Important Job Skills for Welders

Important Job Skills for WeldersImportant Job Skills for WeldersDid you ever wonder how intricate metal designs are created, or how metal can be bonded to withstand incredible weight on bridges and skyscrapers? Working reliably with metal requires expert welders. As the construction industry worldwide continues to boom, welders are in demand. If you are interested in making welding a career, there are a number of skills to master. What Kind of Skills Do You Need to be a Welder? Welders study blueprints and calculate dimensions, and then use that information to join metal parts together. They often work inmanufacturingandconstruction. Welders help to build everything from ships to cars to planes to parts of buildings and other structures. While some welders get college degrees in their field, many just getcertified. Technically, certifications are not required either, but adding a certification to your resume is recommended. Some of the best welderswork as an apprenticefirst befor e launching their career. If youre a welder looking for work, show employers you can offer what they need by highlighting the right skills throughout the job process. Types of Welding Skills Mathematical Skills Since math skills help welders perform tasks more effectively, they can help job candidates stand out. Youll need to be able to calculate the dimensions to be welded, read blueprints, and interpret sketches. Math will also come in handy when you cut and trim metal objects to specific dimensions. Calculating DimensionsInterpreting SketchesReading BlueprintsSpatial ReasoningUnderstanding 2-D and 3-D Diagrams Attention to Detail Good welders need to pay attention to details. For example, they should be able to evaluate equipment for purchase. Theyll also need to clean grease or corrosion from parts and chip out holes, bubbles, and cracks prior to welding. They must perform work that requires minimal flaws. All of these tasks require attention to detail. Moreover, wel ders often work in somewhat dangerous environments. They, therefore, need to keep their workspace clean and safe. Maintaining Work AreasCutting and Trimming Metal Objects to DimensionsDetecting Changes in Molten Metal FlowsFollowing DirectionsIdentifying JointsPart and Material InspectionAdherence to Safety Standards Physical Abilities Your physical abilities can help make you more attractive to employers. Specifically, youll need to be able to lift, bend, twist, and stoop to put together or dismantle large objects such as automobiles and aircraft. Youll also need steady hands and grip to hold a torch in place for long periods of time. Physical EnduranceDepth PerceptionClose VisionHand-eye CoordinationLifting Considerable WeightManual DexteritySteady HandsWorking in Adverse Conditions Administrative Welding is a physical job, butadministrative tasksare part of the profession as well. Welders need to be able to document their work, have goodorganizationalskills, and maintain inventory, ordering more supplies when necessary. Welders also need to be able to plan and manage projects. This might involve working alone or working effectively with a team. Documenting WorkInventorying SuppliesMeeting DeadlinesOrganizationalPlanning ProjectsPrioritizingReliabilityTime ManagementTeamworkVerbalCommunicationWorking Independently Technology and Tools Welders should be able to clamp broken metal pieces together andmelt and apply solder along adjoining edges of work pieces. They should also be able to monitor the quality of welds and components, repair leaks, and use grinders or other metal finishers. Moreover, welders should be able to set up fixtures and machine tools and test coils for air leaks. In addition, welders should be able to use lifting and control devices, soldering irons, fillet and butt weld gauges, and hand tools. Welders should know how to operate a brazing torch, robotic welding equipment, and have proficiency with air carbon arc gouging. Given thattechnologyis constantly changing, its important that welders learn the new technology necessary to help them effectively do their jobs. Learning New TechnologiesBrazing TorchRobotic Welding EquipmentFixturesSetting Up Machine ToolsGrindersMetal FinishersLifting and Control DevicesFillet and Butt Weld GaugesHand ToolsSoldering Iron More Welding Skills Analytical SkillsComplianceManaging Work OrdersAssemblingClampingHeat TreatingBondingERP SoftwareTCP SoftwareMS ExcelPrecisionVisualizationFeeding Materials Through EquipmentPPE (Personal Protective Equipment)High NoiseWeld in Various Positions (Flat, Curved, Overhead, Vertical, etc.)EZ PipeDesignMechanical SkillsProject ManagementFabricate Metal ComponentsOxy-fuel WeldingArc WeldingConstructionConcentrationCustomer ServiceMetallurgy How to Make Your Skills Stand Out Add Relevant Skills to Your Resume In yourresume, you can include relevantskill wordsin yourresume summaryor in your Work History section.Highlight Skills in Your C over Letter In yourcover letter, mention one or two skills that you have that are important to the job. For example, you might mention how you used your skills in blueprint reading to produce thousands of precisely made materials for an automobile manufacturing company.Use Skill Words in Your Job Interview You can expand upon your skills in yourinterviewas well. Provide anecdotes of times you have demonstrated some of the most important skills for the job.

