Job Shadow paper for a welding job
For my job shadow, I chose to spend a day with Mr. Smith, a welder, to gain a perspective of how his day in the job looks like. The role of welders is evident in various aspects including architect and construction. As such, my curiosity inspired me to schedule an interview with an experienced welder. This encounter gave me a good opportunity to ask the welder a couple of questions regarding his occupation.
In this case, my first question was why Mr. Smith had opted to be a welder. He told me that his father, who had been a welder when Smith was growing up, was his source of inspiration. In addition, Mr. Smith added that welding is a career that provides numerous choices of industries where one can work. As I observed him perform his job, I expressed my curiosity about the qualifications required to venture into the industry. Mr. Smith said that he received his training at the Community College of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania. Also, observing his father at work had played a critical role in shaping Mr. Smith’s career.
I was also interested in knowing the high school classes that prepared Mr. Smith to become a welder. In his response, he noted that mathematics and Physics were the most helpful classes during the preparation in high school. While interacting with the welder, I asked him about the personal traits essential for conducting the job. According to Mr. Smith, attention to detail and sharp eyesight were the most essential personal traits in the welding career. Without these traits, the welding job can be challenging.
Given the perception of most people that a welding job is simple, I wanted to know whether Mr. Smith took any test to land the job as a welder. He told me how he had always visited his father’s workplace and help him with some of the welding tasks. For this reason, Mr. Smith gained a lot of experience to perform numerous tasks concerned with welding without any assistance. Following my growing interest in the career, I asked him what technical knowledge he possessed in order to be good at his job. As such, he told me that as a welder, he was required to be knowledgeable in air carbon arc gouging and handling robotic welding equipment.
After only staying at Mr. Smith’s working station for about three hours, I became interested in knowing the number of hours he works in a day. From his response, I understood that a typical day for his welding career can take up to ten hours. Since the welding job seemed demanding, it sparked my interest to understand the pros and cons of the welding job. Mr. Smith revealed that one of the pros of welding is its application in different aspects including agriculture, construction, architecture, and even mining. As s result, he can easily get a job in one of the mentioned areas. However, he mentioned that being a welder exposes him to injuries inform of burns.
Additionally, I inquired about his opportunity for advancement in his career. While Mr. Smith acknowledged the opportunity to grow in the job, his concern was that some aspects require welders for basic assignments, thus lowering the chances for career advancement in some companies. As the final moments of my encounter with Mr. Smith approached the end, I wanted to hear his advice for students interested in the welding career. In this case, he told me that the welding job requires determination and patience. Lastly, I wanted to know his perception regarding the career within the next five to ten years. Mr. Smith expressed his hope for the rise in demand for welders in the future. Given that welders are needed in almost every industry, he mentioned that the job market would be favorable for people with adequate experience in the industry.
The interview with Mr. Smith was not only interesting but also educational. I found welding to be a challenging job especially if someone lacks adequate knowledge on how to handle different equipment. It was a great experience to learn from an individual who has worked in the welding field since it gave me a perspective of the life of a welder.