Welding is a valuable skill in many industries. Gain hands-on training by taking a class at your school or in your community. If you're not sure where to start, try your local community college!

Take a welding class.

Watch clips from "How It's Made" to see how objects like artificial limbs, nails, footballs, mustard, and more are made. Choose a few to watch--which one surprised you most?

Watch how the objects all around us are made.

Read about benefits of manual labor. While these points are geared toward construction, they can apply to a whole variety of manual labor careers. Does manual labor seem like a path you're interested in?

Explore the benefits of manual labor.

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Production Occupations

Assemblers and Fabricators

Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.

Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.

Position, align, fit, and weld parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools.

Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.

Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.

Set up and operate fabricating machines, such as brakes, rolls, shears, flame cutters, grinders, and drill presses, to bend, cut, form, punch, drill, or otherwise form and assemble metal components.

Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.

Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.

Microsoft Excel

Computer aided design and drafting CADD software

Dassault Systemes CATIA

Tekla software

Three-dimensional modeling software

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Word

Drill presses

Magnetic drill presses

Radial drills

Center punches

Drift pins

Punches

Beverly shears

Hand shears

Unishears

Computerized numerical control CNC press brakes

Straightening presses

Hand torch welders

Welding torches

Flame cutters

Plasma cutters

Metal inert gas MIG welders

Circular saws

Cutoff saws

Radial arm saws

Overhead cranes

Dial indicators

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Every day

How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable

Once a week or more but not every day

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Continually or almost continually

Less than half the time

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Extremely important

Very important

Important

How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

Overview

Career

What Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Do

Other Job Titles Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

Overview

Career

What Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Do

Other Job Titles Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

Majors Related to Career

Related Leaders