Personally, I don't think it's a bad thing to wear new clothes, boots, etc. Of course, that could just be my age talking, where I don't give a crap what others think about something so petty...

Look at it this way...at some point in time you'd end up showing up on the job with a new pair of boots.

Rich

 

Clean long sleeve shirt, clean pants, no open toe shoes. Clean hood with clear lens plates, clean gloves. Basically ready to weld if test is asked for. New clothes scream desperation. Any other gear I can provide or lend. Reading glasses are a nice touch for small work.

Keep your gear in the parking lot, but ready to access if needed. Can say I really hate dirty clothes, stinky body odor, alcohol on breath, dirty oily gloves, and a hood only Stevie Wonder could see thru. :realmad:

Oh, and all that is after you demonstrate the ability to fill out an application that I can read. Even if you submit a resume, I still want to see your hand on an application. Sell fones are oque two chek speelin. :dizzy:

 

+1 to what shovelon said with the addition of, if you are new and applying for an entry level position I would expect you to have relatively new gear. If you are a seasoned hand and show up with all new gear I would be skeptical of your experience level. What ever gear you bring should be in good shape and you should be comfortable using it.

Mike

 

Always carry extras in your vehicle especially if you are starting. Better run shops give you a list of tools expected for each trade. I had sockets and wrenches in the truck on one job and because of that got to work with the millwrights.
Also ask when you are hired.... no such thing as a stupid question .... only stupid mistakes.

 

Any welding interview I have done, I have worn a nice shirt (but not a dress shirt) and starched Wranglers.
In my truck would be a work shirt (if starched, they repel the bb's pretty well), steel toed boots, and a bucket with hood, wire brush, chipping hammer, maybe a whip, etc. etc.
If it is a new bucket, do a really bad spray paint job of your last name, then throw some dirt on it. (Joke)

If you have a new welding jacket, and want to spare your shirts, go get the jacket out of the truck, and wear it for the test.
I have worked in a lot of shops over the years, and never heard an employer say "Man, that guy can sure weld, but I can't hire him because he has a new jacket!"
Your coupon will speak for itself. The good-natured ribbing you might get will pass, if you are easy to get along with.

I have had new gear, and worn out gear, and never had the feeling either had any effect on whether I got the Job, or not.

Good luck!
Be confident in what you do know, and do not pretend to know what you don't.

 

One place that I worked (not welding related) issued the new tech trainees a complete tool box of tools. When they finished the training school and reported for their first assignment, the oldest tech in the department with the most used and worn looking tools took the trainee's tools and gave him the old tools and box. This was a tradition to keep the new guy from looking like he didn't know anything. A young guy with a set of older well used tools looks like he has been around for a while so he's more accepted by the customers, and the older more experienced guy gets to wear out another nearly new set of tools.

When you haven't got the age or heavy experience, it looks better to look like you've been doing the job for a while, just like the trainees in my first paragraph. Dress and look clean including head and facial hair and trimming, but in fairly new and well cared for looking work type clothing. Know the job that you are applying for and be confident in yourself that you can do it. For a welding job, come prepared to do welding, and do it safely. All of the proper safety gear and hand tools, including steel toe shoes, gloves, hood (with cheaters, if necessary), safety glasses, slag hammer, etc. and all in excellent condition should be with you, but left in your vehicle until you need them. A 5 gallon bucket is a common welder's tool box, but you don't want a new one. A slightly dirty and used looking one is better. Have your own pen, pencil, regular eye glasses - if needed, and a tape measure with you. Be prepared to fill out a hand written application and take a written test, as well as the welding test, if they ask you to.

Be calm and confident during the interview and the testing. You will get the job if you meet these requirements and can weld.

Charley

 

Just my two cents, as I just got hired in my first welding job not long ago, but I learned a lot in 17 years in the military.....
Be humble, dress like a professional, don't be a slob. Some may see new gear as a sign of lack of experience.... I see it as a person who has self respect and wants to look sharp. The brand new airmen with the fresh haircut, sharp uniform, and proper bearing got a lot farther than the guy that came in as a probie thinking he was Johnny bada** Firefighter.

I went to my interview with all my welding gear in my truck, some new, some old. I wore a nice Polo Shirt and my best looking pair of jeans. And guess what? I had....NEW BOOTS!! They didn't care. They cared that I said yes sir and no sir, to everyone, even the weldor who is 10 years younger than me. They appreciated that I said I was new, and knew that I DIDN'T know much. The appreciate the fact that I show up at least 15 minutes early every day, and leave five minutes late. I am honest when I screw up, and ask for help often. I don't believe in calling in sick, I show up first then go home if I need to.

I am by no means the only example or even the best one, but it worked for me. Carry yourself in a manner of self respect that earns theirs, treat them with the respect their years have earned them. If they are worth working for, they will see your value (if you have it) even if you have a bad welding test.

 

I don't think it matters. What matters is the interview and then the job test if you're asked to do one. They will know you're new to welding by your resume. Having new gear and boots might show them you're serious about a welding career. I don't know if you need a leather jacket right of the bat but they will tell if it's a good idea to get one. Some companies supply them if you're doing overhead welding or other jobs where you can get hit by sparks. Dress nice for the interview but wear something you could weld in, ie/ don't wear a suit. If you have a little confidence in your welding abilities and aren't sure if they're very interested you could offer to do a simple weld test. It doesn't have to be a 6G x-ray pipe weld. Even just some fillet welds on a couple pieces of flatbar will show them you can weld. Not all places make you do a job test. Offering to do one when they didn't ask speaks volumes! What you can do trumps what you can say any day of the week. I've seen so many people exaggerate their resume's and the employer just believes it likes it's the gospel and hires them without a job test. Then you see the guys work and the truth comes out. There's a good reason pressure shops always have you do a job test when you go to a new job, even if you have fresh certification. BS doesn't cut it!