I think I figure out what I want to do with life.

[Dr. KillGood]

You know what trade you do, plumbing, electrical, computers or whatnot.

I think I want to be a locksmith but I want your opinions on my decision before I start getting serious about it.

What I *THINK* is good about being a locksmith.
-You are your own boss.
-You can charge $50 to open a lock that took like 5 minutes.
-You can do like 20 easy jobs a day at $50 a pop.
-Picking locks is fun!
-There is no really long lock smithing school besides a community college class or two.
-My dad sells the ads in the phone book so I can get one cheap! (if he is still doing it in 5 years or whatever)

So what do you guys think, do I have a totally wrong idea about being a locksmith? I know this is kind of blog-ish but I don't know where else I would ask this?

[benol]

Uh... Why are you asking us this?

If it's what you love, go for it!

[Dr. KillGood]

Because I have nobody else to ask I figure one of you might know a lockpick or something and know some stuff.

[Valium]

If all that was true, don't you think you'd see a lot more Locksmiths in the workforce, rather than just 1 or 2 in the phone book.

If people got wind of a job that paid over $1,000 a day, they'd be all over it faster than you can say cash. You're overlooking something.

[nightwheel]

The desicion is ultimtely your choice.

But if you think this is what you want to do with your life. Go for if!! If not, well then maybe you'll find another trade you like better like video game making.

[Kurt_]

How about the fact that if there's 3 locksmiths, in addition to OnStar and other companies that can unlock your car or house remotely nowadays, and 20 people a day lock themselves out of their house/car, that means you'll only get 7 jobs a day, which would pay $350 every day.

That's assuming that 20 people every day lock themselves out of something that requires a professional to help them with. How many people do you know who know someone who know someone who have locked themselves out of or something inside or something in the last year? How many of those people needed to call someone to open it for them?

[ghosstt]

it doesn't matter WHAT you do, as long as you love doing it.

[blackbox_dev]

+1 to what Kurt said.

Also, have you thought about how long you would do this? Something tells me that you would get bored of it quickly. If your trying to pick something more long term (not just something you do while high school), choose something that ultimately seems fun to you. Pay is important as well of course, but keep it secondary. Money can't buy happiness, after all.

-iam

[RezCrimson]

I want to be a cyborg, but I don't think that's really a job

[Life of Brian]

I think it's a great idea. I was at a park last spring with friends who locked themselves out of their car and a locksmith saved their rears from a bad situation. We talked with the locksmith for a while and he said it's a great job but pretty random hours. He had a PDA with GPS on it to help him out.

Also, this past summer we needed a locksmith at the RadioShack where I was working. That makes twice in a year that I personally saw someone needing a locksmith, Kurt.

If you live in a fairly big city, you'll get plenty of work. Why not start out working for an existing locksmith company?

[CronoTriggerfan]

Being a tradesman is an honorable career. Just out of curiosity, how old are you? If you're going to get a career in something like locksmanship, I would first get a broader education in a trade and narrow it down to locksman, just to be prepared; you never know where life might take you.

If it's something you're seriously considering, and you're still in high school (or not, you just have to look a bit harder), go talk to your guidance counselor and see if your school offers a vocational program. All the schools around here bus kids to a vocational school for half the day, where they can learn specific trades, and if you're good, they may even set you up with a paid part-time job, all for high school credit. They specify in teaching things like construction, engineering, mechanics, y'know, trades. I'm sure thinking they have programs on locksmanship within those programs isn't far-fetched. Around here, it's worked out so you spend half your day there, and half your day taking normal classes back at your high school.

If you're past high school already, go to college, at least for a bit. Community college is good, just do a year or two. It's best to have a couple credits under your belt, and perhaps an undergraduate degree of some sort. Like I said before, it's best to be prepared in life. After that, you could always attend full-blown vocational school for a year or so where you could learn how to become a locksmith and get set up with an entry-level job. Hope this helps, and good luck making a decision!

CTFan

[Triton]

in a big city what kurt said is more likely than you think (people are stupid) and at that rate you would be making appx 84,000 dollars a year working 5 days a week before taxes

[Dr. KillGood]

You guys are probably right, I should look at more stuff.

I just cant think of much to look at.

[ZN13]

Well my dad has been a locksmith pretty much his whole life, and he loves what he does. He's even taught me a couple things.

I think CTFan got it right with the schooling. Even though my dad's been a locksmith for 20 years, he still has to take a whole lot of classes.

And if you do start your own business, make sure you get your license.

[Dr. KillGood]

Well where did he learn the trade?