Overseas Locksmiths
Training for a locksmith to work overseas can be intense. Some of the levels include Certificate II in Engineering, Certificate III in Locksmithing, and Engineering Technology Diploma. These are primary courses that provide training throughout Australia and overseas.
The course duration for security technology is two years at two nights a week. The student must already have an existing trade qualification or be a minimum of 25 years of age.
London has an impressive locksmith company that has been established since 1784. Bramah manufactures locks for domestic and commercial use. The company is an affiliate member of the Master Locksmiths Association, which you will find is a well-known association for the trade. The Bramah locksmith services go so far as to include a free security survey. The company employs five locksmiths.
Some overseas employers require a locksmith to have experience as an apprentice and a National Certificate in Locksmithing. You’re also required to be clear of any dishonest criminal convictions involving prison time! A locksmith must have a clear record for the employers or businesses to be willing to trust the locksmith and the company with which they are associated.
Having a background in security is helpful when obtaining a locksmith job overseas. Mechanical engineering, technology knowledge, woodworking skills, basic welding skills, and conference attendance are all helpful to secure an overseas locksmith position. Health and safety training may also be necessary for any locksmiths who work on construction sites.
Ideas for places to work as a locksmith abroad include New Zealand, Canterbury, Australia, Wellington, and Auckland. The pay for an overseas locksmith can be as high as $50,000 a year depending on experience, qualifications, and age. Businesses overseas that employ locksmiths are much like those in the United States. Some of these include banks, motels, hospitals, and the auto industry.
If you’ve considered an overseas job as a locksmith, research the challenges to make preparation easier. Shot records, visas, transportation, foreign languages, health care, living arrangements, and time away from family are all things that need to be determined and considered. What will you do for money until the first paycheck? Where will you stay? It could be the adventure of a lifetime as long as you go into it with an understanding of the situation and the decisions you’ll need to make.
If you’ve never worked overseas, it may help you become somewhat acquainted with the area you’ve chosen (or that has been chosen for you). Take a trip to the local library or check into any information you can acquire online. Going into a new place blindly can be too much of a culture shock and may only result in stress that could be avoided. Preparation is the key to success!
A locksmith must travel to some degree, even in the United States, but the roads and streets in a foreign country may be more difficult to navigate. Overseas driving is more of a challenge than what Americans face on their own soil, especially if you aren’t familiar with the locals’ habits. Addresses, phone numbers, and maps will become as important to you as the equipment used in your trade. If the employee eventually leads you back to the United States, there are sure to be plenty of stories to share with friends and family!
