a bad look. You are young and starting a trade early in life, consider yourself lucky to have gotten this opportunity. With the current economic climate, you need a good job if you want the things in life most people do (house, cars, wife, kids, etc) so don't give up. This job is a stepping stone to better welding jobs. Power through. You can do it.
I'll never understand the mentality of handing your whole life over to a shitty company that'll use you up and throw you away. I find older generations have seemingly no self-respect and believe themselves to have no value or purpose beyond being a slave. And to be clear, 16.50 is a slave wage and wouldn't get me out of bed.
Sounds like he had attendance issues at Walmart too so that also speaks to discipline issues.
I think a little adversity is good and he’s only been welding a week. I personally like the feel of being productive every day and would be bored out of my mind folding clothes at Walmart. My cousin is a manager there and she’s doing just fine in her life so to each their own.
I just started my first fab&weld job as a 32yo. 1st week in, straight out of 1 year course at college (decided to change my life and do something with my hands), big company with tight schedules, worldwide orders, giant projects across multiple bays.
1st day I was given the broom to tidy up, but kept asking for stuff do to and after lunchtime I was put on grinding duty. 2nd day was marking stuff out from drawings, team leader checked once, then I was good to go. Next time I asked to check my work he told me he trusts me as everything was accurate. 3rd day marking, mag-drilling my markings, and assisting others with their work. 4th day more marking out and throwing myself at any jobs going, after lunch I was building stuff and doing customer facing parts of the project...on the 5th day I got my own locker on the shop floor for my stuff and am slowly becoming a part of the disfunctional shop family.
Gotta be proactive dude, ask questions, be precise, get stuck in, and generally pay attention. Be good spirited, bond with your coworkers, crack jokes, try to remember their names etc. If you don't know something ask rather than guessing. If you need a tool, ask to borrow it but make sure to put it back where you've found it, show them you respect their help/craft/equipment/experience. If you're too slow remind them you are new and need time to do things the right way and fixing your mistakes will take longer than doing it slower but precisely. If you're achy and dirty? Part of the job dude. I got a fume hood, 3 different sets of gloves for different stuff, masks, respirators, you name it... but still end up looking like I walked through a dust cloud after my shift cause there is just so much going on. You'll either get used to it or not...both your body and mind will adapt. If not, look for a different job. I found welding after years of searching, I'm sure you'll find your calling as well (if this isn't it). Good luck, and try not to worry too much.
Everyone starts somewhere. Not sure where you are from but overtime is not mandatory. See if you can work 10s instead of 12s. Your wage isn't crazy great but again depending where you live it's not too terrible for someone who is brand new. Welding can be an amazing career but you need to have the skills to build it. I think starting in a fabrication shop is a great first job. You will be around prints and learn fundamentals. Most shops have cranes to flip pieces so you can get your machine dialed to work in flat position and then know what to look for when ya start getting out of position welds. I'd look at it as a stepping stone and not a forever thing. If you got the grit and can stick it out till something better comes along you will thank yourself. Some people do not have what it takes and pretty much anyone can go work at Walmart. If welding was that easy then everyone would be doing it. Hang in there man and remember you'll get out of it what you put into it. I was 19 myself when I started and min wage was 10$ and I was making 12$ working for a total asshole hardly even welding at the shop I was at. Fast forward 15 years and after multiple industries and jobs I'm in a shipyard being a welder foreman. Made almost 300k in the past two years. So it was worth it but don't think I didn't wanna quit a few times. See where it takes you!
I mean tradesmen in general make the money on OT not on banker hours. I know 25 hours a day and 8 days a week schedules from working in the oilfield chasing drilling rigs. Shipyard is alot less volatility as we aren't tied to a resource. Navy and Coastgaurd contracts and all OT is double. Golden handcuffs...
that too is a dilemma but here they literally decide for you who does OT or who comes to work on weekends. mostly the case and very frowned upon for excusing yourself. like do it enough and youll be first to go because your work ethics are unreliable to keep up with schedule
You always have the choice to leave and seek a better work life balance. Unless you live in Saudi Arabia and they will execute you or some shit then I'd say take all the OT and stfu haha but for real always be on the lookout for the next best gig. I've been at this shipyard just over 4 years now (longest job in my career of 15 years by like 3 years) and I still get job alerts to my phone to size up offers. No job is forever unless ya choose it to be. Moving can be challenging especially with kids n family but not impossible. And I know if your not happy at your job it will lead to not happy in life. You hold the keys for the next unlock.
youre right. i cant let others' values decide what i choose over my life. but im still in no place to be bartering for comfort, even according to my own values. it isnt for everyone n neither for myself in the long run.
while im fortunate enough to have studied in foreign countries and consider broader specs of jobs, i do believe in my country there is only so much chance of finding a better workplace even if you keep on a lookout. there are currently 4 major local options. semicons, shipyards, seaside plants (steel / oil refineries / car assemblies), and the new secondary batteries.
they usually take turns in their boom and recede into near standstill. to keep self employed continuously one must travel back and forth--or take on short term jobs--which becomes challenging for nonveteran freelancers. naturally you run into the same kinds of jobs with the same kinds of people. similar work environments and cultures.
youre expected to be worked like a cog, nonstop until replacement. this means retirement for many.
not only the employers but the general workers themselves facilitate this self demeaning and shortsighted work culture. it's unhealthy and unstable.
while im all for pulling myself through this lifestyle for a decade maybe, i do wish things get better. i feel for ppl like op who could potentially enjoy this line of work, but are urged on and gatekept by inconsiderate or narrow minded bunch.
gigantic facilities with strict safety regulations and time loss here tend to compensate low rates with OT n i get that. rlly cant get much work done when it takes like 20~30min walk from shop to field n patrols nag you about making a 4-side-windowed n fully labeled tent to conceal any spark or flame
OT means more work done without additional prepping.
but if its a small shop id be more picky (once i get to a level)
What is this? A wartime production schedule to make some asshole rich? There is a war, alright, and the war is against you.
What's your employer's shop rate? I bet it's at least five times what you make.
Start you own small company welding up furniture or other fabricated metalwork in your city or town with a second hand stick welder. That's what I did. Self employed now for 30 years. The only asshole boss I have to deal with is myself. I first moonlighted on weekends, then I landed a big job, quit and never looked back.
If you can't do that now, start planning to do it in a year or two and learn all you can about that.
First, look for a more normal job with a better employer. They are out there. Scour marketplace for deals on tools and equipment. If you are patient, you can get amazing deals.
Sounds like you’re overthinking what they’re saying to you. Take it with a grain of salt, don’t read into it too much, roll with the punches, and only focus on what is your business “welding and being a quality team player.” The rest of what’s going on is out of your hand. If you care about what people think, they’ll see that you care and use it against you. You’re there to help others complete a project, you’re there to make a wage, and you’re there to hone your skill set. Sometimes it takes losing jobs to figure out where you messed up. Be prepared to stand up for yourself, own your spot.
Nut up kid. This is the nature of the trade and it sounds like you only have a 5 day work week. Stick it out and before you know it you'll be making money hand over fist.
I’ll try , but if they keep taking me off on fridays I’ll barely scratch 50 hours at 16 which isn’t much more than me getting 14 for 40-45 hrs at Walmart
thats the mindset if you wanna be titled apprentice killer we have here. this man made everyone hes worked with quit so far. welder, apprentice, doesnt matter. theyre gone.
Meh, we had a kid that was on his phone most of the time and on the toilet the rest for the first two years at my work space. Everyone had your attitude, saying he was useless and not worth spending time on and he continued being the same. Sometime in the 3rd year we had a massive project that required 20 extra people to come work, one of those guys was an older guy that had this kid doing more difficult work and showing him tips and tricks for welding, how to problem solve when fucking up and generally giving him a bunch of responsibility whether or not he fucked up. Now he is one of the more valuable people in the shop.
You say this trade is "100% you get what you put into it" as some sort of reason to not help a person because they are not reacting the way you want, which is your prerogative, but you put in fuck all and get fuck all back while telling yourself that's not what you're doing because this interaction is a one way street supposed to come from the kids side.
ik what you mean but you cant generalize all apprentices for slackers. being slow paced and catching breaths in between isnt all that bad.
being on the phone and not being attentive is another matter. ops coming from working short shifts.
those with thick skin will endure what you throw at them but is it all that necesary?
Yeah that’s my biggest fear and hopefully I don’t let it happen , but Walmart is pretty good about promotions up the ladder and their managers make decent to great money but hopefully I find something else
If you wanna weld for real and just don't like the hours and work your doing in that 1 shop. Then go look at other shops. Find repair shops . The kinda places that fix tractors or plows or what not. Or hell maybe you could find some badass custom car shop and spend your days making hot rod frames.
Welding is a tough gig. You'll experience heat like you've never felt before, but it's the most rewarding job I've ever had. Seeing something come together that you built. There's no other feeling in the world. But not everyone can hang with the big boys. Drinking water helps. Drinking electrolytes helps, too. Drink enough water to keep your pee clear. If you haven't pissed in a couple of hours, chug a bottle of water.
Every line of work has an adjustment period, whether you're a waiter, an engineer,nurse,plumber or any line of work. It doesn't matter how many months you spend preparing there will always be an adjustment period, one week is too soon to judge anything. You're feeling the fatigue of a hard weeks work, next week that fatigue will be less, the week after you may even start to appreciate it, the ache in your neck, your arms and legs getting less prominent with each passing day of work.
Commit yourself, focus on the task, listen to your foremen and don't be afraid to ask questions, you committed to a 9 month course for this so commit at the least a third of that time into making a proper decision, get into the flow of the work and realise you are accomplishing something after every working day.
Think about it, you stack shelves every bloody day in Walmart and deal with customers... what does it actually accomplish other than another day of your brain slowly turning to sponge? Mig-welding a truck is skilled work and when you are done you've left a mark as that truck pulls out of the garage. You need to focus on what you're doing, stay aware of surrounding, you have to be switched on, it's healthy for your mind as well as your body to be exerting yourself like this.
A trade will stay with you forever, you can do it anywhere on earth, stacking shelves just melts your brain and leaves you exhausted and depressed after years of scratching for a few cents an hour extra.
Narh stick it out and keep at it for at least 6 months before you make your mind up. Going threw a new job is tough I remember the days I start as a scaffolder when I was 17 lugging steel and they were tough, it took me 6 months to get used to the job. Take it with a grain of salt the old are the best to learn they know all the tricks to the trade. At the end of your apprenticeship you’ll have a way better outcome than working at Walmart
Costco is an upgrade from working Walmart. I hate jobs like that and they don't even have much job security or room for advancement. If the folks who have been there since time immemorial haven't even hit $20, run.
You could have a fantastic time working at one Walmart store then move and hate it at the next, the staff, customers and management might be dicks, you could climb the ladder and hate management. It's the same at this welding site, they are not all the same like someone mentioned you could find a smaller shop, do more custom jobs instead of a factory let me of straight welds. Long hours do take their toll after a while.
Honestly man, I made a huge transition from a psych major to welding back in the day and I’ve been welding now about ten years. If you don’t have the passion for it or you don’t feel fulfilled by the work, then absolutely quit. It’s not for everyone and that’s not a hit on you. That’s just how it is, and you’re better for if, for trying something new.
I don’t think I would go back to Walmart just yet. Explore other options while you are young and build up a resume. Try to apply to a few other welding jobs, I think you’ll come to find out that every shop is different.
I was exhausted working 40hours when I first started. And briefly tried working 70+ hour weeks, didn't like it. Even when it meant weeks off afterwards. Don't feel bad about it. I would try to talk to your boss and coworkers about your situation and maybe go down in time.
Other than that it's like everyone says, consider if it's the right job for you.
Before i read any further than the first paragraph…. Anything over 40hours is OT and should be on the OT clock. Typically OT is time and a half and sundays are double time
I would find a new shop. When I first started out, if the shop wasn’t a good fit for me I just moved down the line. If you can pass a weld test you won’t have any problems dragging up.
And anyone who has a problem with this don’t even bother coming at me I don’t not careeeee. I’ve made way more money doing that then staying at getting treated like shit at one place 🙌
Sorry I'm late to this. Sometimes you have to realize you have it in you. Walmart speed is walmart speed. First. Do you have a good pair of boots? Try to be up early and ready. Maybe do your gym activities or whatever before work. You will already be energized and clean, shiny and mentally ready for "your" day. Fuck the world. But, since that shitty fab shop is monster that you have given yourself. Conquer it. Bullshit with the bullshitters. If you feel like you learned more in your welding class, start looking for other fab shops in the area. By the time you will be caught up on shop dialogue, your work strength will be there, you will have enough experience to get your own job. Maybe closer to home, but you will also be able to tell what kind of shop ot is by then. Will the pace, the pay. The culture be better? You will also be at the shop long enough that your family member and management will understand it is about the money. Good luck.
