Job In Welding OUTSIDE Just Welding

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WELD

Weld.com

229 episodes

6 days ago

WELD is the show that opens real doors in the welding world. From first arc to six-figure specialty work, host Beau Wigington talks with industry professionals as they share wins, mistakes, and the various pathways available in the welding industry. Whether you are in school or on the tools, guests will share practical steps, safety-first habits, and career plays to help you master the trade. MIG, TIG, stick, flux-core, pipe, fabrication, repair, inspection, and business growth all live here. New episodes each week.

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All content for WELD is the property of Weld.com and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

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Job In Welding OUTSIDE Just Welding

WELD

16 minutes 31 seconds

1 month ago

Job In Welding OUTSIDE Just Welding

In this episode, host Beau Wigington chats with

Justin Lafond — applications engineer (ESAB) who calls the role the “Swiss Army knife” of welding support.

Kaeleigh Wilkins — 3M Metalworking Application Engineer who moved from sales into a highly technical role without an engineering degree.

Frank Vargas — national sales leader focused on relationship-driven technical selling in welding distribution.

Cody Vigeant (American Welding Program) — on what makes a great instructor in today’s rapidly changing trade.

Austin Hargett (“Dr. Welds”) — on staying energized as a welding instructor and balancing life, side work, and the classroom.

Key Topics Covered:

Why many high-pay welding careers don’t require holding a stinger every day (inspection, applications, distribution, education).

Applications engineering: field problem-solving, process development, training, and customer saves—plus the reality of travel.

No engineering degree? Mapping hands-on welding experience to technical job descriptions (Kaeleigh’s playbook).

Distributor roles: technical sales and “solution finder” jobs that value people skills and fluent welding lingo.

Teaching welding: avoiding burnout, finding the “small wins,” and staying current with robots/cobots.

Future-proofing: adaptability and cross-process literacy as automation spreads.

Memorable Quotes:

“We’re the Swiss Army knives… expected to do all of it, anywhere, anytime.” — Justin Lafond

“You can’t really learn our job unless you’re out there in the field doing it.” — Justin Lafond

“I’m the only person on the team without an engineering degree… you can still be a fit if your experience matches the need.” — Kaeleigh Wilkins

“The welding trade is moving at the speed of light—instructors have to stay keyed in.” — Cody Vigeant

“The little wins from former students are what keep you going.” — Austin Hargett

Save 20% On Related American Welding Program Courses With WELD20 https://foxly.link/9T3dtc

Guest Contacts:

Justin Lafond - Applications Engineering (ESAB)

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-lafond-5a650b313

Kaeleigh Wilkins - Application Engineering (3M)

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaeleigh-wilkins

Frank Vargas - National Sales Manager (Uniweld)

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-vargas-0273a173

Cody Vigeant - Manager of Education Solutions (American Welding Program)

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-v-b4a857145

Austin Hargett (“Dr. Welds”) - Brand Ambassador / Operations Manager (Weld.com)

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-hargett-2545ba20a

Connect with Beau Wigington

Instagram: @beaudiditwelding — https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington

Email: beauw@weld.com

Download the WELD App: https://foxly.link/Qj0VEa