Are Cover Letters Worth the Paper They Are Written On

Are Cover Letters Worth the Paper They Are Written On Are Cover Letters Worth the Paper They Are Written On While there is no doubt that titelblatt letters have suffered a decline in importance as a selection tool, they can, if used correctly, still add value to the short-listing process. And below I have set out five value-adding aspects of using a titelblatt letter as screening tool.1. They indicate how much (or little) time an applicant has invested in applying for your roleA resume does not really reflect the amount of time they have spent making this specific application. It could have been little more than attaching a file and pressing send. By looking at a cover letter, you can usually tell if its a stock letter or whether they have taken time to construct a tailored document. Thus a cover letter can help you discriminate between spammers and more committed applicants.2. It shows the applicants ability to construct a persuasive business case and influence othersCover letters are more free flowing than resumes and there is a greater emphasis on grammar and syntax, which means you can get a much better handle on someones ability to write effective business communications, than you can from a resume. Also, cover letter writing is not just a technical exercise its also about building a persuasive argument and business case, selling themselves and showing they are right for the job. Therefore, done well, a cover letter can showcase a candidates ability to write a sales introduction letter or to influence others with the written word.3. It shows how much (or little) research they have done into your role and businessWell-constructed cover letters will not be generic rather the applicant will have identified the mission critical skills for the role and highlighted their skills in this area. They will also make references to pertinent aspects of your company or personalities or contacts. Heavily contextualized cover letters can show that the candidate has rese arched and analyzed your business and role and is a highly engaged applicant.4. It shows that they have awareness (or lack of awareness) of your business priorities and key concernsWell-written cover letters will address any specific red flags in their resume and will highlight any value-adding qualities in their CV, which makes them an especially strong applicant. Cover letters that do this reveal applicants who have a strong awareness of your business priorities and key concerns. Its hard to ascertain this from a resume.5. It shows whether or not they can they follow instructions.Candidates who fail to include a cover letter, when it is requested, show an immediate lack of attention to detail and inability to follow instructions. Another way to see if they can follow instructions is to make a specific request in the job advert as to how the cover letter should be presented, e.g. must address three skill areas. Candidates who fail to deliver a correctly formatted letter have shown a lack of attention to detail and/or failure to follow instructions.Id love to hear about any other ways that you think cover letters add value to the application process.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.