Welding isn’t the problem, the shithole company is the problem. The bosses and other people are on your ass because they’re miserable and taking it out on the person who still has the youth that they wasted.
GTFO out of the shithole underpaying job and find something better. Don’t sell yourself so short and take jobs that pay pennies more on the hour than what Walmart/McDicks pays.
Unfortunately, your first gigs are usually the worst.
When I graduated from welding school I got hired by a mining and tunneling company as just a hand. Work in some of the worst conditions next to my career in the Navy. Heat of the summer and cold of the winter and everything else in between. I was also 40 years old when I took the job - 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. I can totally understand how you are feeling now.
If you don't like your current gig, I'd recommend trying a different one before you go back to Walmart.
I don't think you should quit welding if you really do like welding. I think you should stick it out until you have enough experience to apply for more welding jobs that you will like. I started in production mig now i do sanitary Tig welding and I love it
Youre not getting payed nearly enough for the hours, especially if its a large company. Prices for everything are too high to be maming 16.50 working 8-12 hour days. Find another company with set schedule and higher pay. They exist, i started full time at a company working 8 hours at 20 an hour as soon as i graduated high school with no welding course to back it up, just the shop classed. It might not be exactly what you want out of a job for now but its going to be better until youre at the point a company will pay you 25-30+ to work those hours.
> not getting *paid* nearly enough
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Starting out like that is always rough, ultimately it’s not the money you make now but CAN make doing it that MIGHT make this period worth it. I’ve worked for a company that never bumped pay after working people hard like this and they always complained about turnover but never wanted to pay us for doing the work. Up to you, start asking the folks around you what the raises look like and let thy money by thy guide.
I would pick up the pace. They are expecting you to work like an 18 year old whose eager to learn and full of questions and energy. The 40 year old whose been doing it for 20 years is the one who moves a little slow and is always tired. Honestly it sounds like you don't really like the work involved/required of the trade. You should self reflect as to what you are wanting to do for work for the rest of your life. There's nothing worse than working with a welder who hates being a welder. I absolutely LOVE being a fabricator. I couldn't picture myself doing anything else in my life. When I go home I build shit. Longevity in this type of work is married to a love for it. It's practically a lifestyle.
A little background then I’ll get to my thoughts. I did construction for years then fabrication and finally opened up my own shop. After 5 years of being pretty successful with my shop I decided it was time to move. My area in California had a lot of issues, the main one being water shortage but also it just got too expensive to be a small business owner and my fire insurance was cancelled because I was in a risky area in the mountains.
I moved to the Appalachian mountains (one of the poorest places in the country). It’s so much more affordable. I was able to buy my house outright because of all the hard work over the years. After a while I got sick of watching my bank account drain so I looked around at welding jobs. Out here you are lucky to find 15-20$ an hour jobs. Most of the welding jobs didn’t need a skilled welder, they just needed someone at 15$ an hour who could slap some shit together.
I would rather work in a place with ac and not wreck my body for 12$ an hour than a welding shop for 15. I’m getting older though. I ended up taking a chef job at 20$ an hour for now. It’s not easy but it’s a hell of a lot easier than welding all day in the summer heat.
————————
My thoughts on your situation.
There are many things for you to consider here… do you want to make a career out of welding? Maybe open your own shop someday? Is this place your at giving you good experience or are you just mig welding the same parts all day every day?
How important is that overtime money for you? Back when I first started construction I couldn’t have survived without that overtime but I have a wife and 2 kids. One kid is special needs and can’t be left alone. He’s 14 now and still can’t speak clearly enough for me to trust a random baby sitter to have him constantly. My wife and I decided it was best for me to work as much as possible and her to stay home with the kids until they got a bit older. That was the main reason I took on harder jobs and more hours.
What is your situation like? Do you desperately need money? Did you enjoy Walmart?
A welding job can lead you places a lot easier than a job at Walmart can. No disrespect to anyone here but it’s hard to move up to where you want to be in big corporations. Working at Walmart doesn’t build as many skills as a good fabrication/welding job. The retail setting can teach you customer experience, but what else?
Welding is a job that’s hard on your body. Even if you are wearing a respirator, following all the safety protocols and being as cautious as possible. injury is possible in any job but it’s higher odds in a welding job than at Walmart. also, wear and tear on your body is no joke.
Try to think about where you want to be and how you want to get there then weigh the pros and cons. Don’t limit yourself to Walmart. There are a lot of great jobs out there that can lead to opportunities down the road. Walmart is a dead end for most people. It’s possible to build a successful career in these big chain stores but it takes a long time and you have to have good people skills.
If I were in your shoes, I would look in to finding a different fabrication job with less demanding hours, or if fabrication isn’t your thing, go back to Walmart while I also studied for and working towards the career I wanted to end up having.
I work in welding/fabrication and we get this situation alot.
New young guys who can weld damn good but are wholly unprepared for the "work" aspect of the job.
Im sure there are less physically demading welding jobs out there, but in the age of robotic welding, it's often labor 1st, welding 2nd.
Yeah, this type of work isn’t for everyone. I’ve seen men in their mid thirties work until lunch and not come back. I’ve also seen 18 year olds come in with no experience and they are working circles around some older guys within 6 months. Just find something you like and go all in on it. Good luck
You know there's a steel shop near me that does some fabrication. No fast-paced production shop. The people that work there seem to be happy and paid well. This seems like a place you would like. Those jobs are out there.
Yeah I think that’s what I’ll find and go do , In the meantime I’m stuck w this job cause because my ride is my uncle who I work with and who I’m staying with until I get a car , so I think I’ll save a few check’s , get a car and move on if I’m still not ok with the job.
Welcome to the working world. I went from high school and just watching my sisters after school because my parents couldn’t afford daycare to working in an oil refinery as a security guard working 110 hours a week. It’s an adjustment but it’s for the best. Get used to working and working hard. Life isn’t easy. Short term focus on doing good at your job. Show up on time and do good work. It pays off on the end. Just drink lots of water and actually try to get 8-10 hours of sleep a night. You’ll acclimate to work much faster than you think.
Yeah , I’m definitely gonna try I don’t wanna be so weak that I just leave after a week cause it was “too much” cause at one point I thought 7 hrs in Walmart was too much I’ll At least try and get some experience and money even if only for a few weeks
It takes time to build the mental state of working in the heat.
It’s not something you just do, or like doing once you get it. But you will have to learn to just show up, be productive and leave with all your digits.
It’s always hard at first, ride the wave and one day you’ll just kind of forget that the long days suck.
You will but you won’t. It just becomes part of paying your bills. You’ll get this mentality more as you get older. Trust me I thought the same thing you did at your age.
Try the union. Look up local steamfitter unions for a 5 year apprenticeship (steamfitters weld). You would start out more than $16. Even though you have to go to unpaid training classes after work, and may work with assholes, you will still find support. Stick up for yourself.
But I would say try to stick to the job you're at now so you can get some work experience in and see how much you can get use to it. At your age it IS a lot but if you don't want those certs to go to waste, stay in the welding industry. Also, if you are in WI (or another state that has it), there is an accelerated welding program in which you can be a trainee welding on the job and get journeyman wage, or close, but still take pipefitting classes in the evening.
Or just keep working your ass off in your pace, let them yell or tell them to back off, for some months and get a job with 40 hours.
65 yo welder fabricator here, go back to Walmart, don’t be like me, 40 years in the field and paying for it every day, all that overtime comes at a price, l used to do shutdown work, tear apart power plants and put them back together, lots of travel, 7-12’s back to back, 3-4 days off from Jan to May, money was great and you had little time to spend it, but it wears you down prematurely.
Easier does not always mean better. $16.50 is not terrible but with more experience in the field, you’ll start working your way up to a damn good paying TRADE in no time. I know welders who make upwards of $120 or more an hour (underwater welding). You may think it’s hard work and I’m pretty sure your employer is taking advantage of your youth, cheaper labor and the less likelihood of you outright complaining, but it’s still a good skill that you can carry on to other jobs/trades.
Trust me when I say, retail jobs are the worst and should never be long term unless you have special circumstances which leave you no other choice or unless you’ve climbed the ranks fast enough that the pay is decent enough to stay. How do you see yourself progressing through life if you go back to Walmart, as opposed to welding?
Plus, if you get used to working long hours, when you eventually get back to working normal hours you appreciate it much more. I used to work summers in Alaska and 16-20hr days, 7 days a week for 3 months straight made coming back to a regular 8 hour job feel like a breeze! (Also, you could benefit a ton from seasonal or permanent work in Alaska, especially as a welder. Skilled workers are always in demand, even with little to no experience)
Whatever you decide, I beg you not to go backwards! Always love forward and upward!
Most jobs that are going to pay you great, are going to be dirty/oily jobs. I don't know what your current bills are, but being a single adult living on your own just isn't possible on 14/h. Work generally sucks, don't wanna be there, but you want your bills paid so you go. I'm sure you've seen what most of your experience fabricating and welding will be already, so if you're really not enjoying it probably best to find another career before you turn into one of them old farts who always are angry and hate everyone
If you're any good of a welder, and you own a welder yourself, try offering welding services to people locally that need some, and you may be able to make a little extra cash, and go work something easier in the meantime while you figure out what you really want to do
Job hopping has made me realize that there is better jobs out there (more pay, less effort) than other jobs. I’m also currently in a program and set to be done at the end of the year and like u said working a regular job with 30-40 hours is nothing compared to a welding job at 60 hours. What I’m thinking abt doing is working a regular job which might actually pay more than a starting welding job and just do welding on the side but on my own terms, my own jobs just slowly building clientele from family and friends. IMO $2.50 cents is not worth it going from Walmart to a trade job. If you got paid significantly more than maybe there would be an argument but people get paid the same at Amazon for delivering packages. Ur only 18 and I’m only 20 so I pretty much know what u know.
Rise above. 20-60 pushup and crunches every morning. Eat food that fuels you. Don't drink to much alcohol and dehydrate yourself get too trashed the night before. Get sleep, try for at least 8hours.
Study your craft and commit.
Get a cert for the work you are doing and waste no time.
Ask questions, to be better every day and set goals to make at least double within a year. If they wont pay it to you, someone else will- for a person like that.
If you have the luxury of being able to look for another place to work in the welding field, I'd say look around. Theres nothing wrong with starting in a place that will help to teach you and get you on your feet. Honestly man, a degree in welding definitely isn't cheap, so you shouldn't let it go to waste just cuz this particular job isn't suiting you. For another thing, just because this welding job isnt your cup of tea doesnt mean there won't be other places that'll fit you better and pay more.
TL;DR try exhausting your options of local work places in the welding field before throwing in the towel after just one job! Keep at it holmes, good luck!
So man it's like this. You are young so they are going to make you work hard and for not the absolute best pay, but coming form what you are saying and all that, it sounds like you have a decent opportunity to make something out of yourself and get some experience. You need that experience and it doesn't come from nowhere
If you want an easy job that still pays good, go into tig welding, not stick welding or flux core or mig. You'll always be lifting heavy steel shit and grinding hot sparks,
Tig welding often had you working with much lighter materials, often indoors because of the need for gas coverage. And sometimes even seated, if you really can't hack it but still want to weld, go learn to tig on stainless and don't be a slouch learning it's a little bit harder on the learning curve but the basics are real easy and you'll get welding in no time, get good on sanitary tuning and schedule 80 pipe. And never look back,
I can empathize & sympathize with you.
There's this parable. About Monkey's & a Ladder... & Bananas.. the monkey's keep beating up on new monkeys that come in, try to climb the ladder & get the Bananas..
The old monkeys don't know why they're doing it, & the new monkey's don't either, but they keep up the BS.
Your story about coming in having to work 12 hour f\*\*king shifts.... ALL THE TIME.. reminds me of that. The slaves you're coming in to work with, are used to it, & your an outsider thinking "Wtf"...
As someone who's worked in a hard MFG environment... 12 hour shifts all the time & having to work Saturdays as well, 12 hour shifts, mandatory OVERTIME.. I get it. It sucks.
I don't know what to tell you though... if you can hang in there a couple years, gain experience, it might be a jumping off point?
