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View Full Version : Newb from Edmonton, Alberta


newbwelder
01-20-2006, 12:47 AM
Hey all. How's it going? Seems to be a lot of us newbs coming on here now ;-)

I just started into welding about 1.5 months ago. I'm currently in a basic MIG (GMAW) course at NAIT (Beginner) so I can have something on my resume for education until I get my apprentice.

Here is the whole story:

I have a MCSP Diploma from Grant MacEwan College. (MicroComputer Specialist Program) and I've worked for Telus for 3 years. The Telus strike came around and by the end of it I couldn't work with those scabs anymore so I quit wanting to go onto a different career path (as computers, there is no moeny in it unless you have $6k/year to upgrade school constantly. So I sent out the Resumes. (fun).

I was hired at a company in Nisku (called Harvest MFG Ltd [if you want their address so you can send hate mail, I can hook you up]) about Nov 15ish of last year. Everything was going well until they asked me to pump their septic tank into a ditch outside the shop (about 40 ft away) I'm like....What????:realmad: The forman guy (broken english) kept pestering me to do it so I went to one of the bosses (brothers) and asked him why they don't get a septic truck out there, he gave me some run around the bush like I'm a dumbass so I called Alberta Environment and setup and Inquiry. The other brother came up to me and asked me if I had a problem with this, I of course replied "Yup, and I've already made an inquiry to Alberta Environment". So he gave me some harsh F words and fired me right then (So this was December 21, I was going to quit anyways, it was nice to have Christmas off). So I wasn't to worried, I think it's time for a new paragraph.

January comes around and I've sent resumes to every place that is advertising in Edmonton and Nisku, a couple places replied wanting interviews, I went and no word. Remember, I've only got about a month of welding exp. So Jan 18 comes around (yes, 2 days ago) and I get hired onto a a shop that does pressure vessles. The only downside is you need your own tools and stuff. They don't even have tape measures to lend out... :-/ Not making that much money but you need to start somewhere :-D

That's my story, I'm glad to be here. Soon I want a little home job welder so I can make some small stuff at home, but I can't afford anything yet... :cry:

TxRedneck
01-20-2006, 10:52 AM
Hey bud welcome. Sorry about the sh*tty run of things. Are you interested in welding? What about pipe welding? Local 488 in Edmonton is a great oppurtunity. If you want or need help contacting them...shoot me an email or pm :D

newbwelder
01-23-2006, 06:49 PM
Hey bud welcome. Sorry about the sh*tty run of things. Are you interested in welding? What about pipe welding? Local 488 in Edmonton is a great oppurtunity. If you want or need help contacting them...shoot me an email or pm :D

Yeah, pressure welding is quite interesting and looks like it takes some skill to do. The place that I'm at does pressure vessels and I don't have to move around if I was with the union.

My Dad sells copiers there so he got my foot in the door at the Local 488, so I'm signed up with them but I got this job like 2 days after I signed up with them ;-):rolleyes:

lotechman
01-23-2006, 10:43 PM
newbwelder: Every paycheck buy some tools. Keep your head down and tail up. In no time you will be offerred an apprenticeship.... If you show good work habits. The really greedy people are already further up North making the big dollars. Four years from now you could be freezing your butt off for some very good money.