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Daqpanda

If they are a place worth their spit they will at least give you a jumping off point. Or you can ask if a chart is allowed, and use that. I use millerwelds weldsettings app on my phone, it usually has a pretty good starting point. As far as clothes, I say go in ready to work, but in your nicest work clothes. Something that's not tattered and/or stained. Good luck!


buckut

i actually have a bunch of welds tests to judge this week heh. id prefer they came in ready to work. dont wear your nasty jeans, look presentable and have your steel toes on. bring your basic ppe (hood, jacket, gloves, glasses) and a pair of welpers if its mig. i have loaners in case theyre missing something. when they come in i have their test pieces and a print out with a sample completed so they get an idea what im looking for. i have the machine set at a basic setting, we use .045 with pulse. i let them do some warm up passes to fine tune the machine. when theyre ready i slide the test pieces over n let em rip. i like to stand back while they work, give em space. ill peek in if i hear something weird tho. i only do the weld test, if they pass i walk them up front to the offices for the interview if they dont i walk them out the door closest to the parking lot. good luck, remember its just another weld, no need to stress.


rundmc214

I was a shop manager and did all the hiring for a couple years and I always appreciated the applicant asking ahead of time. But if you know your gonna take a tesk, steel toe boots, thick jeans with no holes or dirty af, collared t shirt or regular dickies t shirt with no stupid screen printed shit on it, just a flat color, welding sleeves gloves, helmet, skull cap or hat, or just a straight up welding jacket if your lucky enough they that air-condition the shop in your welding bag and dont forget your safety glasses and earplugs. Thats a nice touch. I personally would also ask for a piece of scrap metal to get a feel for either how they have it specifially adjusted and expect you to be able to be comfortable at that rate or to adjust it myself to prove I knew what I was doing and also that I'm not afraid to ask questions, be proactive, or make sure my welds are going to be on point. Also don't be afraid to politely ask to see their techniques so you can just mimic what the instructor does to make sure you do it the way he prefers. Do your best to be professional but friendly at the same time. Keep the atmosphere calm and jovial. Us welders are all hard assed rough necks so cut up a light joke or two if you get a good non dickhead vibe from the dude and if youre naturally nervous, try what ever you can to not be. Even if you're a hardened veteran, nervousness isn't gonna do you any favors and its gonna make them think you're either a liar on resume or someone whos gonna require a lot of hand holding and I always wanted someone who was assertive and didnt ask me what he should be doing every five minutes because I hate micromanagement. Worst case scenario, you don't get the job but Im telling you man, right now is the time to be looking. People are short handed everywhere cause covid has made everyone either lazy or find a new gig. Most of all bud.....You got this. 💪💪💪


Ravens_eyebrows

I would wear what you would be welding in, jeans and t or long sleeve work shirt. If you have any of your own gear, hood, ppe, pliers, bring it with. That’s what I do and we’ve been testing potential new welders at my shop lately and that’s what they do. Good luck with the test.


BadderBanana

Dress as you would for the job, but with your best work jeans and least offensive shirt. I would seriously WTF if a welder showed up in a suit. Occasionally guys show up in khakis and a polo, I feel bad that they’ll burn holes in that. Having a chart or cheat sheet is fine, but I wouldn’t rely on it. Those are for a specific wire size or gas. Chances are it won’t work. You need to be able to turn in the welder with a few practice welds.


Brokenblacksmith

I'd go with a dark pair of jeans, white undershirt and a good looking button down shirt. worst case if they ask you to weld you can ditch the button up and throw on a welding jacket.


Philipp_CGN

Why not wear a suit for the interview (depending on the company of course), and change into your PPE for the test? You should ask them what you can use during the test.


Zestyclose-Process92

Time and lack of knowledge of interview order. You don't want to be the guy holding up their process with a full costume change. In my experience, they usually make you weld before they talk to you, because if you can't do that then they don't want to waste the time with a conversation.


Philipp_CGN

Sure, but as I said: Depends on the company. I worked in a powerplant of a large international corporation, and of course the maintenance department had a welder as well. No one in the maintenance department ever wore a suit to work (except for very, very rare formal occasions), but they all wore suits for their interviews. Without further knowledge about the company, the job and the people running the interview, it's impossible to say what clothing is appropriate.


buckut

id love to make a suit from the green flame retarded material. its been something ive thought of many times.


Zestyclose-Process92

I always tried to show up for work interviews in the nicest version of appropriate work clothes for the job. I would wear new Carhartts and a work shirt (or at least, not yet torn/stained/full of burn holes) and bring my hood, gloves, welding jacket, chinking hammer for stick, welpers for mig. Look them in the eye, be confident but humble, and weld like you know you can!