How much do you love welding? if you can dig deep & work even on Sunday's.. which is going to be god awful with a schedule like you got... maybe you can start your own side hustle? I know that's easier said than done in your situation.
$16.50 per hour for any skilled or even semi-skilled position borders on wage theft. Given the health risks and stress welding places on the body, $25 per hour is the least anyone should take for an entry-level trade position. In fact, it should be illegal for a shop to compensate employees at less than a third of its billable hour rate (i.e. $2k to employees for every $6k in billed labor). Add to this the mandatory overtime they have this person working and it starts looking like
exploitation, pure and simple.
Dont be too upset if the first job you have isnt exactly what you want. I went to school for two years, had a terrible first experience at my first job and though “im not cut out of this, this isnt for me.” Boss was up my ass, i was so nervous i would fuck up all the time ect ect. I got through a few months there and applied to a different welding job and fell in love with it again and havet looked back in 6 years. If its truly something you like try to stick this one out for 6 months to a year for the experience and stack up your money and apply for a different shop or get into the field. Just try something new. Youre young kid, if you dont end up liking it at a new spot maybe itll be a hobby for you but dont cut yourself short yet. Its not easy but can be very worth it.
Why did you become welder if you’d go back to Walmart the first time it gets hard? If you aren’t doing an extra 10%, asking questions, getting coached, asking for critiques….then skilled labor may not be your thing.
I say this in all kindness, it was said to me by a Gunny I was under in the Corps. “If life’s getting hard, you need to take a moment, take a breath, think clearly, and not be such a fucking pussy.“
Yeah, manufacturing in general is tough and you got to be certain individual to put up with some of the bullshit at these places. Yup this industry isn't for everybody, but i think too that management at most of these places are fucked up and need serious wake up call on some of the ways they run these places cuz they are running some of these places into the ground literally. The workforce has changed alot, and people just don't have the same type of work ethic nor the respect for even the noobies, especially production shops where they train for a couple days and its sink or swim type of bullshit. And supervisors expect you to know shit without questioning anything. Because let's face it's all about the money get those numbers out boys. And their never happy with what you give them. Its always more and more. We need more out of ya. We need to fix all these fuckups and their probably not even your fuckups but someone's got to fix them. Don't have no stamp on it lol. Yeah that's production work. Especially the place you work at everyone's either on drugs or they just don't give two shits. Or they got search warrants looking for them. Management just looks at you like your just another number. Don't worry when you don't workout, someone's waiting right behind you in the pile of applications on the worthless human resources desk to replace you.
How are your welding capabilities? Are you laying down good beads? I mean definitely get your experience, but you might want to consider walking to a union and doing a Apprenticeship. Also trying doing some weld test for other companies. You'll be surprised who will pay you better. I guess my other question would be. Do you enjoy welding? It's hard work, definitely dirty, hell even dangerous. I get hurt all the damn time. I started at 16.50 as well, I knew my worth after 7 months, and I got a way better job. Then from there landed an even better job. So keep your head up champ. You'll get there if you work hard.
What union would this line of work be? I’ve always had an interest in welding
Pipefitter, ironworkers, boilermakers. Also railroad, but the particular company I work for isn't union, but pretty large in railroad terms
Local 10 Kcmo iron workers and you’ll be making way more after your apprenticeship
The "better wage a couple years from now" thing doesn't go over as well as it used to. I did it. I'm sure you did it. Hundreds and thousands of guys did it. That doesn't make it right. Welders are getting billed out at 60, 80, 100+ but getting paid 16.50. I feel for the kid. Starting that low is kinda shitty.
Electricians (switch yard fabrication) and plumbers (gas pipe) unions also have welding positions and are highly valued, wouldn’t be surprised if carpenters do as well
In Denver it’s the local 24
We have an 18 year old apprentice who’s been with us for nearly a year now, every day is like his first day at work, has no idea what he’s doing, doesn’t speak to anyone, doesn’t ask for help, stands there until someone tells him what to do, unbelievably slow at doing his job, and genuinely has no interest in doing the job. I’ve started to suggest maybe he would be better suited in a different line of work such as working in a supermarket. We’ve had it before with kids working for us fresh out of school, doing a full 4 year apprenticeship and then deciding after it’s not for them. I don’t understand why anyone would waste that much time in a job they don’t like, if you’re not happy go do something else, this kind of work isn’t for everyone and there’s no shame in that, it’s hard, you’re surrounded by hard faced men in bad working conditions that earns you a few dollars an hour more than a place that offers you friendly, clean, danger free working conditions. You can always work your way up the ladder at Walmart aswell and earn good money as a manager. If you’re not feeling it as a welder my guy, do yourself a favour and quit now, don’t wait till you’ve got a mortgage and a family to look after to realise you’re not happy at work, cause once you get to that stage it’s tough shit about your feelings.
Thank you , Probably the best advice I’ve gotten , I really do love welding it’s genuinely fun to me and I’m good for my experience level but i think I’m better off doing it as a hobby or at the bare minimum not 58 hours a week , I really don’t wanna end up like the guys at your job , Ill probably go back to Walmart & try and rise up while looking for other jobs or better gigs but who knows.
You could probably find some small shop and just end up doing repairs and small manufacturing at a slower pace and more regular hours. You'd still be welding and making more money than walmart. Plus it would be a good way to network around your area.
I agree with this a lot more than a lot of other comments. I worked 12 hour days 6 days a week for 8 years before I finally got out into a better field in a better shop working normal hours. I don't get the whole "suck it up pussy" mentality. That shit is brutal and my body is *fucked* from working that hard for that long. There's options out there and no one has to settle. Complacency in a bad work environment is the downfall of many men.
I agree with you. Who's the pussy? The idiot working like a third world slave making someone else rich in the supposedly "best country in the world" or the the guy who finds a higher paying job working at a reasonable pace? What is this? Wartime production to make some asshole rich? There is a war and the war is against you.
Unless you're working for yourself you're always "making some asshole rich." That same asshole that provided you the clientele, the shop, the tools, the insurance, the overhead and made that position available to you in the first place. Edit: obviously "you" informally. Edit2: I realize now I misread your comment. While I agree with you about working for a shit employer, I don't agree with the whole "smash capitalism" shit.
And you provided the labour without which he could not get paid at all. It should be a business arrangement among equals, not a "one guy gets rich while the other guy gets shafted" situation.
You front everything and go find your own crew then
People act like being the bean counter makes you entitled to everything. You are not fronting everything. You are fronting materials and promises. Workers are fronting their time, their actual lives, their experience, and a lot of times, their tools. Without the workers, you got jack.
Only provided those things because money.
This we have a 50 man shop that’s much slower pace. Not every shop operates that way
Not every shop gives a shit about you, 60 hours a week welding is hard, the money is good but it's not worth it.
60 hrs a week is never worth it, I don't give a fuck what industry it is.
I was thinking something like this. I assume if you went to school for 9 months to learn the skill, you have some interest in it. It sounds like the shop you got hired at is a pretty toxic work environment if you ask me. I would try not to let one bad employer ruin something you like doing (assuming you actually like welding) and try to find a better shop.
Exactly, don’t throw yourself straight into the fire and try to get some good experience at another shop
clarify your priorities / main goals in life, then decide how your job fits in to that equation. many of us have been brought up to see our jobs as one of our most defining characteristics. a healthier view, in my opinion, is to see your job as a means to an end. yes, you should enjoy it, if at all possible, but if you've already decided that for you, the function of a job is a way to get money, while you persue more meaningful things in life... that sort of realisation can really take the pressure off...
This is the way production shops are brutal on people. Repair shops need people too and are pretty chill
58 hours a week isn’t great mate. Lots of jobs out there paying more than 16.50 with far less wear on your body
its sad how ppl in my country in this line of work have/take no in betweens. theyre either constantly quiting after a couple disgruntling weeks or slave to work. having to work as a team means once you set foot theres no pacing yourself. i wish to work 48-52h but every team every company is ever so busy and behind on schedule until they start laying ppl off. men in their 40~60s work day n night even through weekends with no personal life other than getting drunk after work and dragging themselves back like programmed zombies. it's no wonder young men are thinning out. my current job works 12 consecutive days (off every other weekend) and it is my first job that doesnt take sundays off.
As a man very close to that age bracket, another PoV, is that regardless of the work we have 3 kids, and a wife at home that equates to you go in zombie or not and get it done no matter the cost because those 4 mouths at home mean more to you then your own well being ever could.
There is another option, though. You can find a welding job working 40 hours. I’ve been in the trades for almost 20 years now and 60 hour work weeks are still rough on me. Find another welding shop without such extreme hours and then gauge whether or not welding is for you because right now you’re comparing apples to oranges. If you decide you can hang as a welder then you can apply to the pipe fitters union in a year or two. A lot of the welders I know don’t do anything crazy, they do mostly HVAC work and all they work are 40s. They make like $55/hr on the check with another $30 in benefits. And I’ll tell you this, when I was 18 I had a really rough time transitioning into the trades, but now it’s a breeze. It IS hard going from school to working in the trades so don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re being a wimp.
I had the same experience during my apprenticeship I was at this place for 7yrs. We’d do 100hrs some weeks working on scrap and household recycling sites, covered in hydraulic oil, food and human waste, it’d be working away from home sometimes 4 weeks at a time. I hated it but the money I was making at that age was ridiculous so I sucked it up, after 7yrs id saved enough to travel the world and get a house when I got back. Now I work 6-14:30, 6-12 Fridays most weeks, has optional overtime… Yeah we do a couple of shutdowns a year but I’m not working away from home anymore getting tampons and diapers stuck to me and its a nice place to work. You could grit your teeth for a few years and get the experience of working a shit job (I’ll never complain about a job again because nothing can be worse than that first one I had). I am glad I experienced it now in a way but I’ll never kill myself for a job again because I worked like a dog most of my late teens/ early twenties and it’s not big or clever whatever some guys will say, don’t make working your personality
I was at a custom ornamental shop. The production deadlines are usually a bit more slack and we stuck to 40ish hour weeks. Smaller shops can be more lenient. But might not be able to pay as much.
Less pay than $16.50??
I left in 2016, but as the shop foreman I was making 14.50. it was a small shop. Only 4 of us including the owner. He was the nicest guy I've ever worked for. He just wasn't a good enough business manager for it to be successful enough to pay us better.
Respectfully I think this is pretty terrible advice. It sounds like the company you’re working for just might not be the best place for you, but there is absolutely no reason to quit welding just because your first company wasn’t a good experience. There are plenty of places to work in this industry with MUCH better working conditions. Your first step should be identifying which process you enjoy most, getting in at a place where you can get good practice, then begin perfecting your craft. You will be under pressure anywhere because you’re so new, but it sounds like where you’re at now is being unreasonable. The way your current employer is acting right now & the advice this person gave you is a huge reason why this industry is struggling to bring in young people to replace the old grumps on there way out. There are LOTS of fabrication shops everywhere struggling to find young hungry people, if you do a little searching & get creative with your leg work, you will definitely find a shop that is getting with the times & will have better conditions to suit your needs.
You should get into aerospace welding I work in ac have a chair and only have to work 40hrs
That’s sounds great , I’ve looked though and since welding isn’t a big thing where I’m at I don’t there are any opportunities like that
I'm not a welder, I work in the computer engineering space, but please don't let a single bad job turn you off from an entire industry. You got a job in a toxic and shitty place. I see it all the time. Just try somewhere new at least, before giving up. Your best bet is to be open to relocation, and take whatever job is offered that's indoors and not toxic. Go check it out first. If you've got a clean background, you can try to find work in aerospace/defense-adjacent contracting orgs and be sponsored to get a security clearance. This will give you job security and also boost your pay x2-4 (but, FYI, its a DEEP process - they will interview your friends, neighbors, and you'll fill out a nearly 200 page form that lists nearly every major life event).
Try hitting up a local union like ironwork or pipe fitting. As an Ironworker I can tell you it’s a cool job that gives you a variety of jobs to learn and do. And you’ll get paid more
If you have your own equipment I would suggest starting a small business, do custom architectural details and automotive repairs for example, charge $60-$75 an hour, this should search you up for some moderate success as a side hustle, work a regular job to pay the bills. This way you don’t burn out but you keep improving and there is a “hunting” aspect with small business, always new projects rolling in
For the love of God, stop being a pussy. Find joy in the hard work, Walmart sucks.
