They are fishing at 15 hoping to find some fresh cwi who doesn't know any different.
I do suggest not cold sending a Resume, and I also suggest looking at the format of the resume/cv. Very often the companies you are sending to are looking for specific verbiage.
If you wish, you can send me a copy and I'll look it over for you and tell you what I'd be looking for on the inspection end.
Regards,
Gerald
NDE LIII UT, RT, MT, PT, VT
CWI
Joe,
Especially in these economic times, to take good advantage of a career change, you may need to take the $15/hr job. I don't know that you would stay at that for long. Companies aren't going to offer top dollar to someone who hasn't proven themself. But top side of $20/hr may be a ways off until you are able to add certs, experience, equipment, and many other things to your resume/portfolio.
In many respects we still have a shortage of top quality, certified welders and certified welding inspectors. But, coming out of winter slow downs, national economic slow downs, extreme money shortages, and several other factors, there are a good number of qualified, certified, EXPERIENCED people out there looking for work. You have to make some concessions to get the job when they can have experienced people for cheaper than they used to. And even if they can't get them cheaper, at least they get experience. Less learning curve. Less non-productive start up time.
Also, what do you have to offer for code books and inspection tools? Do you have everything you need? Don't need to give me a list, just answer the question for yourself. If sent to a job do you have several of the weld gauges and other tools needed to check many aspects of the product? Do you have current copies of D1.1 (I know you have API 1104), AISC Steel Construction Manual, IBC 2006, ASTM codes, Bolting, etc? A computer and printer, or will you hand write reports? If so, how is the penmanship?
Not trying to be destructive in the next comment, Constructive, I hope you don't type a report, resume, or take notes like you type your posts here. Take pride in your education. Capitalize, punctuate, use the most correct spelling you can, carry a dictionary and thesaurus along with your code books. (I make too many mistakes myself when it comes to spelling and punctuation). If we are truly "Professionals" we must look like it, act like it, and work like it. Set an example for others (the kids coming up and watching this site). Show competence to possible employers/customers/contractors. I have inspected for companies that thought more of a long, well written report than they did of the actual inspections accomplished.
All I can think of for now. Again, just my two tin pennies worth.
Have a Great Day, Brent
One other thing of note;
It's been mentioned to get some other certs. One thing that is in very short supply are steel and concrete dual certs.
Doesn't matter whats being built, there is usually some concrete to go with it. When money gets tight, people usually try to stretch it. Why hire two people when one can do the job.
http://www.concrete.org/certification/Cert_pgminfo.asp?pgm=Concrete+Construction+Special+InspectorThere are a host of certs out there, but it doesn't pay just to have the cert just because.
In this market, I'd shoot for ACI certs. ICC has similar certs, the problem is they don't transfer by default to either oil and gas or nuclear. If either of them go up, the ACI cert and CWI can be used. For that matter, while it's not settled as of yet, the pad pours for wind farms are leaning towards the ACI cert, and the nuclear realm has already accepted them.
It sucks that you can't get the cwi to work for you at this time, but the bottom line is, by itself, it's not going to get it done because there are a lot of cross certified persons out there who have shifted fields out of oil, and into gas and or other realms at this time.
It would also be a good idea to do some market research on your own. Not a lot of point in a cert that is not currently in demand.