What a welder does
Welders join metal parts for structural steel, piping, equipment, vehicles and fabricated products. The trade covers several processes, including shielded metal arc (stick), gas metal arc (MIG), flux-cored and gas tungsten arc (TIG) welding, and each demands different skills. A welder who excels at production MIG work on mild steel may not be ready for TIG welding stainless or for structural work requiring CWB tickets.
That is why Finch starts every welder search by asking about your materials, thicknesses, positions and quality standards. We then screen candidates for the tickets they hold, the processes they use daily and their ability to read drawings and weld symbols. Many employers ask for a weld test before hiring, and we can coordinate one as part of the interview stage so you see the work firsthand.
Typical responsibilities
- Reading drawings and weld symbols to plan each weld
- Setting up welding equipment for the process and material
- Welding joints in the required positions to code and specification
- Preparing, fitting and tacking parts before welding
- Inspecting welds visually and correcting defects
- Following safety procedures for fumes, hot work and personal protection
Qualifications and credentials
- CWB tickets in the processes and positions your work requires, kept current
- Experience with the materials you use, such as mild steel, stainless or aluminum
- Ability to read blueprints and weld symbols
- Completion of a college welding program or welder apprenticeship is an asset
- WHMIS and hot work safety training
Who hires a welder
- Structural steel fabricators
- Custom fabrication and job shops
- Equipment and trailer manufacturers
- Industrial maintenance contractors
- Pipeline and mechanical contractors
Where we recruit welder candidates
We fill welder roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- CWB tickets held, by process and position, and their status
- Processes and materials used daily in recent roles
- Blueprint and weld symbol reading
- Willingness to complete a practical weld test
- References from shop foremen or supervisors
Interview questions to ask
- Which processes and positions are you most confident in, and which tickets do you hold?
- How do you set up for welding thin stainless compared with heavy plate?
- Tell me about a weld that failed inspection. What did you change?