Signs You Might Like Working as a Machinist
If you are looking for your first job or need a career change, consider CNC machining. It is a growing field that is facing a shortage of qualified workers. The older machinists are nearing retirement and that is going to leave a lot of jobs open. A career as a machinist is more than just a job—it is a long-term career that you can live and raise a family on. Review the signs you might like working as a machinist and decide if it’s for you.
Love of Creating Things
If you get a certain satisfaction from creating something from nothing, this is the career for you. Many machinists find joy in taking a chunk of metal and turning it into something useful and practical. Machinists create useful parts and tools every day.
Pay Attention to Details
A CNC machinist must have great attention to detail. The machines make items with strong precision—measurements are in thousandths of an inch. Details are everything in this industry.
Enjoy Working with Computers
You love working with computers and the challenges they pose. Machinists often need to troubleshoot when things go wrong with the machines. Think of it this way—CNC machining mills and lathes are a combination of old school tool making and modern computer code writing.
Strong Work Ethic
Working in a machine shop is not always easy. Days can be long, dirty, and greasy. The job requires mental and physical strength to set up the machines and deal with problems that arise.
Team Player
There are many people and moving parts in a machine shop. As such, it is important to be a team player and foster healthy relationships with your peers. There will be many times you have to rely on your coworkers.
Ability to Adapt
In any job, things can go wrong, and accidents happen. Your ability to adapt and adjust to adversity is what will make you a successful machinist. Not everything goes to plan all the time, so being able to work on the fly will help.
Good Problem-Solving Skills
While you may make plans set them into motion, there’s always the chance of a broken machine, material shortages, and other problems. One of the hallmarks of a good machinist is being able to solve problems efficiently and quickly.
Excellent Time Management
Your employer will likely expect you to get a lot of work done day in and day out. If you work in a fast-paced shop, you will have to manage your time effectively to get everything done. As such, you’ll need to review your assigned tasks and look for places to shave some time off to increase your productivity.
