Putting "knifemaker" as a prior job on an application?

Robert_Phelps

Robert_Phelps

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Nov 29, 2005
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Do any of you who have been job hunting since becoming a knife maker mention your small business as your current job/previous job on applications? Just curious. I'm tempted to, but I think it may sound silly or seem like maybe I'm too interested in my hobby to do the job I'm applying for. Thoughts?

On a side note... man, when hard times hit a town that already has a bad unemployment rate, you can't buy a job. I went in to apply at a place this morning (the ad was just posted) and their office was full of guys filling out applications. I haven't been able to afford to make a knife in months.

... [/whine]
 
I have done that :) Heck knifemaking has a lot of skills almost any employer could use. I had one guy ask to see a knife and I had to run out to the car during the interview. He looked it over and said he wasn't really a "knife guy" but if I could figure out how to mate steel, brass, and plastic(micarta) together into one useable tool, then I could easliy be trained for anything he needed done. All depends on what job you are applying for. A manufacturing job you may want to show you can use grinders, files, drill presses, torches, and maybe mills. For a "suit" job maybe show how your marketing skills are used selling your knives or how you have watched the market trends to meet customer demand(or anticipate demand). Running a small knifemaking business you wear a lot of different hats. Put the one on that best suits the job you want :)
 
Bill Siegle said:
I have done that :) Heck knifemaking has a lot of skills almost any employer could use. I had one guy ask to see a knife and I had to run out to the car during the interview. He looked it over and said he wasn't really a "knife guy" but if I could figure out how to mate steel, brass, and plastic(micarta) together into one useable tool, then I could easliy be trained for anything he needed done. All depends on what job you are applying for. A manufacturing job you may want to show you can use grinders, files, drill presses, torches, and maybe mills. For a "suit" job maybe show how your marketing skills are used selling your knives or how you have watched the market trends to meet customer demand(or anticipate demand). Running a small knifemaking business you wear a lot of different hats. Put the one on that best suits the job you want :)
Click to expand...

Good point!

Yes, very dependent on what job your looking for. with some, 'Knife-Making' could be used to fill a gap in employment history.

With other apps , it would fit well in the Additional Skills area, or look fantastic worked into a Resume' or cover letter.

Anything requiring a background check, i would not try to blow-smoke if you could not show some sort of income record. There is such a thing as a negative-income, were profits went right into equipment and supplies.

What I guess I am getting at, some jobs fact-check line items.

Kevin Salonek
 
On the other hand, you should list any/all qualifications that will help convince the HR dept that you are the most qualified person for the job. Depends on what the job requirements are that you're applying for.

As a full time knifemaker you must be proficient in: Time management, computer skills (not limited to word processing, spreadsheets, CAD, and budget management), customer relations, possess the unique ability to pay meticilous attention to detail, have excellent communication skills, the ability to communicate on many levels without predijuce and with unique sensitivity to cultural and ethnic backgrounds, beliefs, and lifestyles.

Be proficient in the manufacturing of finished products from raw stock utilizing modern machine tools such as lathes, mills, panograph, bandsaws, drill press, surface grinders (vertical and horizonal), to include various grinders, buffers, polishers and a myrid of hand tools proficiently and in a safe manner that would comply with the strictist OSHA standards as a daily basis.

The leadership skills to make business and personnel decisions, direct and manage workers with dilligence and respect, work collectively as part of a team or individually with little or no guidance, while ensuring that the mission of the organization is accomplished and that your devotion to duty and commitment to mission accomplishment are the cornerstones of your work integrity and work ethic, that is beyond reproach.

(just my thought on the whole Idea).

Good luck with the job search.

John
 
CrowValleyForge said:
Just a question, if I may?

If you have not made a living at it, or claimed income from profit, was it a job?
Click to expand...

I don't know? I think even a really terrible suit salesman that's never sold a suit goes to work at his job. I'm young and new and haven't gotten my name out there, so no I haven't sold but two knives (lost money on both of them). ...However, I work hard on my knives and take pride in them. I sweat and bleed for my knives until they look as good as I can get them. Just because I haven't sold many doesn't mean the concrete under my bench vise doesn't stay wet with my sweat when I have steel and materials to sweat over :)

..I suppose what I'll take from this (other than taking no offense) is that maybe when I've established myself as more of an official business I'll mention it, but not yet. Thank you for the comments.
 
Also,
I agree with what's been said, I think knife making involves scores of skills, hard work sometimes, a delicate touch at others, patience and more. I guess it depends on the industry, I think good folks would see it for what it was, but some knife-scared people may worry over seeing it.
 
I did... but only because they wanted to know specific skills related to the job. If you forge, grind, heat-treat, machine parts.... you've got a pretty broad skill range. Of course you have to be honest about how proficient you are.

AND... otherwise it would look like I hadn't done anything for the previous 5 years. ;)

If you are looking for a job where the skills needed to make a knife aren't needed or at least relevant, I'd probably leave it off.

It is a sketchy area. I have been talking with advisors at a couple colleges lately, and they always get this weird look on their face and ask how you go from being an engineer to a personal trainer to a knifemaker?!?!?

"Bitch, you don't ask how they get the filling in the twinkie, it's just how it is!"

;)
 
Just to input a very different approach as to hiring, and resumes, the Shiloh Sharps Co. in Montana, famous for their quality Sharps reproductions, will not hire anyone, with prior experience, in any gun manufacturing related field. Is that odd, or what? They prefer freshly graduated high schoolers, above all. It is their view, that those types are easier to train to do things Shilohs way, without combating what they, Shiloh, may consider bad habits. At least, this is how it was in the late 80's, early 90's, and, no, I did not apply. This was told to a friend of mine by the owner.
 
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