resume / list or not list unearned certs 1

[boffintech]

Over the years I have earned a number of certifications. I have earned all of the ICC special inspector certifications except for one: structural welding. When I earn the welding cert it will automatically trigger an additional certification: Master of Special Inspection.

Confidence is high for completion within a couple of months, despite my current employer's total lack of support. I can't squeak out even 5 minutes of training with one the certified welding inspectors even though I offered to do it on my free time.

So on my resume I want to list these as yet elusive certs like so:

International Code Council - # xxxxxxx
o Soils Special Inspector
o Spray-applied Fireproofing Special Inspector
o Structural Masonry Special Inspector
o Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector
o Prestressed Concrete Special Inspector
o Structural Steel & Bolting Special Inspector
o Structural Welding Special Inspector (in-progress)
o Master of Special Inspection (in-progress)

Good idea or Bad idea? What say you?

 

[frv]

Seems reasonable..

 

[ivymike]

you could even put the future date instead of in-progress, if you're that confident.

 

[MikeHalloran]

So, in a couple of months, you'll be able to legitimately claim the Master of Special Inspections.

In the meantime, just claim the certs you actually have.

Just to avoid confusion.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[IRstuff]

I don't particularly see that as an issue, but, how many jobs are you going after in the next couple of months that will be made or broken because of missing certs?

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[PeterStock]

I would just cover the certs in progres in the cover letter instead of the resume.

Peter Stockhausen
Senior Design Analyst (Checker)
Infotech Aerospace Services

http://www.infotechpr.net

 

[boffintech]

IRstuff asked "but, how many jobs are you going after in the next couple of months that will be made or broken because of missing certs?"

Don't know. Since there are only 7 of these in the state of Georgia I figure the MSI will set me apart. Of the 7 MSIs two are PEs, 3 are EITs, and 2 are regular inspectors.

One needs

Structural Welding Special Inspector
Structural Steel and Bolting Special Inspector
Structural Masonry Special Inspector
Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector

to get the MSI designation. Not sure how they came up with that list but it has been my experience that concrete/masonry guys don't do bolting/welding and vice-versa. So this MSI is difficult for regular inspectors to get.

I mean who are we kidding; you all know how these testing labs operate; anything but perfunctory training is just not in the budget. I found a tech school about 100 miles away and bought the text books used for the welding classes. The remainder of the required texts are another $600 and the exam is another $200. I'll spend just over $1k and then they won't ever send me out to do any welding inspections. Reason: "We have two welding inspectors that we have to keep busy." Well, whatever, I can't wait for these guys to get with the program.

 

[tickle]

You do not mention how much experience you have. The theory and the practice are often different. I assume that you have a job and that you are wanting promotion based on the results of your examination. Even if you get a different job, your resume says that you have experience in one area and therefore you are going to be employed on that, not your examinations. e.g. I have a cycling proficiency test, but they are not going to sign me up for the tour de france.
Sorry about that, I am not trying to make fun at your expense, I am just suggesting that you should use your current skills/experience and gain experience in the welding side of inspection. It will come, however frustrating it is at the moment.

Best of luck

 

[MintJulep]

First, find a way to list them without using the word "inspector" so many times.

Can you document that you are in some formal program that will result in your earning the structural welding cert? If not, don't list it as "in progress".

If it's applicable to a specific job that you are applying for, you can mention it in the cover letter.

It's a good think to talk about during an interview, especially that part about you getting them all on your own time and initiative. Shows dedication and such.

 

[boffintech]

Just FYI, I have over 20 years of testing/inspection experience, but the welding experience is limited to 10% (average) a year. My speciality is hi-rise construction and by the time we get to the metals at the roof I've moved on to the foundations on the next one. The same holds true for low-rise construction; once the steel columns/beams start going in I'm off to the next one. It's always the same story: we have two welding inspectors that we have to keep busy. I'm pretty sure that the rest of that line is unspoken: And if we teach you anything you'll want more money or you might leave us.

Well the "nest ones" are getting fewer and fewer so I'm looking to expand my scope of services: one more tool in the tool box so to speak. If I can do the job from foundations to top-out I believe I'll be in much better position. This belief is reinforced by the fact that the vast majority of welding inspectors do not have other certs/experience; they specialist pigeonholed into welding inspections only. I think this is because most of them migrate out into the world from welding shops.

 

[PhilBW]

If I was considering hiring you, I would want to know about the certifications you are working on. I think it is OK to list them just like you have them in your original post. Another option would be to have another heading for "Certifications in Progress" and move those two bullet points there.

 

[TheTick]

Yeah, employers are in love with what you're gonna do.

 

[henri2]

boffintech, in the west coast, it is not uncommon for special inspectors to have all 7 ICC special inspection certificates...in addition to AWS CWI and Level II NDT in UT, PT, and MT. Several hundred would qualify for MSI status because they have the requisite certs. Do they have real world experience and judgement to back up these certs? That's a story for another day.

In your neck of the woods, due to stiff competition for diminishing job market, it will only be a matter of time before masonry/concrete folks start getting steel bolting/welding/NDT certs and vice-versa. The market will force the special inspector to become multi-certified in order to hold their own. So, you are wise to stay way ahead of the game. Get the ICC steel tickets, CWI too, and add the NDT. Take welding inspection and NDT classes offered by reputable training providers.

It would be nice if you could work under a seasoned welding inspector to gain some experience. A hands on welding course is something you should also consider.

 

[photoengineer]

It sounded reasonable at first - then I realized something. Are you planning on taking them in the future or have you actually started the cert process?

If you are just planning and haven't actually started the process for doing the cert, I wouldn't put in progress since you haven't made progress. But if you have actually started, then it's ok.

On my resume I have in progress for a MSME degree that I am actually in progress of getting. But I don't put down the MSAA that I'd like to pursue next but haven't actually started.

Cedar Bluff Engineering

http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com