Career Overlap Transition record
RecordMove

Boilermaker to spot welder

A boilermaker already meets 58% of what the spot welder role asks for. The move turns on 6 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional
From boilermaker
58 % overlap
Partial match
To spot welder
27 You already bring
6 Still to learn
53 Skills in the target role2
Learning distance Real move, short list to learn

48.9/ 100

1 How much of what a spot welder is expected to do is already part of a boilermaker’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the spot welder role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

A spot welder role treats 13 of its required skills as things a boilermaker already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

  • apply precision metalworking techniques
  • ensure correct metal temperature
  • ensure equipment availability
  • monitor gauge
  • operate welding equipment
  • perform test run

What stands in the way is 6 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 27 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A spot welder role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a boilermaker background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held apply arc welding techniques constructing
  • already held ensure correct metal temperature working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • already held smooth burred surfaces handling and moving
  • already held spot metal imperfections information skills
  • already held manufacturing of heating equipment engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held apply precision metalworking techniques working with machinery and specialised equipment

All 27 carried skills, including the 13 the spot welder role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 26 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.

Skill to pick up Tier
01 handling and moving 3 required, 2 supplementary
  • still to learn prepare pieces for joining required
  • still to learn remove inadequate workpieces required
  • still to learn remove processed workpiece required
  • optional, not held apply electrolytes to cathodes and anodes optional
  • optional, not held apply preliminary treatment to workpieces optional
02 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required, 11 supplementary
  • still to learn spot welding machine parts required
  • still to learn electric current required
  • optional, not held manufacture of small metal parts optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of cutlery optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of doors from metal optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of metal containers optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of tools optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of weapons and ammunition optional
  • optional, not held non-ferrous metal processing optional
  • optional, not held electrical discharge optional
  • optional, not held metal joining technologies optional
  • optional, not held metal thermal conductivity optional
  • optional, not held welding techniques optional
03 constructing 1 required, 3 supplementary
  • still to learn apply spot welding techniques required
  • optional, not held perform metal active gas welding optional
  • optional, not held perform metal inert gas welding optional
  • optional, not held operate oxy-fuel welding torch optional
04 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 supplementary
  • optional, not held adjust temperature gauges optional
  • optional, not held ensure correct gas pressure optional
05 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held advise on machinery malfunctions optional
06 information skills 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held monitor conveyor belt optional
Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a spot welder role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 27 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held apply precision metalworking techniques skill
  • already held ensure correct metal temperature skill
  • already held ensure equipment availability skill
  • already held monitor gauge skill
  • already held operate welding equipment skill
  • already held perform test run skill
  • already held quality standards knowledge
  • already held set up the controller of a machine skill
  • already held spot metal imperfections skill
  • already held supply machine skill
  • already held troubleshoot skill
  • already held types of metal knowledge
  • already held wear appropriate protective gear skill
  • already held apply arc welding techniques skill
  • already held consult technical resources skill
  • already held ferrous metal processing knowledge
  • already held keep records of work progress skill
  • already held manufacturing of heating equipment knowledge
  • already held manufacturing of steam generators knowledge
  • already held monitor automated machines skill
  • already held operate precision measuring equipment skill
  • already held perform machine maintenance skill
  • already held perform product testing skill
  • already held record production data for quality control skill
  • already held smooth burred surfaces skill
  • already held supply machine with appropriate tools skill
  • already held types of metal manufacturing processes knowledge
20 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to pick up Tier
  • optional, not held manufacture of small metal parts optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of cutlery optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of doors from metal optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of metal containers optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of tools optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of weapons and ammunition optional
  • optional, not held non-ferrous metal processing optional
  • optional, not held perform metal active gas welding optional
  • optional, not held perform metal inert gas welding optional
  • optional, not held adjust temperature gauges optional
  • optional, not held advise on machinery malfunctions optional
  • optional, not held apply electrolytes to cathodes and anodes optional
  • optional, not held apply preliminary treatment to workpieces optional
  • optional, not held electrical discharge optional
  • optional, not held ensure correct gas pressure optional
  • optional, not held metal joining technologies optional
  • optional, not held metal thermal conductivity optional
  • optional, not held monitor conveyor belt optional
  • optional, not held operate oxy-fuel welding torch optional
  • optional, not held welding techniques optional
34 held skills the spot welder role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role 3D printing process knowledge
  • not needed by the target role automation technology knowledge
  • not needed by the target role cast metal skill
  • not needed by the target role casting processes knowledge
  • not needed by the target role cutting technologies knowledge
  • not needed by the target role determine suitability of materials skill
  • not needed by the target role dispose of cutting waste material skill
  • not needed by the target role flammable fluids knowledge
  • not needed by the target role fuel gas knowledge
  • not needed by the target role handle gas cylinders skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain mechatronic equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain robotic equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintenance of printing machines knowledge
  • not needed by the target role maintenance operations knowledge
  • not needed by the target role mechatronics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role metal forming technologies knowledge
  • not needed by the target role metal smoothing technologies knowledge
  • not needed by the target role operate 3D computer graphics software skill
  • not needed by the target role operate automated process control skill
  • not needed by the target role operate drill press skill
  • not needed by the target role operate oxy-fuel cutting torch skill
  • not needed by the target role operate printing machinery skill
  • not needed by the target role operate soldering equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role printing materials knowledge
  • not needed by the target role printing on large scale machines knowledge
  • not needed by the target role printing techniques knowledge
  • not needed by the target role read standard blueprints skill
  • not needed by the target role repair heating equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role rivet types knowledge
  • not needed by the target role riveting machine types knowledge
  • not needed by the target role robotics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role select filler metal skill
  • not needed by the target role tend punch press skill
  • not needed by the target role types of drill press oils knowledge
13 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to pick up Tier
  • still to learn spot welding machine parts required
  • still to learn electric current required
  • optional, not held manufacture of small metal parts optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of cutlery optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of doors from metal optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of metal containers optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of tools optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of weapons and ammunition optional
  • optional, not held non-ferrous metal processing optional
  • optional, not held electrical discharge optional
  • optional, not held metal joining technologies optional
  • optional, not held metal thermal conductivity optional
  • optional, not held welding techniques optional
Index

Other moves recorded from boilermaker

Full index of moves from boilermaker

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can a boilermaker become a spot welder?

Yes, and it is a moderate move. A boilermaker already covers 58% of what a spot welder is expected to do: 27 skills carry over, 13 of which the spot welder role treats as required.

What skills does a boilermaker need to become a spot welder?

6 required skills are missing, plus 20 optional ones. They fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by handling and moving. The single most important is spot welding machine parts.

How hard is the move from boilermaker to spot welder?

Its learning distance is 48.9 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.