Career portfolio PDF

Mark Kansteiner

Professor Gail Marxhausen
EDUC 1300

December 7, 2017
Welding Career Exploration Portfolio

Career Research Worksheet

This worksheet is about the career field as a whole. For example, you are researching
“education” and not second grade science teacher.

Please add spacing to this document and type your answers under the questions below. Be sure to
highlight your answers in yellow so I can identify your information quickly.

1. What is your intended career? If you are not sure of a career right now, choose one of interest
to explore.

My intended career is to be a welder.

2. Find a professional website for your career. What is the name of the website? Please provide
the link here. You may find a professional website from the journal that you discovered above
or sometimes by using google.

https://www.aws.org/

3. Using the library databases or a professional website, find one professional/academic journal
related to your career. What is the name of the journal?

https://www.aws.org/publications/WeldingJournal

4. Field/discipline:
a. Identify the career field/discipline. For example, if the career is a teacher then the field
is education or if the career is mechanic then the field is automotive industry.
The career is that of a welder in the welding industry field.
b. Identify a specific position or title in the field/discipline (for example, an elementary
school teacher or body work repair mechanic).
The specific position I want is that of a metal fabricator.
c. Identify two related positions in a similar or related field/discipline in which you may be
interested (for example, a day care worker and college instructor or machine repair and
certified dealer service manager).
The two other positions I would be interested in is that of a pipe welder or of welding
machine operator.

5. Knowledge /Training:
a. List the minimum education required

 High school diploma or equivalent

 technical and on-the-job training
 Vocational school or community college education
b. List any required certifications or licenses. How often do you have to renew the
certification or license? How many hours of continuing education units (CEU) do you have
to obtain each year to keep that certification or license?
 Certification remains valid as long as you submit your certification maintenance

forms every six months as required by the Code of Acceptance that governed your
test.
 If you are welding in a different field in your job you must complete another
certification course again.
c. List the majority of the skills needed to be successful in this job.
 Detail Oriented
 Manual dexterity
 Physical stamina
 Physical strength
 Special-Operation skills
 Technical Skills

d. How many years of experience are required to work in this career?
 Not much just required on the job training

6. Salary/Earnings:
a. List the hiring (starting) salary range. (Use current position listing or job boards.)
 Starting salary range = 22,980 $
b. What is the average salary (not the highest)?
 Average Salary = 39,390

7. Future of this career:
a. What is the job outlook for this career? In other words, is this in a growing area? Explain
the growth or decline (in numbers) of this particular career.
 It is a growing job with about a 7% change increase in employment predicted by
2026
b. List the availability of this career in the market area of Houston, and Texas in general,
and/or other states in which you are interested in working.
 Texas’ job growth in the welding industry is estimated to be 21%
c. Can this an international career choice? Explain why or why not.

 It has potential to be an international career choice as welders are
needed all over the world to complete fabrication and project having to
do with construction.

8. Daily Activities:
a. What do people in this field or job do? In at least 10 complete sentences in your own
words, (not a list) describe a typical day for this position. Be very thorough.
 In this field welders are expected to wake up early and be prepared to not make
mistakes. They have to put on equipment such as leather clothing and welding
masks. Next, they have to check pressure on the flow of any types of gas they might
be using in the job. Then they have to turn on their welding machines an adjust the
setting to the correct preferences for the job. If nit the metal they are fusing
together could become melted through. Then they are handed a list of direction on
how to complete a weld. Carefully abiding by these instructions, they use their
welding machines to fuse two pieces of metal together. After that they have make
sure the tester approves of the weld. For the rest if the day they might have to
complete the exact same weld in order to complete daily tasks. They always have to
make sure they are precise with weld because one slip up could cause the structure
of the piece they are welding to be damaged. Carefully controlling their heat on
projects all day, the day in the life of a welder is sort of mundane. Possibly working
8-12-hour shifts, welders do not have be there all day usually.

