KS Welder,

Discouragement is part of the game.  Wait until you bust your first x ray and see how tough your upper lip really is.  The thing that counts most if your going to get a job welding pipe is your weld test.  Ace that golden, as good as they've ever seen and they'll forget their Daddy's name, bust out and they won't ever remember yours.  My advice would be to break out in the industrial trades on pipe if you're able: refineries, chemical plants, boilers, food plants, refrigeration, wineries, oilfield.  Get a handle on how things get done for a year or two and build your chops.  If you want to weld pipeline you need to pass the 1104 Multiple Qualification Butt and Branch test- most "grown up" welders are too scared to even take it.  Research it, practice it, get some advice if you can find it and when you're able to do it perfectly, confidently, within a reasonable amount of time then the only question that matters and the only one you need to ask the hiring boss is, "Are you testing"?  If he says says yes, step up and show them how it's done.  That simple.