Ironed shirt, clean pants, dirty leathers!
Excellent resume'
Need to know more about your training and experience before much more advice. So say more
I can tell you the last question you should ask during any job interview.
"When do I start?"
CW you just keep after it, ask them to at least let you test before they turn you away. If it's the ame shop try another. You'll get there eventually (I know it's frustrating). Depending on where you live, maybe check some unions? 2 years is not a lot of experience so that's working against you at the moment, just remember you'll have to prove yourself for a few more years. Good luck and keep the faith, whenever possible try learning some more processes, maybe GTAW?
OK, so for the past year and a half I've been hiring and training welders.
I've probably looked at 500 applications, held 130 interviews and hired 100 welders in that time, which has been an interesting experience...
First, DO NOT scribble unreadable mess on the application, fill it out completely and neatly as that alone says alot about your work ethic and attention to detail.
Next, if you get an interview, DO NOT show up in offensive clothing, smell like stale beer, pass out in a drug induced coma, cuss like a sailor, say that you're just looking for something to get you by for a little while or bad mouth everybody you've ever worked for.
Use keywords like honesty, integrity, work ethic, punctuality, teamwork, detail orientated, fast learner, hand eye coordination. Know what they mean before you go so you can drop them in the right place.
Listen to interview questions carefully, answer completely without rambling, don't lie and don't interrupt.
Know welding lingo like, read the puddle, walk the cup, whip, oscillate, weave, pulse, spray short-arc, transfer mode and many more.
Do some research in the company before you go. Make sure you know the type of welding they are doing and are versed in the proper lingo.
Most welding interviews incude a hands on test so go prepared. Try to find out if they're going to test you before hand and find some way to practice that process a bit before you go.
When I hire a welder, I'm not as concerned with his/her welding ability as whether or not I'd like to work beside them all day every day. If you stink, or have a bad attitude, or think you're the best there ever was, or are rude/offensive, there's no way you're going to get the job.
I've moved around quite a bit, worked at some good and bad places and have never been passed over for a job I've applied for, maybe beacause people gave me similar interview advice when I was young. Mostly though, the fact that I have attached to my resume a letter of recommendation from everyone I've ever worked for I feel has helped a lot.
Cultivate contacts, never burn bridges, be respectful, always ask for a letter of recommendation and you'll go far and get your pick of jobs.
Tim
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