9. Career and you (in complete sentences):
a. How does this career align to your interests and personality? Use your Do What You Are
results to justify your alignment. Explain what your initials mean and how those initials
match or do not match your career choice.
 The career honestly appeals to me because I enjoy very much working with my
hands. I personally identify as a critical thinker and you need on the job instincts to
succeed.
b. Why is this career significant to you? Why did you choose to go into this career? What
inspired you?
 This career appealed to me because I Feel that I would absolutely hate sitting behind
a desk for 8 hours a day typing on a computer. I also was given first-hand experience
in middle school using a welder and took to it very well.
c. Describe how and why or why not this assignment altered or completely changed your
career path.
 This assignment has not altered not career choice at all as I Have wanted
to be following this career path since I was a in high school.

10. Please add all works cited entries for information you collected for this worksheet.

 "Welders."Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 ed., United
States, Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 Dec. 2015,

 www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm.

Sources may include:
Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/)

Texas Workforce Commission http://www.twc.state.tx.us/

any other professional websites or databases suggested by a librarian, professor or career counselor

NO Wikipedia

Job Analysis Worksheet

This worksheet is about a very particular type of job in your career field as a whole. For
example, you are researching high school biology teacher and NOT “education” as a whole
career.

Please type your answers under the questions below.

Using the internet or other sources indicated on the list provided by your instructor, librarian, or career
counselor look for a specific job posting in the area of the state or country in which you want to work. List
that job posting as one of your sources in MLA format. Make a screenshot of the job posting to turn in with
this worksheet. Use the job posting to answer the following questions.

1. What is your intended career? If you are not sure of a career right now, choose one of interest to explore.
 My intended Career is that of a welder

2. What is the title of the position?
 Welder/ Fitter

3. With what company/organization is this position?
Where is this position located? Try to find a position in the area of the state or country where you actually
think you will be working.

 The company that is hiring is ResourceMFG and it is located in Houston , Texas
4. a. What education/training is required for this position?

 The required education is that of a High School Diploma or a GED with 3-5+ years
b. Describe your plans to accomplish your education/training.

 My plans for education is to become a certified welder within and associate degree of applied science
at Lonestar

5. a. How many years of previous experience are needed?
 It does not specify and previous work experience but specifies experience with an analog press brake
b. Describe your plans to gain the experience you need.
 My plan to gain experience to ask if on the job training the press brake is an opportunity and that I
would be more than happy to learn and take extra time to gain the knowledge

6. a. What specific skills required for this position?
 The specific skills required for this position is skills in MIG, TIG and flux core welding
b. Describe your plans to develop these skills.
 My plan to develop these skills is continuing my education at Lonestar as that is taught through the
curriculum of the welding technology degree

7. Does the position list a salary, and if so…
a. What is the range?

 It ranges $20-$25 DOE/hr
b. What is the starting salary?

 The starting salary is $20/ Hr
b. What is the average salary?

8. What are three STRENGTHS (skills, knowledge and personal qualities) that you currently possess that can
help you be successful in this position? In at least 5 sentences, describe why these are strengths to this
position.

9. What are three WEAKNESSES (personal traits that you currently lack) that can hamper or prevent your
success in this position? In at least 5 sentences, describe why these are weaknesses for this position AND how
you will improve upon these weaknesses.

 I have currently two weakness that will prevent success in this position. The most important one is the
lack of experience I have with an analog press brake. This weakness to could hamper my effectiveness
in short amounts of time as I have to learn how to use this first. The second but easily adjustable is my
lack of self-confidence, this could potentially determine how effectively I communicate with my
coworkers. However, I think the second weakness is easily adaptable for me and I can become
comfortable in new environments quickly.

10. Describe the interesting facts did you discover about this career that you did not know before. (“There are
none” is not an acceptable answer.)

 I found out that the best way to get started is to try a sort of apprenticeship that can teach you the
basics of what the career demands and that is extremely valuable in terms of experience.

11. Describe how certain you now are about pursuing a position in this career.
 I am extremely certain that I am going to pursue a career in welding and fabrication. This is because I
have always enjoyed working with my hands and am certain that will enjoy this line of work in the long
run.

12. Cite all the sources below in MLA format from which you obtained this information.

 “JobsOnline.com.” Jobsonline,
www.jobsonline.com/listings/?search=welding&KEYWORD=welding&zip=77084&radius=25&fromSrc=f
romSrc&slot=3.

