Graduate Connections – Meet Andrew Fyfe

Andrew, 26, was born in Laramie, Wyoming. He graduated from the Professional Welder program at Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center in Houston in early January 2024.

Thanks for your time, Andrew. What did you do before coming to Tulsa Welding School?

Right after high school in 2015, I joined the U.S. Army; I was in the infantry for six years. I got out in 2021 and went home, which was California at the time. I was an apprentice plumber for a year and a half but decided that wasn’t what I wanted to do long term. While figuring out what I wanted to do, I stumbled upon welding. I also wanted to get out of California. I knew a lot about Houston because I was stationed up at Fort Polk in Louisiana and I came down to Houston a lot. That’s how I found Tulsa Welding School.

Thank you for your service. Why didn’t you like plumbing?

I got pretty good at it close to the end, but it just wasn’t paying as much as I wanted it to. Especially being in California, it wasn’t a livable wage. And you have to deal with other peoples’…well, you know!! 

Where did the idea of going to welding school come from?   

I’d always wanted to do underwater welding, but because of some injuries I had, I knew I couldn’t. I figured general welding was the best option. I knew that welders made decent money. Even shop welders can make $25/$26/hour, and that would be $10 more than I made as an apprentice plumber in California. But also, I just wanted to learn welding in general. It was a skill that I wanted to have. Like many welders, I’m actually a bit of a pyro; I do like fire, or at least watching it burn.

So, you decided on Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center in Houston, and applied?   

After I spoke to the school in late May, I left California within five days. I got accepted, did all my GI Bill paperwork, and they said I could start in July to give me a month or so to get ready. I asked when the next start date was. They said it was in five days on June 05. I said, “I’m on my way!” and my wife and I packed up and left California for Texas.

Did you have any prior welding experience at all?

No. I had just watched videos and I knew that’s a skilled trade I want to get my hands on!

What did you enjoy most about your experience at Tulsa Welding School?

The instructors. They’re very, very helpful. If you had a question and came to them with it, they’d help you. But they also tried their best to help you even when you didn’t have questions. They can see body movements, rod angles, stuff like that through the welding booth curtains. If they walked by and saw something they didn’t like, once you stopped welding, they’d let you know, “Hey, try to bring up your angle, or try to rest up on something, try to get comfortable so that you can weld a little better.”

Did you have tough days on the program, or did it come easy?

It came pretty easy to me to be honest. I mean we all had days. There were a couple of days with hardships. We always blamed the rods, the machine, or something else! It’s got to be something else’s fault, not ours!

Right…! How did you deal with those frustrations?

I’d ask questions, and then if it still wasn’t going my way, I’d go home. There’s nothing worse than being frustrated, trying your best over and over again, then going home and continuously dwelling on it. If you realize today’s not the day, just set your stuff down and go home. Don’t keep fighting it. Come back refreshed and ready for it tomorrow. Sometimes that’s just the best thing that you can do. For the most part, the instructors also get it. It’s something that you’re learning for the first time; it doesn’t come second nature to most people, and you might need a breather. So, they know that sometimes you’re better off going home to take that breather. They’re okay with it if you communicate. Don’t just take off!

What class did you do, and did you put in extra time to practice?

I was in the afternoon class. I usually showed up about two hours before lunch and I got my stuff set up and did some work. I used to come in on the weekends sometimes too, especially right before my weld test for my job. I was in that whole weekend asking questions. It was a really difficult test. It definitely wasn’t a test that a lot of students could just come right out of school and pass.

So, you graduated just three weeks ago. Where are you working, and how did you get the job? 

I am in South Carolina. I’m travel welding with CB&I, Chicago Bridge and Iron. One of my instructors, Don Carson, worked with CB&I for 20 something years. He gave me Creed’s number and I gave him a call. Creed is a 2017 TWS graduate who is now a welding engineer for CB&I; he liaises with the campus to hire and test TWS graduates. It took a little while for me to get a response, but it was during the Holidays, so I knew I wasn’t going to get something right off the bat. I started straight after I finished school and came straight out to South Carolina. I’ll be here for another couple of months, then I’m heading to West Virginia.

I’ve heard travel welders do pretty well financially. Are you happy with the checks?

Oh yeah, the paychecks are fine! On top of the hourly, we get a $110 tax free per diem for every day we’re working on site, and we get travel money moving between jobs.

Congratulations! What’s your career plan from here?

I could see myself doing this travel welding for years, until I get either more broken or old! I would like to try to still do either offshore welding or underwater welding at some point if I can, but honestly, I could see myself staying with this company for a pretty long time. When I do get too old and/or broken to keep welding, I’d like to become a CWI [Certified Weld Inspector] doing X-rays, inspections, and stuff. 

Do you need your own rig for this travel job?

No, I still have the same car I’ve had since 2017. It gets great gas mileage for all the travel! The company supplies everything. Even right out of school, I asked, “What do I need to bring?” They said nothing. They give you a new helmet, they give you everything.

What do you enjoy most about being a welder?

The fact that not a lot of people can do it. It’s one of those trades that maybe people don’t have the eye for it, you can’t see the puddle, and there are people who just can’t physically do it – it’s hot, hard work. 

Did you make some connections in school? People you’ll stay in touch with.

I’ve got a couple friends that I still talk to. They’re doing the pipefitting course now, which I was supposed to be doing with them! Having a network is important though, especially nowadays. Everyone says they’re hiring, but if you don’t know anyone, then you aren’t getting hired unless you’re in the right place at the right time.

You were going to stay to add pipefitting to your education?

I was, but this job opportunity was just too good to pass up!

What advice do you have for students to be successful at Tulsa Welding School?

Know that welding is going to be hot and dangerous. Not a lot of people realize that; they kind of show up to school and not realize you’re playing with fire, so it’s going to get hot. You’ll get burned all the time, especially with overhead stuff. There’s also tons of metal flying around because you’re grinding things out.

But the main thing is to keep your hood down; just keep welding and asking questions. Don’t be scared. The instructors are there for you. They’ve been doing it for a long time. They have no negative opinions on how your welds are. They are there to help you get better, not judge. They understand that you’re going to be brand new to it, they only want to help you.

If you’re a TWS graduate and would like to share your success and be an inspiration to others, please email [email protected] to be considered for a Graduate Connection interview. Please include details such as your graduation date (month/year), program, and campus name (Tulsa/Jacksonville/Houston/Dallas).