- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- design skills and knowledge
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to work well with your hands
- knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
- knowledge of maths
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- the ability to analyse quality or performance
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
You'll work mainly with wood but you'll also use metals, plastics and other materials. Your day-to-day tasks could include:
- working out what to do from technical drawings
- cutting and shaping materials with hand and machine tools
- creating designs for furniture on paper and on computer
- estimating the quantity and type of materials needed
- assembling items
- adding parts like brackets, hinges, handles and locks
- applying finishes like polishes and varnishes
- restoring antiques or repairing damaged furniture
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in a workshop or in a factory.
With experience, you could become a workshop supervisor or quality control inspector. With further training, you could move into furniture design.
In larger firms, you could work in estimating, retail buying, sales or training.
You could also start your own business and specialise in hand-crafted furniture or restoring antique items.
You can find out more about craft careers from Discover Creative Careers.
