# Job In Welding OUTSIDE Just Welding

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/weld-3832015/job-in-welding-outside-just-welding
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/weld-3832015/job-in-welding-outside-just-welding.md
Podcast: [WELD](https://stenobird.com/podcast/weld-3832015)
Published: 2025-12-08T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/welddotcom/episodes/Job-In-Welding-OUTSIDE-Just-Welding-e3bsuiv
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/56a6df3c/podcast/play/112146463/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-11-4%2F413761187-44100-2-e8bb5334886e6.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/weld-3832015/episodes/job-in-welding-outside-just-welding
Duration seconds: 991

## Resource

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 for…

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## Transcript

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