Skills Needed to Become a Locksmith

The Skills Needed to Become a Locksmith

To become a successful locksmith, it is recommended that you register with the British Locksmiths Institute, (BLI), which is going to require you to have 2 references and a full disclosure through the DBS. (Disclosure and Barring Service)

Before either going through checks or applying for training, through BLI approved courses, or approaching local locksmiths or franchises, you should be aware of the skills and desires, you’ll need to make it as a locksmith.

1. Practicality and Problem Solving

Locks can be difficult and some are more advanced than others are. As a locksmith, you’re going to be challenged on each call out you receive as you’ll need to understand the inner workings of each lock, in order to remove it with minimum damage and restore the doors with secure locks and replacement keys. You’ll need to be skilled in the development of locking solutions in order to minimize damage caused when replacing locks, as practically as you can.

2. Customer Care and Communication

Working as a locksmith, you should be customer orientated. People are going to be stressed out when they call for whatever they need your service. Sometimes it might be lost or stolen keys, whereas others it could be their locks have been damaged by criminal activity. You’re going to have to be customer orientated and help assure the customers that you have their best interests at heart, and perhaps even explain in a non-technical manner the security steps you’re putting in place for them.

3. Patient and Attention to Detail

As you’ll be dealing with customers during some stressful times, you’re going to need to pay attention to detail with the job you’re doing, while listening to your customers concerns. This can be a frustrating part of the job, but nonetheless, it’s an essential part of your role as a locksmith and putting the needs of your customer first.

4. Problem-Solving

The attention to detail on some technologically advanced locking solutions, can mean you’re going to face some complex security locks, that’s going to need quite a bit of creative and analytical thinking, before removing it, so you can cause the minimal amount of damage, and keep the repair costs to a minimum for your customers.

5. Carpentry and Metalwork skills

An understanding of how doors and windows are installed is necessary so you can minimize the damage caused and sometimes even remove doors and windows, for replacement. Different jobs call for different repair measures, therefore it’s essential that you understand the basics of metalwork and carpentry, so that you can tailor your lock solutions to the materials used for maximum security.

There’s more to being a locksmith than tearing out one lock, repairing or replacing it. You have to understand the surroundings and materials used to secure the lock, tailor solutions to customer needs and assure people that their property is secure.

The job can be demanding, and there’s always going to be a need to help people with both home and vehicle security, therefore having the above skills, and qualified as a locksmith is going to give you excellent job security, by securing people’s property.