Can you make a career as a locksmith?

In the world of doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, programmers, and managers, is there any place left for unconventional professions? There are people who want to travel the less trodden path and also contribute to the society. There’s one such profession which is entering the mainstream in the recent years and that is- a locksmith.

Locksmith

Why becomes a locksmith?

There is something exciting about honing the skills and having the ability to unlock any door in the world. There is a sense of pride that you feel for being able to help people when they are in trouble and that feeling is priceless. In emergency situations, like when a kid or pet is locked in a car or losing the house keys or if the lock of the main door of a house damaged, the only person that can come to your rescue is a locksmith.

Services provided by locksmith

Here are a few things a locksmith is expected to do:

• Keys Cutting, copying or making duplicate keys.
• Repairing security safes for shops and homes or installing a new one, especially, for new house owners.
• Repairing door or window locks at house, office or for vehicles.
• Setting up and fixing electronic locks.

Education requirements

There is no formal education required to be a locksmith. However, one needs to get a degree or at least six months training in this field. Though the best way to learn is doing on-job training and gaining practical knowledge.

An individual interested in making a career in this field should also know about the trade, market and components in details and how it works in different countries. For example, keys made in Europe are mostly in steel, whereas in Australia or New Zealand, it is mostly made of brass.

Locksmith

Pros and cons

• You get paid immediately for your service and sometimes a tip also, as a bonus, from a customer who is satisfied with your work.
• You can work for a more experienced locksmith, join a company or work as a freelancer. You can have your own shop or work for the government too. The options are plenty and you do enjoy freedom.
• You can never get bored as you have to stay updated with new technology, tool or software. There is always something new to work on that you will almost not find a definite routine. So, you get to wake up every day to a new challenge.
• You can supplement your earnings by teaching some skills to aspiring locksmiths or by writing how-to guides for the general public.
• More chances of being employed. With the emergence of new technology and increasing complexity in the security systems, the demand for trained locksmith is also rising.
• Don’t expect to get rich. If you are satisfied to make a living out of the skill you love to practice, then only go for this profession. But, if your only motive is to get wealthy, this job may not be the one for you.
• Always being on the toe, if you give 24/7 hrs service. Well, that’s a minimal requirement to stay in the competition. Prepare to get night calls and also unfulfilling sleep an empty stomach.
• Dealing with weird clients. You may also get calls at 3 am for not-so emergency purposes. You may get calls from half drunken clients who are unable to find keys or drive, or you may encounter people who bargain on the fee charges or refuse to pay at all.
• A lot of paperwork makes the job a tedious one. Starting from a training certificate to getting a valid license, insurance, memberships at certain organizations is quite a daunting task.

You may not need a locksmith on a daily basis, but they are a crucial part of the society who protect us from intruders and become a great help during a crisis.