Industires or improvement
Industires or improvement
(OP)
Which of the following industries would you persue in the welding/materials field and why?
1. Power Generation (fossil)
2. Nuclear
3. Oil & Gas
4. Aerospace
5. Consulting
6. Other
Also, which do you think would add more value to an Welding engineer looking to move to one of the above industries?
1. AWS Certified Welding Engineer
2. PE in Metallurgy or materials engineering
3. MS in Metallurgy or materials engineering
1. Power Generation (fossil)
2. Nuclear
3. Oil & Gas
4. Aerospace
5. Consulting
6. Other
Also, which do you think would add more value to an Welding engineer looking to move to one of the above industries?
1. AWS Certified Welding Engineer
2. PE in Metallurgy or materials engineering
3. MS in Metallurgy or materials engineering





RE: Industires or improvement
A P.E is a definite plus but is not essential. I know of no major company that is requiring AWS CWE as a prerequisite for hire.
Right now if you are a CWI in the Gulf States area, you should be able to make $45 to $55 per hour with time and a half overtime plus per diem. Salaried Welding Engineers can make up to $150,000 depending on experience and Employer. Oversea emploment salaries can be much greater.
RE: Industires or improvement
The main reason I put Aerospace on the list is that I live in the Northwest. If I want to get ahead, it almost seems like moving is a pre-requisite unless it is in Aerospace. My most relavent experience to most of these industries is in the primary metals industry, so I don't have any direct experience in them directly, except for making lots of components for them.
RE: Industires or improvement
TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com
RE: Industires or improvement
If residing in your present location is your primary motivatiion, expect to be searching for a career in something other than what you are currently doing in the future. Plan on it! Companies can be bought, sold, downsized, canabalized or disbanded when you least expect it.
My advice is not to tie yourself to location unless immediate family (wife/children) issues and your overall happiness dictate. I've resided and worked in four countries and three States in the USA. All have provided unique and lasting experiences for me and my family.
RE: Industires or improvement
I seem to be realizing that more and more. Staying put only limits the scope of oppertunities avialable.
Tygerdawg,
The more I think about it, your suggestion is an interesting one because it can involve several of the afore mentioned industries at the same time.
RE: Industires or improvement
I would pursue 1 and 2 as being excellent opportunities, in general. Why? Because the Power generation sector is loosing aged employees and those companies that have reduced the work force through attrition are now trying to hire. Also, a third category to add is wind and solar. I have worked in the Power Generation business for 25+ years and opportunities prevail. Benefits are decent, and pay is well above average. For the last 2 years our company has been growing in the renewables - wind, gas and solar. I have more work than I can handle as a metallurgist.
Both the PE and MS are a plus.
Good Luck