Personal Testimony on Locksmithing

[The Speed of Dark]

I first started out as a lockpicking enthusiast after reading about it online and then reading books and then buying a set and practicing. I became tired with just picking locks and wanted to learn more and make money off of it. So I attended a Locksmith meeting in my region. I dressed up nicely and gave out my name and my intentions of coming to the meeting. I said: " If I got locksmith training I will work for free", the faces lit up. I soon got an email from a locksmith down the road and have been working there as their apprentice learning the trade, while at times doing crappy work, and getting paid!
I recommend to anyone who is seeking a Locksmithing job to find out if there is a local or regional Locksmithing association of some sort and to contact their president and exchange a few emails and/or phone calls back and forth to establish a basic relationship. I would then show up to the meeting dressed up formally, but not to formal, and introduce myself when the time permits. Let them know about why you are seeking such a job (Hint: I wouldn't say because you like picking locks) and how much time you have to commit.
If you have more questions about the Locksmithing business then feel free to contact me.

[NanoDuke]

Or a better option would be to get out the White Pages, or whatever business directories you have in the US, and find the local locksmiths in your area. Then ring them up and ask if any are willing to take on an apprentice.

Here in Australia the government actually pays businesses to take on trainees, so long as they get a certificate out of it in the end.

[The Speed of Dark]

Tried that and NOT ONE told me of apprenticeships available, they said :"Those arn't done anymore. I don't know of such things."

[Eyes_Only]

Most locksmiths who say things like that are either too lazy to train someone. Or they're afraid that once his apprentice gets up to journeyman level or whatever, he'll quit, start his own business and become his competition.

The latter I have personally seen happen in at least three different shops in my area. One of them had three of their top employees quit all in a period of about 7 years and each one of them started their own lock business. Although two of them were kind enough to do that outside of their former employers service area.