There's always a high demand for skilled welders, and as more of the workforce continues to age and retire, that demand is only going up. Entry-level welding jobs in London, Ontario, start around $21/hour, but those with experience in more challenging welds can reach an average of $41/hour and possibly higher. With potential earnings like that, most welders are eager to take on more demanding jobs.
Master the Basics
The first step is the most obvious, but nonetheless important. Before you can even think of advancing in the welding trade, you need to have a strong foundation. You should have already finished your education at a college or trade school and completed an apprenticeship. There, welders learn essential skills such as:
- Stick and MIG welding techniques
- Reading blueprints along with welding symbols
- Safety knowledge when working with equipment
- Math skills to calculate dimensions, convert fractions and decimals, and more
Once that is done, you'll get officially certified by the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB Group). Certifications only last around two years, so welders should stay up-to-date if they want to take on more detailed work.
What Employers Need to Have in Advancing Welders
With the basics mastered, employers will start to evaluate welders on different skills and traits to ensure they are ready to move on to more complicated jobs. Showing a strong sense of independence tells employers that they can trust you and your work without having to waste time overseeing to catch issues. You'll also want to demonstrate sound technical judgment and problem-solving abilities, like spotting issues in blueprints and quickly coming up with solutions. When employers notice this, they feel more confident that you can handle complex welding jobs in London, Ontario.
Skills Needed for Specialty Welding
It's not only experience and personal development that's required for specialty welding. The designs are more intricate, the techniques are precise, the equipment is less standard, and the conditions are harsher. The expectations are higher, but so is the pay. Here are just some of the minimum skills needed before securing specialty welding opportunities:
- Material Knowledge: While beginner and moderate welders work with standard materials like steel, specialty welders will handle more exotic alloys such as titanium and chrome-moly, which behave much differently when welding.
- Advanced Welding Techniques: Specialty welding supports crucial areas such as aerospace, automotive, and construction. These will need techniques like TIG, structural welding, pipe welding, robotic welding, and plasma cutting, just to name a few.
- Confidence in the End Result: Specialty projects undergo much more scrutiny. Every single part must have full code compliance and hold up under rigorous inspections. There is no "good enough" in these jobs.
See Available Welding Jobs in London, Ontario, from Entry-Level to Experienced
Whether you're just starting out in your welding career, or looking to put your skills to use in specialty work, Liberty Staffing Services is here to connect you with the best opportunities. We have strong relationships with a majority of companies across numerous industries, including manufacturing and automotive. Additionally, our team will advise you about writing a compelling resume, and practice interview skills, so you can get to work welding in temporary and permanent positions.
Contact us to find out more about current and upcoming positions.
