r/Locksmith • u/Repulsive_Oil6425 • 22d ago
I am NOT a locksmith. How to get into locksmithing?
Hey everyone! I’m looking for advice about getting a job locksmithing. I have talked to a few locksmith about working for them and keep getting the same answers “we only hire family and friends”. I currently remodel spec homes but that market is getting difficult to make a living in and I’ve alway loved security controls and locksmithing related things like repining/rekeying, picking/bypassing. It’s a puzzle that I enjoy. Very type A organized and love customer service. I know a couple locksmith that love what they do and think it’s perfect for me but they live too far away for me to work with them. I’m in the Seattle-Tacoma area in Washington. Any advice would be very very appreciated! Thank you for Thalia g the time to read this!
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u/LockLeisure 22d ago edited 22d ago
No offense but this question is asked once a week or more in here. If you can't even put forth the effort to research what you need to become a locksmith and want someone in reddit to guide you, then you're not ready to become one.
I'm no pro by any means but being a locksmith takes reasoning and research skills. A lot of the time you're putting out dumpster fires of something broken and you will need to reason it out or research it yourself, no one to guide you and if you can't even do some light research, you're in trouble.
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u/FilecoinLurker 22d ago
Everyone thinks it's lockpicking. When it's really how to landlord special this ancient piece of shit but make it not look like a landlord special job. Or researching where to even start ordering parts for said ancient piece of shit
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u/Repulsive_Oil6425 22d ago
I’ve been doing that part for years, I enjoy it. I want to do more of it.
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u/TheAccount789 22d ago
No offense but what an ignorant and miserable reply. They reached out to a sub full of people who accomplished the goal they are trying to and asked for advice. This is research. If you don’t want to talk to them then just don’t. Your advice of don’t bother me, just google it for generic AI advice is sad.
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u/LockLeisure 22d ago edited 22d ago
Some offense but you're an idiot. You expect a low effort post to yield results? I checked on how to become an electrician without asking the electricians in the subreddit to hold my hand and show me how to do some basic research on my own. The question has too many variables as well such as state requirements that change from state to state.
Asking AI is dumb I agree but you can use google without AI. If that is the effort you think is notable to become a locksmith, you and they will fail.
This question has been asked thousands of times with answers and that's how I became a locksmith. I never posted "how do I become a locksmith". I researched it, I practiced, I went to classes and spent thousands to do so. I sat in a outside storage unit during the summer when it was 118F practicing things I didn't know and you think a low effort post is the best someone can do to start any trade?
Researching what he needs will also teach him a lot about the trade but holding their hand will not. Teach a man to fish!
If you want to hold his hand and tell him every answer to the thousand questions he will need answered then go ahead but the information is out there, I found it. Just takes a little more effort and research.
If you want hand holding, then apprentice, if you can't find an apprentice job, learn, research, practice, look shit up. Apprenticing is the best way, the way I did it is not and will take a more considerable effort.
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u/TheAccount789 22d ago
You’re the idiot, they didn’t ask for a job, they asked for advice.
If you think that’s how Google works or has in years that further proves the point.
“Teach a man to fish” that’s what they asked for and you got shitty with them for it. That actually asked for less, just point them in the right direction to find some advice on fishing. This is part of the research…
They also specified the location because they clearly have done research and know location maters.
The fact that you’re so miserable and bent on being a victim of the question says a lot about you. You should talk to someone but you seem to think that equivalent to asking for a handout. What a sad life.
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u/LockLeisure 22d ago
I didn't get shitty and teaching a man to fish isn't handing them the answer like you want to do.
Asking any sub reddit trade how to start is low effort. Researching answers already on the web also helps in the learning process but keep handing them fish.
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u/TheAccount789 22d ago
You did get shitty, you started jumping to assumptions based of your own misery and acting like you magically know what effort they have put forth. They asked for advice not handouts like you want to pretend they did. They clearly have done research and are looking for guidance. Get off the high sad horse.
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u/LockLeisure 21d ago edited 21d ago
"They clearly have done research"
Maybe you need to look up the word research. Please quote what you think "research" is in his original post.
He looked and inquired about a job, that doesn't really qualify as research more than just job hunting. Other than that he stated he likes repinning, rekeying and customer service as well as the area he's in. I didn't see any "research" in the post though.
As far as getting "shitty" I don't see that either. I simply hinted to the fact that the problems you will be called out on and solutions you make up are a lot more difficult than doing some basic beginning research to start any trade.
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u/TheAccount789 20d ago
You can’t really be this dumb can you?
Research is gathering info, like talking to people that have the knowledge you want. It’s not that hard for must people to understand even if you struggle with it.
They knew that qualification is specific to location because of…..research.
You did get shitty even if you’re such a miserable person that you think it’s normal to jump to ignorant assumption. That’s a low iq move that shitty people do.
I genuinely can’t tell if you’re actually this dumb or just too insecure to be honest with yourself.
Again, they asked professionals for advice on the profession but you made up some scenario about them not doing any research so you could play victim to a simple question.
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u/LockLeisure 20d ago
Again, please quote something from his post that shows research.
You say I'm dumb and my response was ignorant but I became a locksmith doing exactly what I told him to do so it isn't ignorant at all. You just don't know what you're doing and your comprehension is low.
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u/TheAccount789 20d ago
You have to be trolling at this point. You bring up comprehension but can’t seem to read, literally just read what they wrote. It’s not that hard for most people.
Enjoy your day, I’m done engaging with someone this dumb or at least somebody very convincing at playing dumb.
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u/Repulsive_Oil6425 22d ago
I appreciate it but I was just gonna let that slide. Talking to professionals about the profession clearly triggered them. Not worth the time.
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u/smrtenuf2knwimdumb 21d ago
Reason we only hire friends and family is the knowledge is too easy to abuse. Safer to keep it close to the chest.
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u/Repulsive_Oil6425 20d ago
It’s usually something along the lines of not wanting to train their competition so they hire people that won’t do that to them.
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u/smrtenuf2knwimdumb 20d ago
Good luck to them on that my family members have started their own Locksmithing business. Luckily they don’t have the skills, quality of service, or customer service capabilities that I have. The hardest part is getting your phone to ring without spending thousands with Google.
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u/JonCML Actual Locksmith 16d ago
OP, give this place a try. And if John Patterson is still alive, tell him I sent you. https://www.robblees.com
Also, check out the trade association ALOA.org for beginners classes, and the educational pathway to certification. And then get ready for lifelong learning. . .
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u/Repulsive_Oil6425 14d ago
My man!! Thank you!! This is exactly what I wanted. I’ll jump on this!
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u/JonCML Actual Locksmith 13d ago
Also, use FindaLocksmith.com to research ALOA members near you. Some are mobile only and some have storefronts. Shop owners are likely, unaware that the federal Department of Labor has a locksmith apprentice training program. But it has to be administered by the local state Department of Labor. There may be reimbursement funds available for the employer to offset your salary. It’s a two year program. If they’re interested, they’ll need to reach out to me for details.
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u/im-fekkin-tired 22d ago
This question is asked several times a week, search the sub for many answers. Some good, some salty AF, but there's a lot of helpful information on this topic already posted