4 Ways Youre Lying to Yourself About Being Productive

4 Ways Youre Lying to Yourself About Being Productive4 Ways Youre Lying to Yourself About Being ProductiveIts easy to spot when people are lying to themselves- like when a co-worker confidently starts a huge project at 430, but has a 5 PM deadline. Whos he kidding? you might chuckle. But when youre telling lies to yourself- well, thats another story.When it comes to productivity, you may think you have it mastered. You check tasks off your to-do list, multitask like the best of them, and stay insanely busy from morning until night. But it turns out, your so-called productivity may actually be a jumble of popular myths that make you think youre getting mora done than you actually are.Think youre using your time wisely? Check out these four lies you might be telling yourself about being productive- and how you can free yourself from that false reality.Lie 1 My Days Full of Activity, So I Must Be Super ProductiveThese days, theres no shortage of digital time-fillers that can make you fe el productive. You can easily spend all day emailing, tweeting, searching, instant messaging, texting, and whatever else it takes to stay in the online loop. But while your fingers are busy typing and your eyes busy reading, all youre really doing is getting hits of information- over and over again- instead of working toward a goal.Or, you might pack your schedule to the brim- coffee meetings in the morning and networking events after work- which forces you to spend all night responding to all the emails in your overflowing inbox. Sure, that makes you feel (and look) busy, but are you really getting anything significant done?Solution The Done ListTo make sure youre actually accomplishing substantial tasks each day, keep a done list- that is, a list of tasks youve completed instead of things you have left to do. When you stop to recognize each days accomplishments, youll be able to reflect more constructively Did you spend your time wisely? Did you make any significant progress today ? If instapapered some super-useful articles is the only item that made it onto your done list, you may need to reevaluate how youre spending your time.Lie 2 Please, Im a Multitasking MasterMultitasking can trick you into feeling like youre a productivity superhero. After all, if you have the skills to simultaneously compile a budget, listen to a podcast, and catch up on your email, you must be running circles around your single-tasking co-workers, right?Actually, multitasking can make you perform worse in whatever youre doing. Studies show that when you try to focus on too many things at the same time, youre less likely to be able to filter out irrelevant facts, switch between tasks effectively, and remember important information.Solution Practice Single FocusTry focusing on one task at a time. Why should you work against what you believe are your natural multitasking talents? Hear me out It might feel less productive- or even be less enjoyable- to work on one thing at a time, but extreme focus will bring out your best.To help you get out of your task-juggling habits, work in ones Keep one simple to-do list. Complete at least one significant task toward the beginning of your day. If youre really up for a challenge, try working in only one browser tab When you single-task, youll boost your brainpower- and since youre not spending partial attention on multiple tasks, youll get the task at hand done faster.Lie 3 Schedule, Schmedule I Go With the Flow Some people relish planning. I, on the other hand, tend to go with the flow and work from a mental to-do list, starting with whatever seems most appealing at the moment. Usually, this isnt a problem, and Im able to get my work done, but Ive noticed that I get stressed from trying to hold everything in my head.You may think that having a flexibile and open schedule can be conducive to creativity (and it can be, to a certain extent), but that doesnt mean all forms of scheduling should go out the window. A little struc ture can help you clarify your goals and think more clearly- so you wont waste time trying to figure out if you overlooked anything from your mental to-do list.Solution Get Into Rhythms Rather than TimetablesDont worry- if youre a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type, you dont need to start scheduling out your day by the minute. But what you can do is create a more reliable rhythm for yourself. Instead of scheduling your day down to the very brde detail and task, try working with broader goals in mind.With this strategy, I still recommend to-do lists- but not necessarily filled with specific tasks. Instead, list categories of what youre working on. For example, replace itemized tasks like write one blog post or contact Beth, with higher-level goals, like complete one task that supports growing my network or do two things that will broaden my expertise as an analyst.This will allow you to work productively toward your goals without locking yourself into turn-by-turn directions. Then, s et aside a dedicated block of time for you to work on each category, so you can minimize distractions and focus on actually producing.Lie 4 No Worries Ill Do it TomorrowThe power of procrastination is, well, pretty powerful. Without much thought, the top task on your to-do list can get pushed to tomorrow, and then to the next day, and then to the next. And in your mind, you truly believe youll get to it eventually- but eventually keeps getting pushed further and further away.Solution Find an Accountability AllyThe root of procrastination is often a lack of accountability- if no one knows whats on your to-do list, no one knows that youre not actually making any progress on it. To stay on track, partner up with a co-worker or group of peers- people who are committed to helping each other do what they say theyre going to do- and plan to check in with each other at least once a week. Whenever you meet (whether virtually or in person), review your progress, share your upcoming goals, and provide feedback and encouragement. Youll be a lot more likely to finish your blog post if you have a friend who checks up on you I havent seen an update on your blog today- when are you going to post it?If you cant find an accountability partner, technology can help you become your own coach. Check out apps like iDoneThis, Lift, and Email Game, which keep you updated on your progress toward specific goals- which can help keep you on track and motivated to stay productive.Admitting our productivity lies can be tough. In fact, you may even go through a mini-cycle of grief when you first hear them denial (I dont procrastinate), indignation (I get plenty done), bargaining (Ill start tomorrow), and a bit of blues- all before finally accepting them and taking the next steps. But, those steps arent as hard as you think With these solutions and a hearty konservenbchse of honesty, youll be on your way to unmatched productivity in no time.Tell us What productivity lies do you tell yourself- and how do you overcome them?Photo of man writing courtesy of Unsplash.