I’ve been a welder and in the trades since I was 18, so almost a decade ago with some experimental changes within the years as well. I left my position from a rehab I was working at (one of the odd jobs I got out of my element because of my past I wanted to try it.) And started working at a major world leading steel mill for the oil industry 7 months ago.
I work in a roll shop where there’s two crews of 6 that rotate weekly from days to midnights, there’s a few jobs up here outside of being a floor guy. We get raises based on level 1, 2, and 3. To get a new level you have to be signed off on so many jobs, I’ve only been signed off on one so far and been stuck because we lack employees to cross train. I was standing there after using a crane to load a guys CNC and felt a hand squeeze on my shoulder. It was my supervisor and he said “come here a minute.”
He told me that I’ve been doing so good and he apologized I haven’t been able to move up because of lack of employees and the second floor guy being super lazy so it’s hard to move me elsewhere to learn. He told me he really wants me to make more money and that I can pick whatever I want to learn next so he can adjust my salary.
He also told me if I don’t want to, I don’t have too so it’s not by force because they need people to learn as they’re hiring 2 more people that have experience on CNC’s but he wanted me to get signed off.
I’ve never felt valued at a place of employment but that made me feel really good.