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Welder Video Resume: Say What You Run and What You’re Certified In

By David Welsh, Seenly · Updated October 7, 2026

Welding is a trade where your hands do the talking. Most shops will put you in a booth and have you run a test before they hire you. So what’s a video for? Getting invited to that test. A shop lead reading a stack of resumes sees “welder, 4 years” over and over. A 60–90 second video where you clearly say what processes you run, what positions you’ve tested in, and what you’ve built makes them want to see you weld.

I’ve managed construction for about 15 years. Here’s what I’d want to hear from a welder.

What welding employers listen for

Your processes. Stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), flux-core (FCAW), TIG (GTAW). Say which you’re strongest in. “I mostly run flux-core on structural” tells a lead more than “I can weld anything.”
Your materials. Carbon steel, stainless, aluminum. Plate, pipe, or sheet.
Your test positions and certs, exactly. Certifications are tied to a process, position, and material. Positions use codes: 1G flat, 2G horizontal, 3G vertical, and 4G overhead on plate, and 5G and 6G on fixed pipe. The American Welding Society’s Certified Welder program is a performance test taken at an AWS Accredited Test Facility.^[1] If you passed a 3G and 4G in stick on plate, say exactly that. Don’t round up.
The work you’ve done. Structural steel, fabrication shop, pipe, production, repair, ornamental. Shop or field.
Fit-up and print reading. Can you read a drawing, fit your own parts, and hold tolerances? Say so if you can.
Safety. Fire watch, hot work permits, working at height if you’ve done field work. One line is enough.

The five prompts, written for welders

Seenly gives you five prompts. They’re a script for one video, not five videos. About 15 seconds each.

1. Tell me about yourself

Experienced: “I’m [name], a structural welder in [city]. [X] years, mostly flux-core and stick on beams and columns, shop and field.”

New grad: “I’m [name]. I just finished the welding program at [school], and I tested in [process] at [positions].”

2. Why do you want this kind of work?

“I like that you can see if a weld is good. It’s honest work.”

Or: “I like building something that’s going to be standing for fifty years.”

3. Why should we hire you?

Proof: “I’m certified in [process] in the [positions] positions on [material].” “I fit my own work from prints.” “I spent [X] years in a production shop, so I’m used to speed and consistency.” Only what you’ve actually done.

4. What are you strongest at, and what are you working on?

“I’m strongest at vertical-up stick. I’m working on TIG on stainless.”

Or: “Strongest at fit-up. Working toward my pipe test.”

5. Where do you see yourself in five years?

“Pipe welder.” Or: “Shop lead.” Or: “Working toward my CWI.” (AWS offers a Certified Welding Inspector credential.^[2] Only say it if it’s really your plan.)

Close: “I’m looking for [shop / field] work around [area], I’ll travel [yes/no], and I can start [date].”

Write your own script, or let Seenly’s AI build a draft from your answers that you edit. Either way, check that every line is true and sounds like you. General version: what to say in a video resume.

Filming tips for welders

Record outside the booth. Grinders, fans, and exhaust kill audio. Step outside the shop or record in your truck.
Hood up or off. People need to see your face.
Hold up your work. It’s fine to hold a test coupon or a small piece you made up to the camera for a few seconds while you talk about it. That’s the one prop that’s worth it in this trade.
Don’t try to film your arc with your phone. You’ll get a white blob, and you can’t watch the puddle and the camera at the same time. If you want to show your welds, take close-up photos of finished beads in good light for your PDF.
Phone upright at eye level. Prop it on a bench or the dash. Seenly shows video in a tall, phone-shaped frame.

Setup: how to make a video resume on your phone. General job-site advice: construction video resume.

What not to show

Welding without your PPE. Hood, gloves, jacket, safety glasses. A lead will notice.
A customer’s parts or drawings. Fabrication drawings and parts often belong to the customer. Don’t put them on camera without permission.
Your current shop if they don’t know you’re looking.
Other workers who haven’t agreed to be filmed.
A cert card up close. It has personal details. Say what you’re certified in instead.

After you go live on Seenly you get one link, like seenly.live/u/your-name. You can see a real one at David’s profile.

Text it to the shop lead or foreman after you call.
Paste it in the “website” or “portfolio” box on applications.
Put it at the top of your PDF resume next to your cert list.
Send it when you ask a shop if they’re testing welders.

Other trades: electrician, plumber, and HVAC technician. In Southwest Florida? See Fort Myers.

How it works on Seenly

Sign up with Google or email.
Build your draft: photo, name, city, the job titles you want, and the five prompts.
Add one video. Record it right on the page or upload it from Photos (.mp4 or .mov). Aim for 60–90 seconds; the limit is 2 minutes.
Go live when you’re ready. Seenly Pro is $7.99/month with a 7-day free trial. Going live gives you a public link like seenly.live/u/your-name, share buttons, and a pin on the talent map. Until then your draft stays free and unlisted, and no card is needed.

Sources

American Welding Society, Certified Welder program: a performance-based test at an AWS Accredited Test Facility, with no prerequisite courses or certifications. aws.org/certification-and-education/professional-certification/certified-welder-program
American Welding Society, Professional Certification (includes Certified Welding Inspector). aws.org/certification-and-education/professional-certification

Sources checked October 7, 2026. Rules change, so confirm licensing details with the agency that issues them.

FAQ

Will a video replace a weld test?

No. Most shops will still test you. The video is what gets you invited to test, by showing what you run and how you talk about your work.

How should I list my certifications in the video?

Say the process, the position, and the material. For example: “Stick, 3G and 4G, carbon steel plate.” Don’t say “certified in everything.”

Can I show my welds in the video?

Hold a coupon or piece up to the camera for a few seconds. Don’t try to film the arc. Use close-up photos of finished welds in your PDF for detail.

How long should a welder video resume be?

60 to 90 seconds. Seenly takes one video up to 2 minutes.

Is Seenly free?

Your draft and video are free and unlisted. A public link and a pin on the talent map come with Seenly Pro: $7.99/month with a 7-day free trial. No card until you go live.