Job Interview

[Exodus5000]

I'm going in tommorow to a lockshop about 5 mins from where i'm staying here at college for an interview to see if I can apprentice the lockey there. Any have any suggestions? Do you think it'd be worth bringing up that i'm a lock pick hobbyist?

[Pheniox]

don't bring it up, but don't deny it if he asks. Dress nicly to, don't overdo it, but a pair of kakis and a nice shirt.


and for you.

TAKE A SHOWER, YOU STINK!

past that, good luck

[Exodus5000]

*sniffs self*
I don't think its THAT bad, but then again everyone likes their own brand. But if you think such a radical idea will work then I GUESS it's worth going out on a limb.

[randmguy]

You're probably going to be better off talking about the different locks you're repinned for friends and family than talking about what a fine picker you are. Remeber that picking is maybe 10-20% of what a general locksmith does in a week. I did way more car openings than cylinder picking as a lockout guy. Talk with him aobut master keying and and if you want to bring up picking use the repinning stuff...As in high, low, high configurations being harder to pick. Find out what kind of high security systems he uses and mention your experience with the Everest cylinders from the resort. If you want reference in the industry, PM me with your name and I can tell him about your curiousity about locks and your general integrity as I know of it. Just about any locksmith is going to be more impressed with your knowledge of how an SFIC system works or that you can impression locks than with your picking ability. Might be jealousy, as most hobbiests are much better pickers than your average locksmith.


Good Luck

[Exodus5000]

Thank you very much for the advice, and especially thanks for offering yourself as a reference. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[Mad Mick]

I guess I've nothing else to offer, which hasn't been covered, except to remind that being presentable, polite and honest help you a lot. If he asks whether you've had any experience, tell him, but don't act nervous while doing so. He's likely to think you are trying to hide something if you do. Try to maintain eye contact whilst listening and replying to his questions. A firm (not gripping) handshake and smile upon introduction also conveys a level of confidence.

Apart from that, I wish you the best of luck and please let us know how it goes.

[Exodus5000]

The lockey told me that his business was too small, "ma and pa" the way he worded it to support apprenticing anyone. We chatted for a bit on locks and he probed me for how much knowledge I had. At the end of the conversation he told me to look into taking a course, and gave me a copy of "Locksmith Ledger" May 2004 volume 64, number 5. He wished me luck and I went on my way. I'm a bit disapointed because I had hoped that I would be able to learn the trade without having to spend a lot of money on a course. Plus the fact that there are things you learn while working in a shop that you wouldn't learn otherwise. I've looked into other locksmiths in my area, but I don't have access to an automobile while here at college.

Cripes, it seems like this profession is about as hard to get into as law.

[mbell]

That's the trouble with skilled trades such as locksmtihing.

I have contacted countless Locksithing and Electrical businesses in the UK lately, searching for an apprentiship.

Virtually no companies running as locksmiths will take on an apprentice, even though they are absolutely rushed off their feet with business with some turning down almost as many jobs as they actually do.

[Chucklz]

I have an idea for you. You are at college. Colleges have locks, and probably at least a few locksmiths. Why not see if you can get into some of that work?

[Eyes_Only]

Sometimes I just dont get it. They say there is a shortage of skilled locksmiths in this country but no locksmith wants to hire new ppl to fill in the need. Huh? This makes no sense to me. I once asked a lock shop about how i could enter the industry or even if they or some other shop they knew were hiring. You know what they told me? They basically told me to enter a field working with computers instead so I can make more money. This is why Im keeping locksmithing just a hobby at this point because these ppl and other locksmiths Ive talked to have just ruined the image of this industry for me. Im just tired of all the negative and paranoid responses I get from many of these locksmiths.

[Varjeal]

Wanna know how to fix that? Get in the industry, start your own business, and change it from the inside.

[Buggs41]

That is the old "catch 22" when job hunting. I've been there also, and it bites!

Varjeal has really hit the nail on the head! The only way to change it is from INSIDE the trade. If you want things to change, Do something to change it. Look for the next generation ( your kids, grandkids..etc. ) and not just for yourself.

[Romstar]

Yeah, pretty much like Varjeal and myself.

There are too many messed up, paranoid twits runing around doing locksmithing.

The funny thing is, that out of the 50 states, maybe 15 of them actually have a state wide locksmith license. In Canada only 3 provinces have a provincial wide license, and it appears that it actually may be falling apart.

Mostly because of the secrecy factor that so many locksmiths and locksmith organizations try to foster.

Want to get completely around the poppy _ laws about possessing "break-in tools"? If you live in a place that doesn't require licensing, register a business (it's cheap) and start a locksmithing business.

Check befoer you do this to see if there is anything else you need, like local licenses, or insurance.

Overall though, fix the mess from the inside. Don't let the "secret" knowledge turn you into a paranoid twit, and be willing and able to do the work, or to learn how to do it.

Romstar

[D_Shane]

I had the same problem getting on with a locksmith in my area. I mentioned my hobby and tried without mentioning. Finally, after months of applying everywhere, I told the guy I just wanted to get my foot in the door and learn the trade. I'd breakdown old locks and sort the pins, clean the shop, organize whatever ( almost every smith has piles of stuff they don't really want to go through, but don't wanna toss either). Pretty much whatever he needed done that nobody else wants to do, and nothing else if that's what he wanted.

He hired me. After about 2 months he started sending me out with one of his techs on new installs, then onto going on lockouts a few months after that. Now, I get sent out on calls.

Now the cleaning up, and sorting and crap I did at first was a pain. I never cut one key, had no access to any books, ie code books, manuals... but the locks and lock parts that were getting tossed gave me a nice supply to play with. Picking, re-pinning, drilling, impressioning. So it wasn't all bad.

Months later he told me I was the first person he hired with no experience or training. The only reason he did was he didn't think someone would be willing to take the time to do that stuff and not get anything out of it if they were up to no good.
He figured he'd at least get things sorted and cleaned, and if I was pestering him about learning, he could always let me go saying it wasn't working out. But I never bugged him about it, and he could see I wasn't in it for illegal reasons.

Even If he didn't keep me on, I still would have gotten a nice set of practice locks out of it.

[Exodus5000]

Thanks for the tip chucklz, but I go to a small private college, and all the lock servicing here is done by the physical plant.

In my experience thus far, I've basically found that unless you're the offspring of a locksmith or very lucky, you're not going to be able to find an easy way to get into the industry. What it'll come down to for me, and anyone else probably, is that i'll end up waiting till summer rolls around again when I'm not in college, and spending the money to take a course on locksmithing through my local technical college, and basically continue to learn through schools on my own. I won't even begin to bore everyone here with how incredibly inconvenient this will be for me with having to wait 9 months, spending money on a course that I can't afford, and going at things pretty much on my own.

Moral: When I become a locksmith and generate more business than any of the lock shops that have turned me down for work, effectively putting them out of business, you're all free to apply at my lockshop without me hassling you.