any advice would help for my interview tom.

[Knows-Picker]

I am so excited!!!! I have been in locksport for a LONG time now, but have always worked in tel-com. I got laid off in december and have been working at a resturant since then looking for a good paying job in the mean time.

I have been trying to get into the locksmithing business for a while now, however the field has been saturated where I live so no luck.

Today I called through my list ( call about 2 times a month looking) when I stumbled on a guy who has a very busy company and is looking to expand. When I called him he said that it was great timing because he was fixing to pick up the phone and place an ad in the paper!!!

So now onto my question. Over the phone I explained that I have been in locksport, and that I can pick most locks that I come upon, that I have a HUGE selection of tools for poth picking and by-pass but that I would need training. He was excited!!!!
Said that he started in locksport before he started his company, and set up an interview for tom. morning.

Does anyone have any suggestions on things to say or not say to help me get this job? I have been thinking about this for more than 3 years now and now that I have the chance to actually do it, I need all the help that I can get to make sure that I get my foot in the door.

Anyone with advice, let me thank you in advace. Tell me about your 1st lockie job interview, or about what as an employer you would be looking for. Thanks again, and I look forward to reading all of your advice.

Wish me luck.

[Ermis]

being a locksmith is not only picking locks but it's part of it. It's maybe 5% of the business a locksmith attends to (a locksmith in a bigger city). It's used here and there sometimes in combination with shimming to make keys to locks, and opening peoples doors obviously. I think it's good to let him know what locks you are familiar with, their inner workings, if you know how to re-key locks i'd tell him about that. Basiclly i think it's a good idea to show your interest in the locks as a hobby and let him see how excited you really are about this field. either way anything you know about the security field will help you in your interview. and your willingness to learn and pick everything up.

[arris]

when i had my interview i was dreading it aswell, only popped in as saw they wanted someone from school, i had been to college for a year didnt know i wanted to be a lockie at the time like, was doing joinery but had a interest in it,

once i had my proper interview and told my boss, i own 2 key cutting machines, have a set of picks, an have done joinery for a year at college he kinda got the impression it was something i was interested in and i was the best person by far they had interviewed this was on the wednesday i started the following monday,

nearly 9 months later, it just getting better and better... im enjoying it sooooo much it unreal there are all of my other friends stuck in workshops doing same thing, and im all over the place last week installing electric release system, and then fixing electric closers, an gates now today done a lock out, and opened up a 110 on a back door of a bank, so much viraity its unreal!

best job in the world imo!
i think even a pilot would get boring after awhile

[linty]

i might downplay the picking if i were you, it's not as important in locksmithing as one might think. My employers are very weary of people who know how to pick before they get into the field, and feel that picking is the last thing a locksmith should learn. Some older locksmiths who still believe in trade secrets feel that only locksmiths and criminals know how to pick locks.

[Knows-Picker]

I appriciate all of your feedback guys, it really helps out. As far as picking locks, like I said in the original post, the owner started the company because of his interest in the lock picking field. When I told him that I would need training in alot of things, but that I did know how to pick most locks I come up on, he asked what tools I had. When I listed them to him he sounded impressed, and that was when he told me to come down for an interview tom. morning, and said that I sounded like what he was looking for. In my opinion, honesty is always the best policy, and I think that it will pay off, so once again Thanks everyone for their help.

Wish me luck!

[Mutzy]

Good luck. The best thing you can do is show that you're very interested, eager to learn and confident (the last one's a biggie. You need to be confident when telling an old man why his lock's screwed up. Customers call a locksmith, because they need professional help with their security. They're not too happy to give up their hard earned to a young kid who 'ummed' and 'ared' his way through the job.

Be confident. Be yourself. You've gotten pretty far allready, so congratulations and good luck.

[Shrub]

I suggest you take a reasonable lock that you can pick quite well,

Take your tools (all your picks),

If nothing else at least get your tools out and show that your serious and have the right idea, show him any home made ones more than anything as this shows you can adapt,

If asked you can then also pick the lock for him, watch your facual expresions when doing this,

Personally if a candadate came to me and picked a lock showing me his tools as opposed to someone who didnt the one who showed me would get the job even if they wernt all there on paper as in qualifacations etc,


Good luck,