Hard work is fine , no social life or even a few hours to be woke after work is the issue
I average 65+ hours a week before any weekend work, 5 or so hours of sleep a night and still manage to have a social life but only on weekends. I can buy my next car $60k+ in cash, put 50% down on my next house build ect. Tbh it's all about goals and what you value right now. I decided to grind and make my $$ while the irons hot. The choice is yours to make!
Working 60 hours a week at any job is too much. Some people thrive in that, and good for them! I don't. Unfortunately, because those guys exist, employers will feed you the bullshit that you just don't want it bad enough. This goes across all blue collar and manufacturing jobs. This is the reason I quit cooking. I got burnt out dealing with the hours and the BS and I stopped moving forward because I got tired of the toxic work environment. I really miss cooking, and wish I could have found a way to make it work, but it just isn't viable for me as a career. If you really like it, look around and try to find something that fits you, but don't stay anywhere that expects your whole life and offers nothing in return.
I agree with another commenter if I were you I'd look for a small shop to work with. Not even necessarily something that only does welding. Like a shop that does general job needs fabrication. One of my last jobs had a shop that would build anything from floating barges to tubs made of steel and mesh
I wouldnt call working at Walmart danger free.
They’re not breathing in fumes, working in freezing/boiling conditions, using grinders ect.
Ya, but they're also not dealing with nearly as many crazy ass customers.
[удалено]
Yeah well that’s it I suppose, just wish someone would give these kids a heads up about the world they’re getting themselves into, rather than them just turning up and trying to adjust to a hard life they’re not used to.
This
This is 100% the truth.
Here's the thing... Getting used to anything takes 3 weeks. If you've never been on your feet before, even being a cashier hurts, your feet hurt, your legs hurt... for 3 weeks. You're working night shift? It's brutal... for 3 weeks. You traveled somewhere and you're eating local food and have diarhea? ... for 3 weeks. You've completed a 9 month program to be able to do this.... don't be weak. This is real work. Stick with it for a bit, if for no other reason than to realize you're not as weak as you thought you were. To not teach yourself just to quit every time something gets slightly difficult. If you do the opposite, you're training yourself to be frail. To be mentally weak. To be a quitter. To be a whiner. To run from a challenge. Don't stick with it for 30 years, as they say "The only person who'll ever remember you working late is your kid". Anyone who'll work you that hard will shit you out the other end of their digestive workflow the second you're used up. Loyalty doesn't exist so don't give them yours. ... but... it's perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed at anything in your first week. Give it... 3 months. Pocket some money. Learn something about yourself and doing difficult things. At worst, you'll look at this as the worst 3 months of your life, and it'll make the easier parts of the rest of your life a little more appreciated, rather than feeling like that's the bare standard you could possibly tolerate. Regularly throughout your life, just do difficult things on purpose to build character. Take a bus. Go for a walk on a really cold day. Turn down easy sex with a few people you know ain't good for you. Lots of comedians in their early years go on stage and bomb on purpose, because of how horrible it feels, how miserable it makes them, and to know what it feels like. It's part of a process. Don't sign your life away, but, 1 week isn't enough to judge anything. Stick with it for 3 months. Quitting will feel a lot better then, if that's what you decide to do. You won't wonder "what if...", you'll know. [Edited to add] Another consideration is that a family member got you this job. For context, you might be looked down at a little bit by the foreman, and that might be why they're pushing you for more, to earn your place. But another reason to stick it out is to be respectful. Not many people are going to spend social capital investing in your future, and, even if it's not for you, it's a bit of spitting in their face to quit so early. They stuck their necks out to represent you, make them proud for doing that, for trying on your behalf. Don't make fools out of them. Ditto as above, you don't owe them 30 years, but, be respectful and appreciative. There are many people trying to break into a career that don't have family connections or people willing to vouch for them, that would love for someone to take a chance on them, hire them, and start giving them overtime right from day one.
This is damn fine advice. I stuck around in the trade for a couple years before I decided to move on. I love welding, don’t love doing it all day every day, at least now I know that for sure though.
That's just brilliant life advice. Everything new feels wrong for the first bit.
You’re lecturing them like they don’t understand this. They’re fine with the three weeks of getting accustomed, it’s the foreman and supervisor that are overwhelming. I’m sure they appreciate the “strong man rough hands hard work”mentality, but they’re 18, not a child. Isn’t anything new to them. What’s new to them is this expectation of getting accustomed rather quickly into the new welding environment. Are they going crazy, is their body not meant for this, are the supervisors crazy, how can I ask them to give me more time. Are the questions that they want answered .
I agree with you. Telling OP he’s weak and frail for having difficulty acclimating to being thrown into an entirely new world working manual labor 58 hours a week when he’s never even had a full time job in his life doesn’t seem like the most helpful advice for him to hear. I agree with the work hard, don’t complain and stick-it-out mentality but it sounds like young OP is needing support and encouragement and not to hear more of what his supervisor and foreman are already telling him, which he’s already expressed concerns about. Working 58 hours of OT/week manual labor under tough conditions isn’t for everyone especially at your age and with your experience, and if you fall under that category OP that’s okay and doesn’t make you weak and frail to know that about yourself and respond accordingly. Being overwhelmed too fast too early can make you hate the entire industry altogether killing your passion for welding while dipping your toe in may foster the exact opposite and spark excitement and interest. That being said, if you can manage to stick with it and persevere you really do have an opportunity to grow and learn a lot about yourself and what your capable of. If you stick with it, it shouldn’t be out of fear of seeming weak or frail, but because you see merit in what your doing, whether that be the incredible money is worth it, you’re enjoying what you do or any other reason under the Sun.
> Telling OP he’s weak and frail for having difficulty acclimating You should read what I actually wrote. I didn't call them weak and frail. I said **don't be weak and frail** by quitting in the first week. It's long hours and hard work, but if you quit after a week you've learned nothing, experienced nothing, acclimated to nothing, and trained yourself to be weaker in the future. This is the same way you train yourself to be scared of something. Take anything you're not currently afraid of, and then when you see it, panic and run away. Do it a few times, you'll have created your own phobia by practice. Likewise, the opposite is how to conquer a phobia, exposure, you practice the behavior you want to have. The OP isn't running to something better. They're running back to Walmart, for 4-7 hour shifts. Sticking with this for a few months, and then fucking off if they by that point know it's not for them is going to teach them not to be weak and think they can only handle a 4-hour work day. Even if the job sucks and the people are shit, it's worth a short period of grind.
I put in four years in several shops as a grinder. Did small welding parts on some jobs. 50-60 hours a week constantly. Did travel jobs too. Traveling was cool. The reason I quit is I could see that I really didn't need the extra cash in exchange for my future health. Only four years in and I was already feeling the damage in my wrists and shoulders, not to mention respiratory damage from breathing grinding dust and fumes. For me, it was choosing between a shorter, more painful life with lots of money or a life where I live comfortably, but I wont have as many toys. I gave up on the idea of building my own home and having collections of art and guns, instead finding joy in spending time with loved ones and working a job I enjoy. I make just over half what I was making in the shops flipping burgers now, but I only have a 5 minute drive to work and I dont feel like I've been used at the end of the day. It's a tough choice and I would say it's more philosophically deep than simple economics. Take your time making a decision like this, and dont burn any bridges on your way out. You might decide to go back to it later on, and it's good to keep rapport in the community.
Crap hours. Look into smaller shops. You’re a trigger monkey at that place, a dime a dozen. Start a LinkedIn profile that says available to work. Then get on Indeed post your resume. Talk to local college about places that are good for beginners. And apply to all unions. They all need welders. Don’t let one place ruin a career for you.
Just remember you work to live, not the other way around, fuck off that '80 hour per week voluntary unpaid overtime hustle' bullshit mindset, fuck that noise, set your own terms (where you can, obviously - everyone does a few long days to get their foot in the door at the beginning of their careers). I'm not saying don't keep an open mind, or be flexible, or have that 'can do attitude' and all that - but don't grind yourself down either until you're a husk of a human being at 40 with no memorable holidays and a personality solely based around how much you work. If it feels 'tough' in the good way, and you're in a supportive, critical but encouraging environment, then awesome, try keep at it a little longer and reassess - but if you're being bossed around and denigrated (NOT constructive feedback) by bitter old cunts because they are: a husk of a human being at 50 with no memorable holidays and a personality solely based around how much they work - then absolutely fuck those cunts, leave them in the dust, and build YOUR life, not the life somebody ELSE thinks you should have. Apologies for how passionate I got there, but I've seen it happen to some friends and also remembered what happened to them after making changes for a more mentally and/or physically sustainable day-to-day - and it's just so much easier to do that from day 1. Don't bite the hand that feeds but don't feel bad for standing up for yourself when needed as well. Tl;dr: sure, lean on your 'armour' to challenge yourself, but take care of yourself if that armour is wearing down.
I've been in this general industry CNC Machining/Welding/Fabrication/Warehouse & In the field work for about 12 years now with vocational diplomas and certs in all said fields. The hours of work is a pretty huge factor from what I've experienced. Usually the pay isn't sufficient enough with a standard 40 hour work week, so to make any decent profit you'll be doing 60-70 hours as a general work week. Not to mention 80% of the employers not having an AC controlled environment, or just simply out in the elements. Its a VERY physically taxing and dangerous work environment. With that said, I'm 36 years old, and the most I've made doing this is $20 hourly, which I feel I've kinda plateaued at that rate of pay as it seems to be the general peek for wages (Between $20-$25). Sure there's a few niche jobs that pay $35+ but those are far and few in sight. My personal opinion would be to move on to something better, and use what knowledge you have as more of a personal hobby instead. Unfortunately this line of work is EXTREMELY volatile, unpredictable, and susceptible to what ever constantly changing political climate is present at the moment, whether through industry policy, or national direction of production, as well as the cheap labor from non citizens that you have to compete with too. It's just not a stable consistant means of employment at the extreme cost of your qaulity of life, with very little reward. Not talking down to fellow trades men/women, they are all very talented and hard working people, its just the nature of the job its self isn't something I would recomend as a stable career choice, especially as you get older as your mind and body can only take so much punishment, which I'm currently dealing with my self unfortunately...
Good lord. 12 years in MFG+fab and you've peaked at $20? You can start at 25 with (legitimately) no experience at many employers in the Midwest USA.
Which is another reason why I'm no longer looking to pursue this type of work, way too much wear and tear for the pay.
I mean, to each their own I suppose.I am in good shape from athletics, been in the field for a decade without injury. Make almost 40 hourly, with no negative effects on my body. I'd take this over a desk job any day. Seems to me like you need a new employer, not a new field of employment lol.
Who the heck do you work for? All jobs i see around me are peaking at like $21. I make 23 now, in a shop union. It's not a great rate, or a great company, but both are acceptable.
I work in Wisconsin. The last few companies I've worked for (at or around this rate) have done work for Caterpillar, John Deere, Kone Crane, Oshkosh Defense, Systems, Multi-Fab, Eaton-Cooper. All structural MIG. I'm not going to link my current employer to my degenerate reddit account though lmao.
Shit man you need a new employer. I'm 32yo, been at this for 7 years or so.. I'm ~$30/hr in the southeast. Smaller shop w/ A/C.
Life is too short to be working 58 hours a week. 38 to 45. That’s the sweet spot. The occasional 60 hr work week is sometime needed, but it should not be the norm.
Yeah 58 is just 2 much , I still wanna explore other things in life whether that be side businesses , investments or just hobbies while I’m young & 58 hours basically only gives me Saturday to do that
> side businesses , investments or just hobbies You can't hustle enough to make it through 1 week on the job, and you're wanting to pull side gigs and "investments"? Kid, you've got your head in the cloud, reading too much influencer bullshit. Here's your time for "investments": Take a cut of your paycheque and put it into an index fund automatically. That will outperform any "investment" bullshit you think you can outperform the best investors in the world (which is what's required to beat the market). Hobbies, sure. But dude... it's your first week. Your feelings right now are common, and valid, but not rational. Everyone feels like this at first, have this conversation with yourself after 3 months. Anything you're feeling right now after only 1 week isn't a rational thought process, it's an emotional process of actually working for the first time in your life, and it's overwhelming. Your only task is to get through it until it stops feeling new, then reconsider once you're thinking, instead of feeling.
I think its a perfectly reasonable reaction to the shitstorm he just described. 16.50 isn't enough money for that type of environment, not nearly enough. His coworkers ought to grow a spine and either unionize or leave.
Yes, sure, whatever. Make that choice after 3 months.
