Congratulations and welcome to the Club.
Sorry, but your timing's a bit off for the "Pick of the low hanging fruit". Jobs are scarce industry wide and therefore competition is high.
I suggest you try to get more training and certs. RT Interp, MT, PT, UT etc. How about computer skills? Do you have a working knowledge of Office, Power Point, Excel, and Outlook? How are your technical writing skills? Can you take fotos and add circles, arrows, text and post them into a report? If not I highly suggest you start a self study. If all you can do is play games, shop on Amazon and eBay, then I might suggest some professional training.
When times are slow, take advantage if you can and make yourself more marketable. It hurts less if you don't have to take time off from work to take tests, attend seminars and schools. At least that is my personal philosophy.
Not knowing your location, flexibility, background or the career path you have envisioned, there are still plenty of opportunities out there.
I have years behind me in this line of work and I spend everyday sending CVs when between projects. I am a contract Inspector and I have to decide between where, when, how long, how much $$$, plus a host of other variables.
I can understand not wanting to "get thrown to the wolves", but do you have any relevant experience.
QC/CWIs should try to get some training/mentoring before going full throttle.
Yes, you are now Certified... but how qualified are you?
Give us some specifics and we'll try to help.
Best of luck to you in your search.
South Carolina. A bit far from my stomping grounds.
Do you have your certificate and stamp yet? Or just got the email notice?
What part of the industry are you focused on? Pipeline? Structural? Or?
Willing it move? Travel?
Do you want to work for someone else or do as John and myself and work for yourself with all your own insurances, certifications, equipment, licenses, etc, etc?
Outside of that, John answered pretty thoroughly.
He Is In Control, Have a Great Day, Brent
Congratulations!
I am based in europe so my experience might be different from yours.
I see a lot of postings for CWI (as well as welding engineers and such) in the middle-east, so if you are willing to move to very far away that could be an option.