 “Welder/Fitter Jobs in Houston, TX - ResourceMFG.” CareerBuilder,
www.careerbuilder.com/job/j3t1gg6x1hmv7f795y0?utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=publisher-
delta&siteid=sep_cb018&utm_source=jobdiagnosis.



Transferable Skills

As you begin your job search, it is important that you know your own qualifications. Over the years you
have developed many skills from coursework, extracurricular activities and your total life experiences.
If you have researched topics and written, and edited and presented papers for classes, you have used
skills which are not limited to any one academic discipline or knowledge area, but are transferable to
many occupations. A prospective employer expects you to be able to apply the skills you have learned
in college to the work environment.

Below is a list of five broad skill areas which are divided into more specific, skills. Rate the skills

indicating your ability in each area.

0 = no ability 2 = some ability

1 = enough ability to get by with help from others 3 = strong ability

Communication Research & Planning

The skillful expression, transmission and interpretation of The search for specific knowledge and the ability to
knowledge and ideas. conceptualize future needs and solutions for meeting
3______ Speaking effectively those needs.
3______ Writing concisely 0______Forecasting, predicting
3______ Listening attentively 2______Creating ideas
1______ Expressing ideas 2______Identifying problems
1______ Facilitating group discussion 2______Imagining alternatives
2______ Providing appropriate feedback 3______Identifying resources
0______ Negotiating 3______Gathering information
1______ Perceiving nonverbal messages 2______Solving problems
0______ Persuading 3______Setting goals
3______ Reporting information 1______Extracting important information
1______ Describing feelings 2______Defining needs
0______ Interviewing 3 ______ Analyzing
3______ Editing 0______Developing evaluation strategies

Human Relations Work Survival

The use of interpersonal skills for resolving conflict, The day-to-day skills which assist in promoting effective

relating to and helping people. production and work satisfaction.

0______ Developing rapport 1______Implementing decisions
0______ Being Sensitive 3 ______ Cooperating
3______ Listening 1______Enforcing policies
1______ Conveying feelings 3______Being punctual
2______ Providing support for others 2______Managing time
2______ Motivating 3______Attending to detail
1______ Sharing credit 3______Meeting goals
0______ Counseling 1______Enlisting help
3______ Cooperating 3______Accepting responsibility
3______ Delegating with respect 2______Setting and meeting deadlines
2______ Representing others 3 ______ Organizing
0______ Perceiving feelings, situations 0______Making decisions
1______ Asserting

Organization, Management & Leadership Career Specific (REQUIRED SECTION)

The ability to supervise, direct and guide individuals and The specific skills required for an entry-level job in my

groups in the completion of tasks and fulfillment of goals. chosen career. See job posting for ideas.

1______ Initiating new ideas 2______ Communication with coworkers ___________
3______ Handling details 0______ Analog press brake experience ____________
0______ Coordinating tasks _______ ______________________________________
0______ Managing groups _______ ______________________________________
2______ Delegating responsibility _______ ______________________________________
0______ Teaching _______ ______________________________________
2______ Coaching _______ ______________________________________
0______ Counseling _______ ______________________________________
0______ Promoting change _______ ______________________________________
0______ Selling ideas or products _______ ______________________________________
3______ Decision making with others
3______ Managing conflict

Ways I can develop my skills (REQUIRED SECTION):

I think the best way for me to develop my skills is to mainly identify where I am weak personally. From there within the

experience of working and solving problems hopefully I can be able to overcome my weaker skills which are my leadership

skills. The best way to improve my leadership skills would be to tray and take charge when it is necessary for someone to
take on a leadership role._________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mark Kansteiner

