The #1 Thing Holding Welders Back Isn’t Skill… It’s This

<p>Kayla Vander Molen is a pressure welder, welding examiner, and senior instructor with the Boilermakers in Canada, and in this episode she breaks down what it really takes to build a career in one of the most demanding trades in welding.</p><p><br></p><p>If you’ve ever wondered how pressure tickets work in Canada, what boiler makers actually do, or how mentorship and union training can change the trajectory of a welding career, this conversation gives you a real inside look at the path.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>In this episode, you’ll learn</strong></p><ul><li><p>How Kayla went from welding in the field to becoming an instructor and education advocate for the next generation.</p></li><li><p>What the pressure ticket means in Canada, and why it opens the door to additional pressure qualifications rather than being the finish line.</p></li><li><p>What boiler makers do on site, from tube work and pressure applications to high-stakes welds that can require X-ray inspection.</p></li><li><p>How union apprenticeship training builds skills through classroom learning, hands-on work, and mentorship.</p></li><li><p>Why confidence, workplace culture, and asking questions matter just as much as technical ability in welding.</p><p><br></p></li></ul><p><strong>About Kayla</strong></p><p>Kayla Vander Molen is a pressure welder by trade, a welding examiner and instructor with the Boilermakers, and a contributor to educational content through the CWB. Her background includes field welding, union training, mentorship, and a strong focus on helping welders avoid the mistakes, unsafe habits, and dead-end paths that can hold them back.</p><p>She also talks about the importance of keeping skills local, supporting strong workplace culture, and creating more access to practical welding education for people entering the trade.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Thank you to this weeks sponsor Abicor Binzel</strong></p><p>Learn more about the iBOTone https://goweld.link/abicorpod</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Kayla</strong></p><ul><li><p>Website: WeldTux.com</p></li><li><p>Instagram: @weldtux <a href="https://www.instagram.com/weldtux/"><u>https://www.instagram.com/weldtux/</u></a> </p><p><br></p></li></ul><p><strong>Download The Weld App</strong></p><p>iOS: App Store <a href="https://goweld.link/AppleApp"><u>https://goweld.link/AppleApp</u></a> </p><p>Android: Google Play <a href="https://goweld.link/Android"><u>https://goweld.link/Android</u></a> </p><p><br></p><p>If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.</p><p><br></p><p>#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #Boilermaker #PressureWelding #WeldingEducation #UnionWelding #WeldingInstructor #WeldingMentorship #WeldingLife #TradeSkills</p><p><br></p>