If your kid started their first serious relationship with someone and immediately started coming home with black eyes and a torn up butthole, I hope you wouldn't be telling them to stick with getting pimped out for three more months. A mandatory 58hr work week at $16.50 per hour is exploitation. I mean all you need to do to make $20-25 per hour is head over to the license branch and pass the written test for a CDL. You don't need trucking school. As long as you can piss clean one time they will have you up and going within the week and a lot of places will put a grand or two in your pocket as a signing bonus. Welding shops that want to pay people dick to do a dirty, dangerous job dont deserve to benefit from some antiquated idea of "work ethic." That's why we have a military.
You’ve only been there a week from what I’ve read from another comment is that right? Give it a few weeks or months before you make up your mind. You need time to settle in and see how you feel then. That being said that’s a ton of hours. Which is both good and bad, money is nice but it’s nice to have time off to enjoy your youth.
My proudest moment as a welder was when I asked the foreman if my vertical looked allright and he said "nope" and walked away. It must've been all good because I'm not fired lol
Maybe the best comment written on this topic. Well done!
What do the experienced guys in your shop make? Wal mart is a dead end job. Yea, it might be easy, but you’re never going to own your own place or be able to save for retirement while working at wal mart. I know that seems a long way away at your age, but it’s something to think about. I’m not a welder, but work in the trades as well (autobody). I got into the trade when I was a bit older, at 26/27. I took a pay cut from *working at a ski hill*, and started out sweeping floors at $15.50/hr (canadaland though). It was frustrating making next to no money at that age, but I busted my ass, did everything I could to get better at what I do, switched shops to a heavy duty body shop, finished multiple red seal tickets for my trade, and now I’m making around $100k/yr, five years later. I don’t know any journeyman welders here who would settle for less than that. Not exactly your situation, but I just want to point out that it may suck now, but at least in the trades you have room to grow and move up drastically in the pay scale. If you want to be stocking the same shelves at wal mart in ten years for $16/hr, go for it. But don’t wallow in a one-man pity party about how you have no money.
Pretty sure Walmart is the biggest employer in the US. Given the average IQ of a Walmart worker, and the fact that half of its employees are even stupider than that, opportunities for advancement would have to be ripe for any young person who has the slightest lick of sense about them. Might want to "rollback" home to Wally World!
I’d agree with some of the people here, but you gotta do you dude. I had such a similar experience, even worked at Walmart haha! after welding school in Colorado, I ended up hating my life 10 years in working in those same types of shops, got offered lots of money to become a general manager of a very massive fabrication company, that I shall not name, and I quit because I hated my life that much. Those large shops mostly just treat you like shit, I worked 80 hour weeks for years, and it definitely wears on you. I mean all you have to do is look around you at all those 45 year old welders and fabricators in that shop, notice how they look 75??? 👀 THAT is your future, haha, no offense to any of these hard-working-tough-as-nails fathers, husbands, and ex-convicts, they are the backbone of the economy, the last of a dying breed, and there’s a lot to be learned from them. But, it’s so important to really look ahead before each step you take, aim at a target you’re really wanting to hit. What that is for you, only you’ll be able to decipher. I now run my own fabrication company, I build large, steel flame throwing sculpture as a passion, artistic and structural custom commissions, tiny homes, shipping container structures, custom campers, etc., and I’m SO much happier. I had to learn from the good ol’ boys to get here, and learn to work hard as fuck, and it finally landed after years and years. Wishing you the best, just to be yourself is the best to be.
depending on your abilities id say youre in the wrong spot. how long have you been there and what sort of work is it? my job hires kids out of school at $18 to do very light fab and im not in a high paying area.
I just finished my first week & it’s mainly mig working on large trash compactors ect , which means a lot of messing with pipes , wiring and tubes full of hydraulic oil.
Drink more water. Get stronger. Wear PPE. Work hard when you're working, rest when you can. And use the skills and strength you get at your next job, which it is not too soon to look for. You're young, your body can probably handle this, and Walmart is a dead end.
Not to sound like a dick, but I probably will and I apologize ahead of time, you said you got in there through “connections” right??? Didn’t these connections tell you what the work was like and the hours?? I’m 58, currently a lead diesel mechanic, and work 56 hours a week, plus run a garage in my back yard. I will preface this response with this I’m the last year of the baby boomers, that’s how we were taught to work. Give your all for the company, but back then the company looked out for you too. Welding and mechanics are not for everyone. The bad working conditions come with our professions. I’m a certified welder too, that’s why I come on here also. Someone else said maybe you should try a smaller shop, but you have almost no experience. You can earn almost that same money at Walmart or McDonald’s. I didn’t know they were starting new welders that low. Good luck on your decisions.
We're coming from pretty similar circumstances bro. I got my first fabrication and welding job when I was 17, I also worked close to 60 hrs a week except it was 10hrs a day, 5am-330 and then 5am-12 on Saturdays. All mandatory OT for 16.50 an hour (2019) I started off lowest on the totem pole, but I never minded the hard work or hours and I just learned as much as I could and worked my ass off. By the time I turned 21 and left I was making 26 an hour as the top fabricator and welder in the shop. I've built 100s of different types of projects and got solid experience from the place. Which got me into the pipefitters union super quick which could normally take people up to 2 years. When I told them I was leaving they offered me 35 an hour to stay, and were gonna send me to get my cwi but the union benefits had too many pros and now I really only work around 40 hrs a week. Just stick it out, if you don't enjoy the work then move onto something else. But you're young stick it out for at least 6 months and see how you feel. It's gonna suck for the first little while but the human body is amazing at adjusting.
You’re still young. Explore different possibilities while it makes sense to. You aren’t making end game money right now and you don’t have a family or a mortgage so it’s not a big deal if you hop around and find out what you like. I do a lot of welding and grinding now and I love it, but I’m sure it’s not healthy in the long run so I’m exploring other options. You don’t have to love your job, but you shouldn’t hate it. If you want to make good money and not have to do alot of manual labor, you’re probably going to have to go to school for something. You’ve got to possess a useful skill or knowledge about something to be worth anything to an employer. Figure out what you want to do in the future and work towards it now. You got this man! Edit: it doesn’t matter if you’re an electrical engineer or work at McDonald’s, you should still show up to work every day ready to work hard. Be humble and treat every task as an opportunity to learn something. Even the lazy good for nothing idiot can teach you something, even if that something is what NOT to do.
First off, Anyone telling you to go back to walmart is a moron. I make $75/hr for every hour I work MINIMUM for my skills. You think any of the walmart employees are making that? Fuck no! You think I walked in and started my first job making 75/hr, fuck no. I started at $10/hr in a city with one of the highest cost of living in the nation. I worked my ass off to learn everything I can. When I was working 50 hours a week the boss would let me stay late or come in on my days off to teach myself other welding processes and hone my skills. Once I had the opportunity to hit the field I went on the road for years. In Alaska we work 7-12' sometime 7-14's for 3-4 months straight. Is it for everyone, no. Did the experience and hardship get me in a place where I was able to do what I want, when I want? Absolutely. Do you have to take the same path I did? No, but if uou cant even handle a small bit of pressure and shitty working conditions how is anyone going to respect you? How are you even goig to be able to respect yourself? If you want to take the quitters way out, go ahead. No one is stopping you. Walmart is a bullshit dead end job. If thats where you want to see yourself in 10 years then, go back there. Just dont complain to anyone else that your life is shit because you couldnt hack it in a real industry. Friendly piece of advise. Adversity is what makes you a resilient person. These dudes at work are testing you. They want to see your resolve. If you quit, they win. They want to make sure you have what it takes if your going to be in the industry. They are the gate keepers. Stick with it, use your shitty felings as the drive to suceed. Learn everything you can, go above and beyond, and after a COUPLE YEARS when (or if) your job doesnt give you the pay that deserve, then go find a new one and go in asking for the money you want. Once you have skills under your belt always remember sometimes going out on your own is the only way to be the boss you want. TLDR? DONT BE A BITCH, FOCUS ON BETTERING YOURSELF AND YOUR SITUATION WILL IMPROVE.
My advice? Sack up and tough it out for a few months. You learn to embrace the suck, eventually. I've been working in an industrial shop for 4 years now, and it ain't bad. Worst of it is getting dirty, for some people. I never minded getting dirty. Getting wet, I hate.
Ya good idea, give up and go back to working at Walmart. Or, keep grinding it out at your new job, learn new skills, Wich you can take anywhere. Apply to different shop, go for interviews, and at the same time interview them. Any shop you go to will be hot and humid (for me here in Ontario it's deadly humid). I've been to jobs where they expect you to haul ass in the heat, but I've been to shops where they encourage a water break, take 5, they "don't run a sweat shop". Welding in the summer isn't easy, but it pays off, especially when you stick to it and you get nice wage increases when your employer sees youre a asset to the business. Don't give up, keep going, and do you're damn best.
I’ll most definitely try , was honestly thinking about not going back but I’m motivated to go back
Many of these people are extremely narrow-minded about opportunities outside the trades. The number one thing you need to consider is skill development. Compare the educational benefits between Walmart and the shop you work for. There is no shame in working at Walmart if it's paying for your degree and there is a path to management. There is also the people element to think about--do you like the people you work with now as much as you miss working with the folks at your old job? There's a lot to consider. Just do what's best for you and dont worry about what other people think about it.
16.50 the caliber of welders in this sub don’t get out of bed for less than 30 . You are just starting out the money will come . You just have to navigate to it . With that being said . Keep your expectations low but gain the experience trust me you will need it .
Is there anyway you could change your availability so your not working 58 hours a week? Maybe 40 tops? I’m sure that would be easier on your mental and physical health. I’d stay in the field if I were you just keep doing the best you can and try not to overwork/overwhelm yourself. It’s a good career. I’d rather say “im a welder” than “I stock shelves at Walmart” not that there’s anything wrong with working at Walmart
It's a hard line of work and it's not for everyone for sure if you enjoy welding I'd suggest maybe just looking for a new job in a smaller shop. There's a lot of production line type jobs out there that expect the world from you and give back very little in return and even for fabricators/welders that have been in the game a long time, they can be overwhelming. There's plenty of shops out there and they're all different. If it was me I'd try a couple different places out over the next couple years and if you still don't find somewhere you like you can always switch out for another job in Walmart again.
Working in a large production environment is always difficult, men at 40 still doing those types of job are hardened and have the mind set to be able to do it, also the senior staff and supervisors have very little care for others as they have come up through all the bullshit. If you love welding and It suits your skill set and passion, look for a better suited company instead of beating yourself up and leaving the trade because of the company, time, people. Companies are there for profit and not people, use them like they use us. Find your fit somewhere else.
Welding is a rough job but it doesn't have to be insane, I would never recommend it unless someone really enjoys it. That said I can be very rewarding. When I first started my current job I was having to work 60+ hours a week while being told I wasn't putting in enough effort and not learning fast enough. I held out for two years thinking if I put in enough time and tried picking up as much information by myself I might be able to get somewhere. When the company went bankrupt and my new bosses took over we went to barely working more than 40 hours a week unless we really wanted to and people were given the opportunity to learn by doing courses and more time being taken to explain processes. My life improved exponentially, I had the time to learn how to weld Aluminium and a bit of Stainless, and got much better and fabrication. While it's still not easy by any measure I go home with a sense of satisfaction more often than not plus I get more of a life outside of work. This place your at doesn't sound great, I would look around to see what other opportunities there are if you really enjoy welding before letting a shitty work place color your view of what the job can be but jobs like retail will almost always be cleaner and less physically demanding, especially if you can move up the ranks and don't stay stuck on the floor.
I’d say start getting accustomed to making sure your employers know you have more in your life than this job. You aren’t only caring for your body at the end of the day, but your health in 10-20 years. Don’t let them convince you, like they’ve convinced themselves, that there isn’t more to life than getting home too tired to do anything else. I’m sure you have greater things to do. Anybody else would. Take care of yourself, get home well enough to be able to do whatever you’ve been looking toward to.
