If you are looking to become a locksmith chances are you’re curious about the skills required to become the best & most successful locksmith you can be.
Our mini-guide includes tips from trading locksmiths letting you know exactly what skills and knowledge is required to succeed as a locksmith key cutting.
Rather than cover the obvious skills such as dexterity and attention to detail, we’re going to tell you skills that working locksmiths use every day in their job.
1. Patience – Not every lock is the same
Patience is the number one and the most common response we hear from our vetted locksmiths.
As a locksmith, you will be picking locks open.
Different manufacturers tolerances mean that the tension used on one lock may not work on the next.
You must have bucket loads of patience to practice, fail, practice again, succeed, and deal with challenges customers present
2. Forward Planning Saves Time
As a locksmith you be required to forward plan, always make sure you have identified what you are working on and when fitting anything always double check the measurements.
3. Wide range of Locksmith Skills
Some locksmiths will have large a skill set to seperate them from the competition, some can open safes, cut key by hand ( helpful for antique keys ), open locked cars and fit security grilles and gates.
We recommend learning a wide range of locksmithing and not just focusing on certain areas as it will separate you from competitors and give you more confidence on a broader scale when jobs are coming in.
4. Make Your Own Tools
A good locksmith is highly adaptable and doesn’t necessarily need expensive tools to carry out their chosen trade but can adapt.
5. Accurate Advice ( on Lock Standards )
Giving the correct advice to secure a business or family’s home also needs responsibility from you to make sure that advice is right.
Keeping yourself up-to date with the latest standards is essential in the locksmith industry.
Things change all the time.
6. Think Outside the box
To be successful you’ll need to be a mechanically minded person that can ‘think outside the box’ on their feet. There is always more than one answer to a problem.
Every time you go to a lock out/failed lock there is always more than one way to solve that problem.
7. Can you set up your own Business?
Locksmithing is not just a skill thats requires you to open doors.
If you go the self-employed route as a locksmith which many do, you will need the skills and knowledge to set up a small business.
8. Invest Time in Learning
Be prepared to invest time into practice to learn new skills and be prepared to spend money on training, stock, advertising, fuel, insurances and all other business operating costs.
9. Problem Solving
When operating a 24 hour Locksmith service you will be faced with many issues with locks and keys and in general.
You will probably not always have the answer to a problem or situation but will need to be able to think on your feet and improvise or adapt quickly to find a solution or fix.
