From School Into a Job - Furniture
IF I LEAVE SCHOOL TO WORK IN FURNITURE, WHAT SORT OF JOB COULD I GET?
You are most likely to be employed in one of these jobs:
CABINET MAKING APPRENTICE
Making pieces of furniture out of raw timber using a range of wood working equipment and machinery. This can include the use of Computerised Numerically Controlled machinery (CNC) and Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) for use in CNC machines.
FURNITURE FINISHING APPRENTICE
Applying finishing coats and stains to articles of finished furniture and furniture components.
UPHOLSTERY APPRENTICE
Sewing and cutting fabric for making articles of upholstered furniture. You could also be involved in constructing the frames for furniture and manufacturing the complete articles.
When leaving school and learning the skills of the trade, you will hold Apprentice/Trainee status and will be working under direct supervision.
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS OR EXPERIENCE DO I NEED TO GET A JOB IN FURNITURE?
While NCEA Level 1 (or equivalent) Maths and English are seen as an advantage by most employers. Students who have taken wood technology and gained furniture Unit Standards will have an advantage. Employers also look for:
- Proven work habits
- Positive attitude and motivation to achieve and improve work skills
- An eye for detail
- An ability to think three dimensionally
- Mental and physical ability
- Physical fitness
- Willingness to do further training
You can improve your chances of getting a job and your career prospects by having school qualifications and a good employment history, even in after-school or holiday jobs.
WHAT TRAINING AND CAREER PROGRESSION IS AVAILABLE IN FURNITURE?
Many employers offer training plans to further your development in the industry. The training is managed by FITEC and is mainly delivered on-the-job.
For specific qualification information, look in National Qualifications on this website.
Level 2 National Certificates
Level two qualifications provide the first level of education within the Furniture Industry. At this level you will:
- Use basic hardware in furniture making.
- Demonstrate knowledge and characteristics of timber
- Use adhesives
- Conduct measurements and calculations for furniture making.
- Use a variety of hand tools
Some high schools also offer Furniture programmes, which deliver some units of the Level 2 National Certificates.
Some employers offer Modern Apprenticeships. You could be eligible for a Modern Apprenticeship if:
- You are 16 to 21 years old when you start
- You meet the entry requirements for the industry
- You are ready to work towards a National Certificate at Level 3 or 4.
- Once you have completed Level 2, you can go on to other levels (whether or not you are in a Modern Apprenticeship), such as the Level 3 National Certificate.
As part of the programme, your employer commits to your Modern Apprenticeship, making sure that your training happens and helping with the cost. FITEC also covers some of the cost of the training and makes sure that the highest standards are maintained.
FITEC has Training Advisors who help set up the Modern Apprenticeship by putting your programme and achievement milestones together, then support you through it.
Level 3 National Certificates
Level three qualifications provide the second level of education within the Furniture Industry. At this level you will:
- Gain skills in setting and operating various machine tools such as sawing, sanding, boring, edge bander and thicknesser machines
- Assemble furniture components
- Recognise and construct working drawings.
At Level 3 you will be preparing for any one of the job-based qualifications at Level 4, according to your interests and abilities. There are a range of hands-on roles in furniture for for which there is a recognised qualification at Level 4. While training for level three qualifications you will hold Apprentice/Trainee status and can expect to be under general supervision. You will have significant responsibility for the quantity and quality of outputs and may on occasion be responsible for others.
You are most likely to be employed as an Apprentice/Trainee in one of the following jobs:
CABINET MAKING
Making pieces of furniture out of raw timber using a range of wood working equipment and machinery. This can include the use of Computerised Numerically Controlled machinery (CNC) and Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) for use in CNC machines.
FURNITURE FINISHING
Applying finishing coats and stains to articles of finished furniture and furniture components.
UPHOLSTERY
Sewing and cutting fabric for making articles of upholstered furniture. You could also be involved in constructing the frames for furniture and manufacturing the complete articles.
Level 4 National Certificates
At this level, employees are experienced in the furniture industry and will have a good grounding toward fulfilling career opportunities available once Level 3 and/or Level 4 qualifications have been achieved.
Some of these roles include:
FURNITURE MAKER / CABINET MAKER
- Leading Hand (after 4–5 years)
- Supervisor (after 5–6 years)
- Machine Shop / Assembly Section Foreman (after 7–8 years)
- Factory Supervisor (after 9–15 years)
- Company Manager (15+ years)
FURNITURE FINISHER (POLISHER)
- Supervisor
- Foreman
- Company Owner/Manager
UPHOLSTERER FOR A SMALL COMPANY
- Trades Person
- Supervisor
- Owner/Operator
UPHOLSTERER FOR A LARGE COMPANY
- Leading Hand
- Supervisor
- Factory Manager
- Company Manager
Level 5 National Certificate
There are numerous career avenues for qualified and experienced operators at this level.
Some of these roles include:
FURNITURE MAKER / CABINET MAKER
- Joinery
- Kitchen Making
- Shop Fit-outs
- Coach Building (campervans, mobile homes)
- Marine Interiors (boats, launches, super yachts)
- CNC (computerised wood machining)
- Design (furniture, house interiors, boat interiors)
- Craft Furniture Maker (life style / hand crafted, one-offs)
- Own Furniture Business or Managing for Someone Else
- Sales Representative for Furniture Making Machinery, Tools, Hardware, Fittings, Abrasives and Adhesives
- Furniture Retailer
- Teaching (school technology teacher)
UPHOLSTERER
- Furniture Upholstery
- Marine Upholstery
- Tents, Tarpaulins and Other Fabric Products
- Motor Trimming
FINISHER
- Furniture Finisher
- Automotive Spray Painter
- Boating Industry
From School to Polytech - Furniture
WHAT POLYTECH QUALIFICATIONS CAN I GAIN IN FURNITURE?
Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology runs one week Furniture Making block courses that provide Unit Standards towards Level 2, 3, 4 and 5 Furniture qualifications. These courses usually augment training already being received by Apprentices/Trainees within the Furniture sector. Some could also be used to gain entry into the Furniture Industry at initial entry level.
A pre-trade course in Furniture which will provide some theory and practical furniture making skills is available at the following education providers:
- Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology
- Unitec Auckland
- Manukau Institute of Technology
- Universal College of Learning, Palmerston North
WHAT TRAINING AND CAREER PROGRESSION IS AVAILABLE IN FURNITURE?
Many employers offer training plans to further your development in the industry. The training is managed by FITEC and is mainly delivered on-the-job.
For specific qualification information, look in National Qualifications on this website.
Level 2 National Certificates
Level two qualifications provide the first level of education within the Furniture Industry. At this level you will:
- Use basic hardware in furniture making.
- Demonstrate knowledge and characteristics of timber
- Use adhesives
- Conduct measurements and calculations for furniture making.
- Use a variety of hand tools
Some high schools also offer Furniture programmes, which deliver some units of the Level 2 National Certificates.
Some employers offer Modern Apprenticeships. You could be eligible for a Modern Apprenticeship if:
- You are 16 to 21 years old when you start
- You meet the entry requirements for the industry
- You are ready to work towards a National Certificate at Level 3 or 4.
- Once you have completed Level 2, you can go on to other levels (whether or not you are in a Modern Apprenticeship), such as the Level 3 National Certificate.
As part of the programme, your employer commits to your Modern Apprenticeship, making sure that your training happens and helping with the cost. FITEC also covers some of the cost of the training and makes sure that the highest standards are maintained.
FITEC has Training Advisors who help set up the Modern Apprenticeship by putting your programme and achievement milestones together, then support you through it.
Level 3 National Certificates
Level three qualifications provide the second level of education within the Furniture Industry. At this level you will:
- Gain skills in setting and operating various machine tools such as sawing, sanding, boring, edge bander and thicknesser machines
- Assemble furniture components
- Recognise and construct working drawings.
At Level 3 you will be preparing for any one of the job-based qualifications at Level 4, according to your interests and abilities. There are a range of hands-on roles in furniture for for which there is a recognised qualification at Level 4. While training for level three qualifications you will hold Apprentice/Trainee status and can expect to be under general supervision. You will have significant responsibility for the quantity and quality of outputs and may on occasion be responsible for others.
You are most likely to be employed as an Apprentice/Trainee in one of the following jobs:
CABINET MAKING
Making pieces of furniture out of raw timber using a range of wood working equipment and machinery. This can include the use of Computerised Numerically Controlled machinery (CNC) and Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) for use in CNC machines.
FURNITURE FINISHING
Applying finishing coats and stains to articles of finished furniture and furniture components.
UPHOLSTERY
Sewing and cutting fabric for making articles of upholstered furniture. You could also be involved in constructing the frames for furniture and manufacturing the complete articles.
Level 4 National Certificates
At this level, employees are experienced in the furniture industry and will have a good grounding toward fulfilling career opportunities available once Level 3 and/or Level 4 qualifications have been achieved.
Some of these roles include:
FURNITURE MAKER / CABINET MAKER
- Leading Hand (after 4–5 years)
- Supervisor (after 5–6 years)
- Machine Shop / Assembly Section Foreman (after 7–8 years)
- Factory Supervisor (after 9–15 years)
- Company Manager (15+ years)
FURNITURE FINISHER (POLISHER)
- Supervisor
- Foreman
- Company Owner/Manager
UPHOLSTERER FOR A SMALL COMPANY
- Trades Person
- Supervisor
- Owner/Operator
UPHOLSTERER FOR A LARGE COMPANY
- Leading Hand
- Supervisor
- Factory Manager
- Company Manager
Level 5 National Certificates
There are numerous career avenues for qualified and experienced operators at this level.
Some of these roles include:
FURNITURE MAKER / CABINET MAKER
- Joinery
- Kitchen Making
- Shop Fit-outs
- Coach Building (campervans, mobile homes)
- Marine Interiors (boats, launches, super yachts)
- CNC (computerised wood machining)
- Design (furniture, house interiors, boat interiors)
- Craft Furniture Maker (life style / hand crafted, one-offs)
- Own Furniture Business or Managing for Someone Else
- Sales Representative for Furniture Making Machinery, Tools, Hardware, Fittings, Abrasives and Adhesives
- Furniture Retailer
- Teaching (school technology teacher)
UPHOLSTERER
- Furniture Upholstery
- Marine Upholstery
- Tents, Tarpaulins and Other Fabric Products
- Motor Trimming
FINISHER
- Furniture Finisher
- Automotive Spray Painter
- Boating Industry
From School to University - Furniture
WHAT ROLE IN FURNITURE COULD I GET WITH A UNIVERSITY QUALIFICATION?
There are very few roles that can be gained through initially attending University. Usually University qualifications are gained once within the Industry to assist with a particular career path. For example, Business Management for someone who became a shop owner or manager.