Professor Marxhausen

EDUC 1300

November 30, 2017

Resume and Cover Letter

Since I have never really had to submit a resume or a cover letter to apply for a job, this
video and article was very enlightening to me. The first thing was that I was very unfamiliar with
what a cover letter actually was. I know now that it should always be sent with a resume as
introduction to your character and job experience within asking to schedule an interview for a
certain job position. It also needs to be short and concise because employers often have to read
countless number of cover letters and making a cover letter not over bearing and too long is key
to keeping the hiring manager’s attention. By this logic I learned that half a page to two-thirds is
the appropriate length for most cover letters. The most importantly part I learned is probably the
call to action. This shows that you are almost pleading for an interview opportunity within
reasonable context, showing that you are eager to take advantage of the opportunity. I was sort of
familiar with a resume but a learned now that every applicant should have a professional profile.
This allows you to link that within your resume that shows and easily accessible online portfolio
for the employer. Another key thing that I learned is to omit any mention of high school
education. Since employers are mostly concerned with your experience in recent times, high
school is almost an unnecessary thing to put on your resume. Instead the applicant should focus
heavily on showing the achievements in their post-secondary information as this could really
make or break and employers decision for you.

Mark Kansteiner

Professor Marxhausen

EDUC 1300

December 6, 2017

Why I Choose to be A Welder

The way in which I decided to become a welder was a pretty simple one. It started when I
enjoyed a shop class in middle school much more than my other classes and we had learned
welding within it. From there on I took to welding very naturally as it never seemed challenging
and also instilled a love for working with my hands. My DWYA results which were ISTJ fit in
very well with my career path. One of the key aspects of my personality results were that of
being attentive to detail. That is a quality that is very important to anybody going into the
manufacturing or trade business as it will affect the quality of work and the quality I put into
something determines how I keep a job. Also, the majority of career that that the DWYA results
recommend are that of manufacturing and repair so this fits almost perfectly with what I intend
to do. Some new things I learned about this career is the importance of an apprenticeship within
the welding line of work.

Education of a potential welder is a lot simpler than I thought it was going to be. It is
nothing like the rigor and workload of a four-year university student, however it is tailored to
much more specific load of classes. The specific nature of the education comes in the form of
classes that cover the fundamentals a welder will take into the workplace. Some of the licenses
that are required are mostly AWS or American Welding Society certifications. These allow me
to walk directly into a job and notify potential employers of my credentials and if I am the right

person to hire proving that I can weld to certain manufacturing specifications. Some of the
experience that is recommend as I touched on earlier is gaining that of an apprenticeship with
experienced welders and learn the job firsthand as experience. Shadowing veteran workers is an
easy way obtain job opportunities and form new skills as a result.

Honestly a day as a welder is just as ordinary as any other labor worker. I daily would be
given worksheets on how to complete projects and required to complete them to the certain
specifications of the employer. For at least hours a day it would be constant manipulating of heat
and a product and machine settings to make sure the quality of the weld is appropriate for the
customer or employer. I would also throughout the day have to be weary of the clothing I wear
as eye and skin protection is paramount in the welding as these practices are very hot and bright
and can burn my retinas and skin at the same time if not safely equipped with the right clothing.
The career paths that are available are almost endless as there is always products to be welded as
people continue to grown their own businesses. The advancement that I hope for is to become
skilled enough that I can open or run my own weld shop that specializes in fabrication and
creating of products. Also, another advancement opportunity is that of being a mobile welder and
going to jobsites to weld specific parts or structures. The thing that I will like about this career is
the fact that I get to work with my hands and not sit behind a computer for eight hours a day.
However, the thing that I will probably dislike is that of the rigorous hours that this sort of job
sometimes demands.

The first thing that I need to do to get into this career is to finish my education at
Lonestar, specifically the welding classes that will teach me my skills I need to know to produce
within the business. After I finish these classes which will result in obtaining an Associates
Science degree in the field of welding, I hope to get an apprenticeship position to be able to learn

while on the job and gain experience that all welders need to continue to flourish in their careers.
Some big local employers for this type of career are business such as J.K. Welding which
specializes in fabrication for machine parts. I hope to end up in a place like this to be able to
continue my career.

Works Cited

 “Houston Welding and Custom Fabrication | JK Welding Services.” JK Welding,
jkwelding.net/.

 Society, American Welding. “AWS Certification Seminar & Exam Schedule.” American
Welding Society, www.aws.org/certification.

 “Job Search - Millions of Jobs Hiring Near You.” ZipRecruiter, www.ziprecruiter.com/.