Heat Treaters

One of the best ways to learn about the heat-treating field is to visit a firm that engages in commercial heat treating or a manufacturing plant with a heat-treating department. You can observe heat treaters as they work. Sometimes these companies hire part-time or summer workers to perform unskilled labor.

Talk with a heat treater about his or her career. Ask your school counselor or shop teacher to help arrange an interview. Suggested interview questions include: What made you want to enter this career? What type of tools and equipment do you use to do your work? What do you like most and least about your job? How did you train for this field? What are some key skills for success? What advice would you give to young people about preparing for the field and being successful on the job? How will advances in technology change the field?

Other ways to learn about the field include reading trade publications or studying heat-treating techniques in shop classes.