17 year old welder

[cdbesp]

Hi, my names Chris Bell. I'm 17 years old and have a high school diploma, and graduated from tulsa welding school in Jacksonville Florida, a 7 month 750 hour welding program. Although I am 17 my high school diploma and welding degree allow me to work an unlimited amount of time in any hazardous occupation that I have recieved training for from tulsa welding school, the problem is absolutely no one I've talked to wants to hire me untill I'm 18. I passed a welding test for northrop grumman when they came to my school and tested a bunch of people but they wouldn't hire me until I'm 18 either. If anyone has any advice as to what I might be able to do it would be greatly appreciated. thank you..

[Boostinjdm]

Practice, practice, practice to keep your skills up. And........wait till you're 18.

[KHK]

Hi, my names Chris Bell. I'm 17 years old and have a high school diploma, and graduated from tulsa welding school in Jacksonville Florida, a 7 month 750 hour welding program. Although I am 17 my high school diploma and welding degree allow me to work an unlimited amount of time in any hazardous occupation that I have recieved training for from tulsa welding school, the problem is absolutely no one I've talked to wants to hire me untill I'm 18. I passed a welding test for northrop grumman when they came to my school and tested a bunch of people but they wouldn't hire me until I'm 18 either. If anyone has any advice as to what I might be able to do it would be greatly appreciated. thank you..

Chris, Welcome to the forum. You are on the WORLD WIDE WEB don't give your full name! Try to keep your skills sharp by practice, practice practice!!! Wait until your 18 yrs old, that is the law.

[cdbesp]

yeah the school I went to allows me to come in and brush up 3 times a month, but any of you on here know that that's not nearly enough time to keep your skills sharp, do you think it might be a good idea to see if any local shops would let me come in and help out 2 or 3 days a week for free if I signed some type of waiver that would make it so they wouldnt be responsible for anything that happened to me? I'd be willing to go and just sweep floors or whatever, just to stay in the enviroment..

[ironman715]

The issue is not your skills or desire to be a great weldor. The issue is liability and insurance. Thats pretty much the deal at this point. You may find a shop who will let you hang around and help out but again they may not want to be liable if you drop or someone else drops a 300lbs hunk of iron and breaks your foot....

Stay sharp and keep buring wire bro.

'Mike

[PilotDan]

Yea, its going to be tough with the insurance issues. Try to find a small welding shop (maybe a few people), they will have an easier time letting you "intern" or something like that. Otherwise, the job market sucks right now anyways.. Maybe go back to school for longer??

[El_Lloydeo]

yep wait till u are 18, but when u are go work for northrrom grumman.

[specter]

Hi Ya cdbesp and Welcome to the Welding Web Family. Good luck with the northrupt job.

[matteh99]

yeah the school I went to allows me to come in and brush up 3 times a month, but any of you on here know that that's not nearly enough time to keep your skills sharp, do you think it might be a good idea to see if any local shops would let me come in and help out 2 or 3 days a week for free if I signed some type of waiver that would make it so they wouldnt be responsible for anything that happened to me? I'd be willing to go and just sweep floors or whatever, just to stay in the enviroment..

You signing a waver won't do much because you aren't 18. :( Suck doesn't it. If you got a parent or guardian sign something saying it is ok for you to work at the shop it may help.

[cdbesp]

yeah, i stopped at a few local places here in jacksonville to see if they needed any help and got basically the same thing you guys are telling me. looks like I'm stuck working at a pet store for the next 3 months, thanks anyways..

[cdbesp]

Just for future reference, I'm interested in possibly getting into an oil rig position and was wondering if anyone knows what thats like, the requirements, exc.
Any info will help. thanks.

[makoman1860]

yep wait till u are 18, but when u are go work for northrrom grumman.

Is that the china knock of company to Northrop Grumman?

[Boostinjdm]

for the next 3 months

That's it?
I'd suggest learning some patience to go along with any skills you might have.