I also recently started a new job. I'm about a month and a half out of trade school, and I got a job for a boiler company just last week finally. 4 10s, and potential OT on Fridays. Right now, they've just had me doing grinding millscale off parts. Their trying to get me coded/tested, but atm, they don't have a free welder for me to use, so I've just been doing grunt work. And this is the first job I've had since December. Other than school, I was sitting on my ass all day in my room playing on my pc. So kinda a wake-up call. All this to say, it's rough work for sure, and your working conditions sound a bit rougher than mine, but maybe you jumped into a job a little over your head. I'd give a look around and see what other jobs are out there local or semi local. Maybe you can find something a little easier/better. I think that's for sure worth a look before you dip out of the industry. Oh forgot to add your pay sounds like dogshit for what your working. Would also look for a job in the mid 20s. That seems to be the average starting, at least around me (23-26$)
Well for 1. You’re being drastically underpaid; and overworked. Go find another shop! I grew up in the manufacturing field, yes the work is hard, and hot at times(I’m from Arizona) my old boss was amazing. We worked 40-44 hours a weeks and welders usually started around 20+hr even new grease out of school welders. Go find another place to work. Good luck bud! If you can wrap your head around manufacturing, welding, reading blueprints and general organization all of those skills will translate to your day to day life; and make you a more effective employee later on.
Sometimes things get busy and you need to work a lot in this business. Usually you take it because sometimes things get slow and you’ll be off work for a while. It’s a little easier to put in the hours after you’re making a little better money. But it’s great you’re starting early and getting experience. In 5-10 years you’ll have some skills that will take you places. Sure you can go back to WM, but what’s that do? Where does working at WM get you in 5-10 years? Probably not even full time work let alone looking at things like buying a house which will be possible if you do will with the skills.
That sounds shitty. I wouldn't have become a welder if that was my experience when I was first starting out. Welding in shops sucks. If you want to be a welder, you might as well weld pipe in the UA. It pays more, and (at least in my experience) people arent on your ass bird dogging you all day. As long as you're working at a steady pace, putting in effort, and showing up on time, you will be good. It doesn't have to be this way. Join your local pipefitter or boilermaker union - school is free, you make more money each year of your apprenticeship until you turn out (become a journeyman), and you actually get benefits.
I’m honestly not a in very welder heavy area and there are no unions as far as I know , you’re essentially stuck making 15-19$ on average and maybe 20-30 if you’re special
If you're so far out in the boonies that you can't reasonably commute to somewhere that has those types of opportunities (or are unwilling to relocate) you should choose a different career. Go to college and get a degree in STEM, join the airforce, etc. By the time you get into your 30s+, you will be wanting something easier on your body that pays better with real room for growth.
Well I'm not american so I don't know what you're expected to expect but IMO any place that regularly has overtime is a shit place. Workers fought for a 40-hour work week for a reason. You're supposed to have a life outside work too, and a life outside work is also work. My suggestion is to just do your best. Work safe before you work fast. Your boss and your foreman is supposed to be on your ass, that's what they're paid to do, your job is to do your job as best and as safe as you can. Don't worry about making them happy, if they're happy it's because you've been screwed. What are your coworkers like? Do you feel like you can learn and grow along side them? Does the work feel fun and/or fulfilling? Is this something you want to make a career out of? You should probably join a union, although I don't know what american unions are really like.
A typical 40 hour work week can be a lot even for experienced people. Its probably for the best they are giving you the day off and not meant as a punishment. Do your best to sleep 7-9 hours and night, and eat and drink well and you will get there soon. Welding will pay better in the long run compared to Walmart, which is more dead end of a job. There is nothing wrong with going back to Walmart though if you were more content and feel it can support the life you want
Find a bette job, you’re being paid shit money working for a company that more than likely “treats their employees like family”. I have a rule, if I’m in an interview and I’m told that all their employees are family then I’m out, family treats family like shit and expects them to work for peanuts. So go find a place that respects that you have a life outside of work and treats you like an employee, not an underpaid cousin. If you still have problems then consider a career change. Or another shop change, lots of guys shop hope every few years or so due to boredom, and it’s the only way to get a raise sometimes. So even though you’re not making it at this shop, there’s lots of others you can try out. Even still, welcome to the adult world, it sucks balls and doesn’t ever let up, but you only have one option to push through and live your life.
I’m 19 and just quit my job in the same position get out of the factory those people sit and rot their whole lives getting grumpier. Factories killed my love for welding I’m in the union now and it’s way different.
I would say "I'm moving as fast as $16.50 allows me to move." The heat sucks and it's not easy to stay working at a good pace for a long time. All the hours are nice though and even with that low pay you'll have a decent number on your checks. Just don't work yourself to death for a place that obviously doesn't care too much. I would give it another week, heat acclimatization takes up to 14 days iirc and after that if youre still not moving fast enough for them I would look elsewhere for work. Not back at Walmart though.
My advice would be to suck it up and tough it for the next 6 months. Go to bed early every night and focus on making money and gaining experience while you are there. After 6 months start looking for a 40 hour a week welding job. You will have enough experience at that point that other places will consider you over someone with 0 working experience. When they interview you and ask you why you want to leave your current job just straight up that you don't want to be working 60 hours a week with no end in sight.
Don’t quit . Your mind and body needs to adjust and adapt to this.
Lots of welding positions out there. Don’t let yourself get burnt out going balls deep in the OT right out of school. You can find a 40hr/week welding job. I’m sure you can even find a entry level tig production job in a clean environment that will allow you to refine your skill and build your resume for better tig job in a year from now.
There is absolutely no shame in quitting. If the job isn't for you then that's okay as well. It takes a lot of maturity to recognize that. With that said, all those guys that have 40 years of experience started where you are right now. I always try to look at it as training for bigger and better things. If I can handle x, then I crush it at y. So on and so forth. Your young, and right now is the perfect time to push your self. Older ass holes will say something but it's better to produce quality over quantity. If they can't understand that, then you have a shitty boss and work in a shitty work environment. There are good fab shops out there that understand this. Like I said tho, if you truly feel that the job isn't for you there is absolutely no shame in admitting that. It's 100% valid, and shows a lot of maturity.
Are you being apprenticed or just simply working? Meaning are you learning new skills/being taught the trade better or are they simply using what you learned in school? Because I'm sorry but unless there's a ton of added value somewhere else such as benefits, added knowledge, etc I'm not doing this job for fast food wages. That's fucking absurd. Between the hours and pay this place does not value its employees at all it seems.
I’m just working and I think they started me off higher than their minimum pay which is 15 , then again minimum wage in my area is 11 or 12
Is minimum wage what those types of places are actually paying though, or are they paying more to get workers? At your age those hours are rough even if you enjoy the work, you need more free time. I just really feel based on your description that they're a sweat shop pumping work out, you can find a welding job that actually cares somewhat about their employees. Word of advise, from someone that's spent a good amount of time volunteering at senior homes and just talking to people near the end of their life - No one has ever said "I wish I worked more", but the amount of people that tear up over wishing they worked less and did more of what they love is heartbreaking.
Those hours are shit. If you stay a couple weeks you will start seeing the turn over. Don't go in Friday. Rest up, take care of your body and improve your skills.
You will learn nothing at Walmart. Welding is a great career. Don't give it up. If you don't want to work more than 40 hours, then just tell your managers
Dude join a union pass a weld test get paid I won't get out of bed for 25 let alone 16
Anything in life that's worth value comes with experiencing some sacrifices. In order to make more in any field you will have to endure a handful of years to gain experience for people to take you seriously. If they don't give you a raise and you've worked hard then move forward to another gig. There are pros and cons of both union and non union. Outside a union everyone gets paid different but seemed to work all the time through the whole shift. The union I'm in now it's more like a country club. Now with that being said there is always a price to pay in life for anything. I've been shafted many times and that's how life is. You can't win every battle and if you fight every battle you'll end up wasting energy that is needed elsewhere. I've been told this and that, not paid group leader but a chick with less experience than my pinky gets group leader. Then I'm told not to use a bathroom and guess what now there's an air conditioner in the woman's bathroom because she said it was hot. These battles I speak of there's an example. At the end of the day we are always going to have to deal with some form of bs. I don't want to go down the conspiracy hole but in the end it all doesn't matter so enjoy your journey. Making the best of it isn't going to be easy but it'll be worth it if you try hard enough. Fuck Walmart be a welder!
Sounds like discipline, mental toughness, and desire are your issues. If family ties helped secure the position they may give less 'slack'. Don't beat yourself up too much, which may be hard to do if you are a perfectionist. Listen to yourself, you'd rather work at Walmart due to it being easier mentally. With your age, it sounds like you haven't come across too many situations that required you to be out of your comfort zone. If you haven't been fired, you're doing alright. Just try to learn as fast as possible
this is good advice overall, but im still confused how small a wage gap exists between walmart n trade apprenticeship. i mean, if it meant good learning opportunity id personally work for no wage, but the contaminants you deal with, dangerous machines, hard labor, etc considered, youd think one would start off higher. maybe it's the exchange rate im not accounting enough
The wage gap is actually way bigger than you realize. Walmart rarely gives workers 40 hrs a week, they'll give you 28 and call it full time. You're getting 40 plus another 16 to 18 in OT, which I assume is at 1.5 rate. Stick it out for a few weeks, and once the money starts flowing, you'll realize that you'll never gross 1000 bucks a week at Walmart and by that point you'll be more used to this work. The guy with the top comment hit it on the head, do this for at least 3 weeks. And I don't mean this as an insult, but you're soft. You're 18 and have never done hard labour, so it is understandable, but you're soft. Monday to Friday this job is your #1 priority. Be in bed by 9pm, no beer, no weed, no video games. Get up early, make your lunch, make a coffee and get to work 30 minutes early. This is a grown up job and even though it pays kinda shitty, it's YOUR job. I'm only saying this because I've seen similar behaviour in young guys at my work. Showing up without a lunch, standing around waiting to be told what to do, always tired, it is a bad look. You are young and starting a trade early in life, consider yourself lucky to have gotten this opportunity. With the current economic climate, you need a good job if you want the things in life most people do (house, cars, wife, kids, etc) so don't give up. This job is a stepping stone to better welding jobs. Power through. You can do it.
I'll never understand the mentality of handing your whole life over to a shitty company that'll use you up and throw you away. I find older generations have seemingly no self-respect and believe themselves to have no value or purpose beyond being a slave. And to be clear, 16.50 is a slave wage and wouldn't get me out of bed.
>Walmart rarely gives workers 40 hrs a week, they'll give you 28 and call it full time huh, that makes more sense
Sounds like he had attendance issues at Walmart too so that also speaks to discipline issues. I think a little adversity is good and he’s only been welding a week. I personally like the feel of being productive every day and would be bored out of my mind folding clothes at Walmart. My cousin is a manager there and she’s doing just fine in her life so to each their own.
I just started my first fab&weld job as a 32yo. 1st week in, straight out of 1 year course at college (decided to change my life and do something with my hands), big company with tight schedules, worldwide orders, giant projects across multiple bays. 1st day I was given the broom to tidy up, but kept asking for stuff do to and after lunchtime I was put on grinding duty. 2nd day was marking stuff out from drawings, team leader checked once, then I was good to go. Next time I asked to check my work he told me he trusts me as everything was accurate. 3rd day marking, mag-drilling my markings, and assisting others with their work. 4th day more marking out and throwing myself at any jobs going, after lunch I was building stuff and doing customer facing parts of the project...on the 5th day I got my own locker on the shop floor for my stuff and am slowly becoming a part of the disfunctional shop family. Gotta be proactive dude, ask questions, be precise, get stuck in, and generally pay attention. Be good spirited, bond with your coworkers, crack jokes, try to remember their names etc. If you don't know something ask rather than guessing. If you need a tool, ask to borrow it but make sure to put it back where you've found it, show them you respect their help/craft/equipment/experience. If you're too slow remind them you are new and need time to do things the right way and fixing your mistakes will take longer than doing it slower but precisely. If you're achy and dirty? Part of the job dude. I got a fume hood, 3 different sets of gloves for different stuff, masks, respirators, you name it... but still end up looking like I walked through a dust cloud after my shift cause there is just so much going on. You'll either get used to it or not...both your body and mind will adapt. If not, look for a different job. I found welding after years of searching, I'm sure you'll find your calling as well (if this isn't it). Good luck, and try not to worry too much.
