Hello Gerald, I can't agree with you more regarding being properly compensated for doing a better job or advancing your skills for a given employer. Time and time again I have run into some very skilled and talented individuals who have been working for the same employer for years and compared to others with similar skills, doing the same work for someone else, they are sorely underpaid. In some cases it is "somewhat" understandable, I only say that based on the fact that they may be working for a non-union outfit and possibly they have a number of other individuals to contend with if they give a large boost to one individual. Deserved or not, the others will raise hell and cause such a ruckus that it just wouldn't fly, so you either accept a pittance or find something else. Union situations can have like results if you are trying to get ahead based on your skills and capabilities. Unless you are adding additional scale compensated skills such as becoming a carpenter/welder, electrician/welder, tube welder in the boilermakers as opposed to being a general boilermaker, or some other like additional classification the majority of hands will be paid the same based upon geographical area and union local (please forgive me if I have stated this incorrectly and correct accordingly). You will definitely make your best advancements by changing employers. You go in, call your shot, back-up your capabilities, and you're generally off and running. When people accept mediocrity it is many times based on staying in their comfort zone, feeling that they can't risk stability for the family or other similar reasons. Fear of the unknown is many times the reason for not taking a chance. I believe most of us are guilty of it to one degree or another. I can attest, as you stated, that I have made my most measurable advancements by changing jobs along with employers. My $.02. Best regards, Allan
crazycajun;
Make sure you understand the basic math you will be required to do. If math isn't you strong point, get some help from someone that can help you calculate area, elongation, reduction in area, ultimate tensile strength, convert metric (SI) to customary units (US) and vice versa.
Math can be difficult for some of us that don't use it on a regular basis. Its easy to forget what was taught and learned many years ago.
They will review the mathematics in the seminar, but if you are struggling, it will be too little too late.
Best regards - Al
yeah i talked to an inspector that went to the same school that i plan to go to and he says i should be alright cause they cover all the bases and make you feel as comnfortable as possible with the exam, not just a story teller like some of the seminars. and the study material they give you just about covers everything that you need to know for the exam. so as long as i start now and read through the material i have i could have a good head start. i have the WIT A3.0 and A2.4 so the only thing i have left is the code book. they say that you have to have a orignal code book fo the exam no copies. so there goes another $300.00 in my self inprovenment program so i am guessing i will throw about $3000.00 into my future. well now fellows i dont think that is so bad of a deal, being that this is the rest of my life that we are talking about here. not having to freeze in the winter and sweat all day in the summer. i'd say thats not a bad deal at all.
"Not having to freeze in the winter"??? That's a good one. get close while they're preheating, you might be ok. Seriously, tho, 3K is well spent, when i got my stamp, i got a good bump, but more importantly, i stay busy all the time now, i'll bet its been worth 20K a year over what i made with the ICC cert. Go for it, get a good nights sleep the night before the exam... good luck