Tolliver-

An apprentice welder can

Run a nice bead

a WELDER CAN

fit form and cut pipe, angles, beams, and sheet metal all from nothing more than a blueprint and a stack of material and a few humble tools
knows how and when to use a saw (of any type), a brake, a shear, or a torch.
can form metal with nothing but a hammer, some c clamps and some carefully applied heat...without destroying what he is working on
knows (most of the time) when he should consult a book or a spec to do the job properly
can make the tools he needs to do a certain job
should be as good at layouts as running a nice bead
IS always ready to learn

To me an ACCOMPLISHED WELDER can/has/is

Run TIG, MIG, Stick, Oxy-Acetylene on a wide variety of materials in ANY position. (probably is familiar with pulse / spray arc as well)
Fit and do sheet metal work with the best of em.
the ability to estimate the hours tied up in a job or project pretty acurately
Knows a cert is just a way to qualify for the job at hand....whether he is proud of it or not.
is always ready to learn

A MASTER WELDER
is more patient and humble than the first two
is always ready to learn

I have only met one guy I think falls into the Master catagory (although I feel there are a few hanging out on this forum).......I have been at this for twenty years.

Hello TaylorTolliver, I think you've gotten the skinny pretty hard about attitude here, now I'd like to give you a bit more perspective on the learning end of things. I have seen students of all types over a considerable amount of years, many of these individuals have possessed unbelievable talent and ability, not all however were what I would call the total package. YOU will want to be the total package, you will want to have the skills and the attitude that says I am the best choice for the job that you have waiting for me. Students come to me all the time saying "this is good enough isn't it?", I look at it and say it will meet industry requirements, yet to be that much better go and work on this and that and it will be that much better. They will give me that puzzled look and again ask why, I will then reply with a couple of statements: first one being, you will be in competition with others looking for that "perfect job" don't you want to be head and shoulders above the rest of the applicants?, second one being, if you were the customer having something fabricated and welded would you be willing to pay $80 to $100 dollars an hour for the type of quality that you are holding in your hands?
     The first impression that you make on a perspective employer is generally the one that decides at that moment whether you will go to work or not, even further, when you show up at a business and speak to the secretary the impression that you make there may decide whether your application goes on for consideration or it goes into the round file(garbage). I try to impress upon students the need for completeness, that includes punctuality(can you make it to work on time?, can you make it to work every day?), communication skills, confidence, the way you dress, how you act, your level of preparedness, and welding and shop skills. Sometimes instead of saying that you KNOW how to do something, say that you have had experience doing something instead, that statement says that you understand that you may have things to learn yet. It is great to see your level of enthusiasm, consider that everyone here on the forum that has given you advice has had to make a start in the trade and they are trying to give you a heads up on how best to proceed and be successful. Once again work for the completeness it won't let you down when you go out there for that job. Regards and best of luck, aevald