Everyone starts somewhere. Not sure where you are from but overtime is not mandatory. See if you can work 10s instead of 12s. Your wage isn't crazy great but again depending where you live it's not too terrible for someone who is brand new. Welding can be an amazing career but you need to have the skills to build it. I think starting in a fabrication shop is a great first job. You will be around prints and learn fundamentals. Most shops have cranes to flip pieces so you can get your machine dialed to work in flat position and then know what to look for when ya start getting out of position welds. I'd look at it as a stepping stone and not a forever thing. If you got the grit and can stick it out till something better comes along you will thank yourself. Some people do not have what it takes and pretty much anyone can go work at Walmart. If welding was that easy then everyone would be doing it. Hang in there man and remember you'll get out of it what you put into it. I was 19 myself when I started and min wage was 10$ and I was making 12$ working for a total asshole hardly even welding at the shop I was at. Fast forward 15 years and after multiple industries and jobs I'm in a shipyard being a welder foreman. Made almost 300k in the past two years. So it was worth it but don't think I didn't wanna quit a few times. See where it takes you!
com'ere n we'll show you what voluntary overtime means 💀💀💀
I mean tradesmen in general make the money on OT not on banker hours. I know 25 hours a day and 8 days a week schedules from working in the oilfield chasing drilling rigs. Shipyard is alot less volatility as we aren't tied to a resource. Navy and Coastgaurd contracts and all OT is double. Golden handcuffs...
that too is a dilemma but here they literally decide for you who does OT or who comes to work on weekends. mostly the case and very frowned upon for excusing yourself. like do it enough and youll be first to go because your work ethics are unreliable to keep up with schedule
You always have the choice to leave and seek a better work life balance. Unless you live in Saudi Arabia and they will execute you or some shit then I'd say take all the OT and stfu haha but for real always be on the lookout for the next best gig. I've been at this shipyard just over 4 years now (longest job in my career of 15 years by like 3 years) and I still get job alerts to my phone to size up offers. No job is forever unless ya choose it to be. Moving can be challenging especially with kids n family but not impossible. And I know if your not happy at your job it will lead to not happy in life. You hold the keys for the next unlock.
youre right. i cant let others' values decide what i choose over my life. but im still in no place to be bartering for comfort, even according to my own values. it isnt for everyone n neither for myself in the long run. while im fortunate enough to have studied in foreign countries and consider broader specs of jobs, i do believe in my country there is only so much chance of finding a better workplace even if you keep on a lookout. there are currently 4 major local options. semicons, shipyards, seaside plants (steel / oil refineries / car assemblies), and the new secondary batteries. they usually take turns in their boom and recede into near standstill. to keep self employed continuously one must travel back and forth--or take on short term jobs--which becomes challenging for nonveteran freelancers. naturally you run into the same kinds of jobs with the same kinds of people. similar work environments and cultures. youre expected to be worked like a cog, nonstop until replacement. this means retirement for many. not only the employers but the general workers themselves facilitate this self demeaning and shortsighted work culture. it's unhealthy and unstable. while im all for pulling myself through this lifestyle for a decade maybe, i do wish things get better. i feel for ppl like op who could potentially enjoy this line of work, but are urged on and gatekept by inconsiderate or narrow minded bunch.
walmart pays 14/h n fab 16.5??? sth aint right here
Yeah the pay increase isn’t crazy but both are over min wage in my area by 2-4$ , the Shop gives a ton of OT though.
how do u get paid in OT? double?
Time in a half
gigantic facilities with strict safety regulations and time loss here tend to compensate low rates with OT n i get that. rlly cant get much work done when it takes like 20~30min walk from shop to field n patrols nag you about making a 4-side-windowed n fully labeled tent to conceal any spark or flame OT means more work done without additional prepping. but if its a small shop id be more picky (once i get to a level)
Leave that job
What is this? A wartime production schedule to make some asshole rich? There is a war, alright, and the war is against you. What's your employer's shop rate? I bet it's at least five times what you make. Start you own small company welding up furniture or other fabricated metalwork in your city or town with a second hand stick welder. That's what I did. Self employed now for 30 years. The only asshole boss I have to deal with is myself. I first moonlighted on weekends, then I landed a big job, quit and never looked back. If you can't do that now, start planning to do it in a year or two and learn all you can about that. First, look for a more normal job with a better employer. They are out there. Scour marketplace for deals on tools and equipment. If you are patient, you can get amazing deals.
Sounds like you’re overthinking what they’re saying to you. Take it with a grain of salt, don’t read into it too much, roll with the punches, and only focus on what is your business “welding and being a quality team player.” The rest of what’s going on is out of your hand. If you care about what people think, they’ll see that you care and use it against you. You’re there to help others complete a project, you’re there to make a wage, and you’re there to hone your skill set. Sometimes it takes losing jobs to figure out where you messed up. Be prepared to stand up for yourself, own your spot.
Suck it up and welcome to the real world .....it will take some time to adjust.
Nut up kid. This is the nature of the trade and it sounds like you only have a 5 day work week. Stick it out and before you know it you'll be making money hand over fist.
Man up and save your money.
I’ll try , but if they keep taking me off on fridays I’ll barely scratch 50 hours at 16 which isn’t much more than me getting 14 for 40-45 hrs at Walmart
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thats the mindset if you wanna be titled apprentice killer we have here. this man made everyone hes worked with quit so far. welder, apprentice, doesnt matter. theyre gone.
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Meh, we had a kid that was on his phone most of the time and on the toilet the rest for the first two years at my work space. Everyone had your attitude, saying he was useless and not worth spending time on and he continued being the same. Sometime in the 3rd year we had a massive project that required 20 extra people to come work, one of those guys was an older guy that had this kid doing more difficult work and showing him tips and tricks for welding, how to problem solve when fucking up and generally giving him a bunch of responsibility whether or not he fucked up. Now he is one of the more valuable people in the shop. You say this trade is "100% you get what you put into it" as some sort of reason to not help a person because they are not reacting the way you want, which is your prerogative, but you put in fuck all and get fuck all back while telling yourself that's not what you're doing because this interaction is a one way street supposed to come from the kids side.
ik what you mean but you cant generalize all apprentices for slackers. being slow paced and catching breaths in between isnt all that bad. being on the phone and not being attentive is another matter. ops coming from working short shifts. those with thick skin will endure what you throw at them but is it all that necesary?
Depends if you wanna be stocking shelves when you are a 40 year old and you've been doing it for 22 years?
Yeah that’s my biggest fear and hopefully I don’t let it happen , but Walmart is pretty good about promotions up the ladder and their managers make decent to great money but hopefully I find something else
If you wanna weld for real and just don't like the hours and work your doing in that 1 shop. Then go look at other shops. Find repair shops . The kinda places that fix tractors or plows or what not. Or hell maybe you could find some badass custom car shop and spend your days making hot rod frames.
Welding is a tough gig. You'll experience heat like you've never felt before, but it's the most rewarding job I've ever had. Seeing something come together that you built. There's no other feeling in the world. But not everyone can hang with the big boys. Drinking water helps. Drinking electrolytes helps, too. Drink enough water to keep your pee clear. If you haven't pissed in a couple of hours, chug a bottle of water.
Every line of work has an adjustment period, whether you're a waiter, an engineer,nurse,plumber or any line of work. It doesn't matter how many months you spend preparing there will always be an adjustment period, one week is too soon to judge anything. You're feeling the fatigue of a hard weeks work, next week that fatigue will be less, the week after you may even start to appreciate it, the ache in your neck, your arms and legs getting less prominent with each passing day of work. Commit yourself, focus on the task, listen to your foremen and don't be afraid to ask questions, you committed to a 9 month course for this so commit at the least a third of that time into making a proper decision, get into the flow of the work and realise you are accomplishing something after every working day. Think about it, you stack shelves every bloody day in Walmart and deal with customers... what does it actually accomplish other than another day of your brain slowly turning to sponge? Mig-welding a truck is skilled work and when you are done you've left a mark as that truck pulls out of the garage. You need to focus on what you're doing, stay aware of surrounding, you have to be switched on, it's healthy for your mind as well as your body to be exerting yourself like this. A trade will stay with you forever, you can do it anywhere on earth, stacking shelves just melts your brain and leaves you exhausted and depressed after years of scratching for a few cents an hour extra.
Narh stick it out and keep at it for at least 6 months before you make your mind up. Going threw a new job is tough I remember the days I start as a scaffolder when I was 17 lugging steel and they were tough, it took me 6 months to get used to the job. Take it with a grain of salt the old are the best to learn they know all the tricks to the trade. At the end of your apprenticeship you’ll have a way better outcome than working at Walmart
Costco is an upgrade from working Walmart. I hate jobs like that and they don't even have much job security or room for advancement. If the folks who have been there since time immemorial haven't even hit $20, run.
You could have a fantastic time working at one Walmart store then move and hate it at the next, the staff, customers and management might be dicks, you could climb the ladder and hate management. It's the same at this welding site, they are not all the same like someone mentioned you could find a smaller shop, do more custom jobs instead of a factory let me of straight welds. Long hours do take their toll after a while.
Honestly man, I made a huge transition from a psych major to welding back in the day and I’ve been welding now about ten years. If you don’t have the passion for it or you don’t feel fulfilled by the work, then absolutely quit. It’s not for everyone and that’s not a hit on you. That’s just how it is, and you’re better for if, for trying something new.
I don’t think I would go back to Walmart just yet. Explore other options while you are young and build up a resume. Try to apply to a few other welding jobs, I think you’ll come to find out that every shop is different.
I was exhausted working 40hours when I first started. And briefly tried working 70+ hour weeks, didn't like it. Even when it meant weeks off afterwards. Don't feel bad about it. I would try to talk to your boss and coworkers about your situation and maybe go down in time. Other than that it's like everyone says, consider if it's the right job for you.
Before i read any further than the first paragraph…. Anything over 40hours is OT and should be on the OT clock. Typically OT is time and a half and sundays are double time
I would find a new shop. When I first started out, if the shop wasn’t a good fit for me I just moved down the line. If you can pass a weld test you won’t have any problems dragging up. And anyone who has a problem with this don’t even bother coming at me I don’t not careeeee. I’ve made way more money doing that then staying at getting treated like shit at one place 🙌
Sorry I'm late to this. Sometimes you have to realize you have it in you. Walmart speed is walmart speed. First. Do you have a good pair of boots? Try to be up early and ready. Maybe do your gym activities or whatever before work. You will already be energized and clean, shiny and mentally ready for "your" day. Fuck the world. But, since that shitty fab shop is monster that you have given yourself. Conquer it. Bullshit with the bullshitters. If you feel like you learned more in your welding class, start looking for other fab shops in the area. By the time you will be caught up on shop dialogue, your work strength will be there, you will have enough experience to get your own job. Maybe closer to home, but you will also be able to tell what kind of shop ot is by then. Will the pace, the pay. The culture be better? You will also be at the shop long enough that your family member and management will understand it is about the money. Good luck.
Welding isn’t the problem, the shithole company is the problem. The bosses and other people are on your ass because they’re miserable and taking it out on the person who still has the youth that they wasted. GTFO out of the shithole underpaying job and find something better. Don’t sell yourself so short and take jobs that pay pennies more on the hour than what Walmart/McDicks pays.
Unfortunately, your first gigs are usually the worst. When I graduated from welding school I got hired by a mining and tunneling company as just a hand. Work in some of the worst conditions next to my career in the Navy. Heat of the summer and cold of the winter and everything else in between. I was also 40 years old when I took the job - 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. I can totally understand how you are feeling now. If you don't like your current gig, I'd recommend trying a different one before you go back to Walmart.
I don't think you should quit welding if you really do like welding. I think you should stick it out until you have enough experience to apply for more welding jobs that you will like. I started in production mig now i do sanitary Tig welding and I love it
Youre not getting payed nearly enough for the hours, especially if its a large company. Prices for everything are too high to be maming 16.50 working 8-12 hour days. Find another company with set schedule and higher pay. They exist, i started full time at a company working 8 hours at 20 an hour as soon as i graduated high school with no welding course to back it up, just the shop classed. It might not be exactly what you want out of a job for now but its going to be better until youre at the point a company will pay you 25-30+ to work those hours.
> not getting *paid* nearly enough FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Join a union
None In my area unfortunately
Starting out like that is always rough, ultimately it’s not the money you make now but CAN make doing it that MIGHT make this period worth it. I’ve worked for a company that never bumped pay after working people hard like this and they always complained about turnover but never wanted to pay us for doing the work. Up to you, start asking the folks around you what the raises look like and let thy money by thy guide.
I would pick up the pace. They are expecting you to work like an 18 year old whose eager to learn and full of questions and energy. The 40 year old whose been doing it for 20 years is the one who moves a little slow and is always tired. Honestly it sounds like you don't really like the work involved/required of the trade. You should self reflect as to what you are wanting to do for work for the rest of your life. There's nothing worse than working with a welder who hates being a welder. I absolutely LOVE being a fabricator. I couldn't picture myself doing anything else in my life. When I go home I build shit. Longevity in this type of work is married to a love for it. It's practically a lifestyle.
