Careers in Woodworking

You look at a chair, a cabinet, a violin, or another object and admire its fine detail. You like the creativity of an artist's work, and the precision of an architect's. You've always been good with your hands, and you don't mind getting them dirty. Woodworking may be the perfect job for you.

Craftspeople who build furniture, or violins, by hand express their artistic skills in functional ways. They get a satisfaction from creating pieces that work beautifully and look like fine art. They are always striving to improve on the tiniest details. Technically, this requires good hand/eye coordination, hand skills, and basic math skills (for measuring and drafting). Temperamentally, it demands enormous patience, since repetition is an important part of the process.

Successful craftspeople (also known as artisans) who work with wood tend to be organized, analytical, and eager to learn more about the field. Those who make and repair musical instruments usually play them (at least casually) and have a love of music.

The Marketplace

The chance to work independently is a major draw for many furniture and violin makers, but reaching a goal of self-employment can take awhile. Earning a living while perfecting one's technique and building one's reputation often requires a "day job" in the field. For furniture makers, this can involve work in a custom furniture, cabinet, or architectural millwork shop. You might find yourself building boats, or performing refinishing and restoration for private individuals or corporate offices. Violin makers find employment in violin making shops, selling, renting, building, and repairing instruments.

Generally, these aren't high paying jobs, but they can provide stability (and in many cases, benefits) on the road to establishing a more lucrative independent practice. The demand is definitely there. Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters, for example, can expect a 15% increase in opportunities nationwide (as projected by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology for 1994-2005).

The Fundamentals

Woodworking requires more than just a natural aptitude for working with wood. Highly skilled craftspeople need highly developed training. For some, apprenticeships provide an alternative to a formal education. Real-world training from a veteran craftsperson can be a valuable experience, but this arrangement also has its disadvantages. The number of such opportunities is small, and the range of experience they provide tends to be limited.

When you go to work with one person, you learn only one style, from a craftsperson whose primary focus is not your work but their own.

There are a few schools with nationally-recognized programs specializing in particular types of woodworking. The advantage to learning a craft this way is that you get the benefit of outstanding instructors whose only responsibility is teaching you. Students at these institutions don't have academic requirements, but part of their education involves interacting with a variety of instructors and other students, as they would in a college or university setting. The advantage is clear: an exchange of experience and ideas an individual simply can't match.

Finding the right school involves asking the right questions: What are the prerequisites for admission? What are the backgrounds of the instructors? What is the size of the classes? What is the placement rate of graduates? It's always helpful to pay a visit while school is in session and talk with current students in the program. Compare costs, including living expenses.

One good place to start your search is the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology. Accreditation insures that schools meet an extensive set of training standards.

The Rewards

Acquiring the fundamental skills of fine woodworking can be a long, dirty, tiresome, and sometimes expensive process. Those who make the investment tend to be people who have always wanted to work with their hands and are passionate about their chosen craft, be it building furniture or musical instruments.

They see learning as an ongoing process, and many spend a lifetime perfecting the same basic design. They value the chance to work for others initially, where they can earn a living while establishing themselves in the field. They look forward to one day becoming their own boss, and to creating beautiful, functional work that will endure for generations.

Provided by North Bennet Street School - www.nbss.org, a non-profit, internationally acclaimed educational institution for fine craftsmanship in Boston. NBSS offers full-time, career oriented programs and short-term workshops in Cabinet and Furniture Making, Violin Making & Restoration, Bookbinding, Carpentry, Locksmithing, Piano Technology, Preservation Carpentry, and Jewelry Making and Repair.