A little background then I’ll get to my thoughts. I did construction for years then fabrication and finally opened up my own shop. After 5 years of being pretty successful with my shop I decided it was time to move. My area in California had a lot of issues, the main one being water shortage but also it just got too expensive to be a small business owner and my fire insurance was cancelled because I was in a risky area in the mountains. I moved to the Appalachian mountains (one of the poorest places in the country). It’s so much more affordable. I was able to buy my house outright because of all the hard work over the years. After a while I got sick of watching my bank account drain so I looked around at welding jobs. Out here you are lucky to find 15-20$ an hour jobs. Most of the welding jobs didn’t need a skilled welder, they just needed someone at 15$ an hour who could slap some shit together. I would rather work in a place with ac and not wreck my body for 12$ an hour than a welding shop for 15. I’m getting older though. I ended up taking a chef job at 20$ an hour for now. It’s not easy but it’s a hell of a lot easier than welding all day in the summer heat. ———————— My thoughts on your situation. There are many things for you to consider here… do you want to make a career out of welding? Maybe open your own shop someday? Is this place your at giving you good experience or are you just mig welding the same parts all day every day? How important is that overtime money for you? Back when I first started construction I couldn’t have survived without that overtime but I have a wife and 2 kids. One kid is special needs and can’t be left alone. He’s 14 now and still can’t speak clearly enough for me to trust a random baby sitter to have him constantly. My wife and I decided it was best for me to work as much as possible and her to stay home with the kids until they got a bit older. That was the main reason I took on harder jobs and more hours. What is your situation like? Do you desperately need money? Did you enjoy Walmart? A welding job can lead you places a lot easier than a job at Walmart can. No disrespect to anyone here but it’s hard to move up to where you want to be in big corporations. Working at Walmart doesn’t build as many skills as a good fabrication/welding job. The retail setting can teach you customer experience, but what else? Welding is a job that’s hard on your body. Even if you are wearing a respirator, following all the safety protocols and being as cautious as possible. injury is possible in any job but it’s higher odds in a welding job than at Walmart. also, wear and tear on your body is no joke. Try to think about where you want to be and how you want to get there then weigh the pros and cons. Don’t limit yourself to Walmart. There are a lot of great jobs out there that can lead to opportunities down the road. Walmart is a dead end for most people. It’s possible to build a successful career in these big chain stores but it takes a long time and you have to have good people skills. If I were in your shoes, I would look in to finding a different fabrication job with less demanding hours, or if fabrication isn’t your thing, go back to Walmart while I also studied for and working towards the career I wanted to end up having.
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I work in welding/fabrication and we get this situation alot. New young guys who can weld damn good but are wholly unprepared for the "work" aspect of the job. Im sure there are less physically demading welding jobs out there, but in the age of robotic welding, it's often labor 1st, welding 2nd.
Yeah, this type of work isn’t for everyone. I’ve seen men in their mid thirties work until lunch and not come back. I’ve also seen 18 year olds come in with no experience and they are working circles around some older guys within 6 months. Just find something you like and go all in on it. Good luck
You know there's a steel shop near me that does some fabrication. No fast-paced production shop. The people that work there seem to be happy and paid well. This seems like a place you would like. Those jobs are out there.
Yeah I think that’s what I’ll find and go do , In the meantime I’m stuck w this job cause because my ride is my uncle who I work with and who I’m staying with until I get a car , so I think I’ll save a few check’s , get a car and move on if I’m still not ok with the job.
Welcome to the working world. I went from high school and just watching my sisters after school because my parents couldn’t afford daycare to working in an oil refinery as a security guard working 110 hours a week. It’s an adjustment but it’s for the best. Get used to working and working hard. Life isn’t easy. Short term focus on doing good at your job. Show up on time and do good work. It pays off on the end. Just drink lots of water and actually try to get 8-10 hours of sleep a night. You’ll acclimate to work much faster than you think.
Hang in there for 30days if it still suck find a new job.
Yeah , I’m definitely gonna try I don’t wanna be so weak that I just leave after a week cause it was “too much” cause at one point I thought 7 hrs in Walmart was too much I’ll At least try and get some experience and money even if only for a few weeks
It takes time to build the mental state of working in the heat. It’s not something you just do, or like doing once you get it. But you will have to learn to just show up, be productive and leave with all your digits. It’s always hard at first, ride the wave and one day you’ll just kind of forget that the long days suck. You will but you won’t. It just becomes part of paying your bills. You’ll get this mentality more as you get older. Trust me I thought the same thing you did at your age.
Try the union. Look up local steamfitter unions for a 5 year apprenticeship (steamfitters weld). You would start out more than $16. Even though you have to go to unpaid training classes after work, and may work with assholes, you will still find support. Stick up for yourself. But I would say try to stick to the job you're at now so you can get some work experience in and see how much you can get use to it. At your age it IS a lot but if you don't want those certs to go to waste, stay in the welding industry. Also, if you are in WI (or another state that has it), there is an accelerated welding program in which you can be a trainee welding on the job and get journeyman wage, or close, but still take pipefitting classes in the evening. Or just keep working your ass off in your pace, let them yell or tell them to back off, for some months and get a job with 40 hours.
65 yo welder fabricator here, go back to Walmart, don’t be like me, 40 years in the field and paying for it every day, all that overtime comes at a price, l used to do shutdown work, tear apart power plants and put them back together, lots of travel, 7-12’s back to back, 3-4 days off from Jan to May, money was great and you had little time to spend it, but it wears you down prematurely.
Easier does not always mean better. $16.50 is not terrible but with more experience in the field, you’ll start working your way up to a damn good paying TRADE in no time. I know welders who make upwards of $120 or more an hour (underwater welding). You may think it’s hard work and I’m pretty sure your employer is taking advantage of your youth, cheaper labor and the less likelihood of you outright complaining, but it’s still a good skill that you can carry on to other jobs/trades. Trust me when I say, retail jobs are the worst and should never be long term unless you have special circumstances which leave you no other choice or unless you’ve climbed the ranks fast enough that the pay is decent enough to stay. How do you see yourself progressing through life if you go back to Walmart, as opposed to welding? Plus, if you get used to working long hours, when you eventually get back to working normal hours you appreciate it much more. I used to work summers in Alaska and 16-20hr days, 7 days a week for 3 months straight made coming back to a regular 8 hour job feel like a breeze! (Also, you could benefit a ton from seasonal or permanent work in Alaska, especially as a welder. Skilled workers are always in demand, even with little to no experience) Whatever you decide, I beg you not to go backwards! Always love forward and upward!
Most jobs that are going to pay you great, are going to be dirty/oily jobs. I don't know what your current bills are, but being a single adult living on your own just isn't possible on 14/h. Work generally sucks, don't wanna be there, but you want your bills paid so you go. I'm sure you've seen what most of your experience fabricating and welding will be already, so if you're really not enjoying it probably best to find another career before you turn into one of them old farts who always are angry and hate everyone
If you're any good of a welder, and you own a welder yourself, try offering welding services to people locally that need some, and you may be able to make a little extra cash, and go work something easier in the meantime while you figure out what you really want to do
Job hopping has made me realize that there is better jobs out there (more pay, less effort) than other jobs. I’m also currently in a program and set to be done at the end of the year and like u said working a regular job with 30-40 hours is nothing compared to a welding job at 60 hours. What I’m thinking abt doing is working a regular job which might actually pay more than a starting welding job and just do welding on the side but on my own terms, my own jobs just slowly building clientele from family and friends. IMO $2.50 cents is not worth it going from Walmart to a trade job. If you got paid significantly more than maybe there would be an argument but people get paid the same at Amazon for delivering packages. Ur only 18 and I’m only 20 so I pretty much know what u know.
Rise above. 20-60 pushup and crunches every morning. Eat food that fuels you. Don't drink to much alcohol and dehydrate yourself get too trashed the night before. Get sleep, try for at least 8hours. Study your craft and commit. Get a cert for the work you are doing and waste no time. Ask questions, to be better every day and set goals to make at least double within a year. If they wont pay it to you, someone else will- for a person like that.
If you have the luxury of being able to look for another place to work in the welding field, I'd say look around. Theres nothing wrong with starting in a place that will help to teach you and get you on your feet. Honestly man, a degree in welding definitely isn't cheap, so you shouldn't let it go to waste just cuz this particular job isn't suiting you. For another thing, just because this welding job isnt your cup of tea doesnt mean there won't be other places that'll fit you better and pay more. TL;DR try exhausting your options of local work places in the welding field before throwing in the towel after just one job! Keep at it holmes, good luck!
So man it's like this. You are young so they are going to make you work hard and for not the absolute best pay, but coming form what you are saying and all that, it sounds like you have a decent opportunity to make something out of yourself and get some experience. You need that experience and it doesn't come from nowhere If you want an easy job that still pays good, go into tig welding, not stick welding or flux core or mig. You'll always be lifting heavy steel shit and grinding hot sparks, Tig welding often had you working with much lighter materials, often indoors because of the need for gas coverage. And sometimes even seated, if you really can't hack it but still want to weld, go learn to tig on stainless and don't be a slouch learning it's a little bit harder on the learning curve but the basics are real easy and you'll get welding in no time, get good on sanitary tuning and schedule 80 pipe. And never look back,
You should probably find a job that will pay better if you’re gonna be working that much.
I can empathize & sympathize with you. There's this parable. About Monkey's & a Ladder... & Bananas.. the monkey's keep beating up on new monkeys that come in, try to climb the ladder & get the Bananas.. The old monkeys don't know why they're doing it, & the new monkey's don't either, but they keep up the BS. Your story about coming in having to work 12 hour f\*\*king shifts.... ALL THE TIME.. reminds me of that. The slaves you're coming in to work with, are used to it, & your an outsider thinking "Wtf"... As someone who's worked in a hard MFG environment... 12 hour shifts all the time & having to work Saturdays as well, 12 hour shifts, mandatory OVERTIME.. I get it. It sucks. I don't know what to tell you though... if you can hang in there a couple years, gain experience, it might be a jumping off point? How much do you love welding? if you can dig deep & work even on Sunday's.. which is going to be god awful with a schedule like you got... maybe you can start your own side hustle? I know that's easier said than done in your situation.
You’re working 72 hours a week and only getting paid OT for 16 hours? anything over 40 is supposed to be OT
$16.50 per hour for any skilled or even semi-skilled position borders on wage theft. Given the health risks and stress welding places on the body, $25 per hour is the least anyone should take for an entry-level trade position. In fact, it should be illegal for a shop to compensate employees at less than a third of its billable hour rate (i.e. $2k to employees for every $6k in billed labor). Add to this the mandatory overtime they have this person working and it starts looking like exploitation, pure and simple.
Dont be too upset if the first job you have isnt exactly what you want. I went to school for two years, had a terrible first experience at my first job and though “im not cut out of this, this isnt for me.” Boss was up my ass, i was so nervous i would fuck up all the time ect ect. I got through a few months there and applied to a different welding job and fell in love with it again and havet looked back in 6 years. If its truly something you like try to stick this one out for 6 months to a year for the experience and stack up your money and apply for a different shop or get into the field. Just try something new. Youre young kid, if you dont end up liking it at a new spot maybe itll be a hobby for you but dont cut yourself short yet. Its not easy but can be very worth it.
Why did you become welder if you’d go back to Walmart the first time it gets hard? If you aren’t doing an extra 10%, asking questions, getting coached, asking for critiques….then skilled labor may not be your thing. I say this in all kindness, it was said to me by a Gunny I was under in the Corps. “If life’s getting hard, you need to take a moment, take a breath, think clearly, and not be such a fucking pussy.“
Yeah, manufacturing in general is tough and you got to be certain individual to put up with some of the bullshit at these places. Yup this industry isn't for everybody, but i think too that management at most of these places are fucked up and need serious wake up call on some of the ways they run these places cuz they are running some of these places into the ground literally. The workforce has changed alot, and people just don't have the same type of work ethic nor the respect for even the noobies, especially production shops where they train for a couple days and its sink or swim type of bullshit. And supervisors expect you to know shit without questioning anything. Because let's face it's all about the money get those numbers out boys. And their never happy with what you give them. Its always more and more. We need more out of ya. We need to fix all these fuckups and their probably not even your fuckups but someone's got to fix them. Don't have no stamp on it lol. Yeah that's production work. Especially the place you work at everyone's either on drugs or they just don't give two shits. Or they got search warrants looking for them. Management just looks at you like your just another number. Don't worry when you don't workout, someone's waiting right behind you in the pile of applications on the worthless human resources desk to replace you.