How do I get a job in a leather tannery?

A master tannery and leather tannery is a relatively unusual but quite promising profession. Now in the labor market, you can find many vacancies in this area. In particular, if you consider the offers on the job aggregator Jooble, the site collects most of the current openings from around the country. Don't forget to learn all the ins and outs and how to get a position in the field.

Together with the experts from Jooble Advice Center, we looked closely at working conditions, wages, and how to get the position.

What are a leather tanner and finisher?

Specialist in the tanning and finishing of leather is engaged in preparing raw materials for the further production of various products: clothing, shoes, accessories, and more. Masters are working with:

• drying;
• stretching leather;
• removing from its surface wool;
• smoothing it out;
• treating it in chemicals that give the material its desired color.

A tanner may also work in a factory, cutting and sewing shoes. In addition, some specialists work on the development of leather products. The industry is quite versatile.

What kind of training must you have to get a job in a factory

To get a leather tanner and dresser job, you must have a high school diploma or the appropriate equivalent. Many efficient skills can be learned on the job. For example, this includes the ability to interact with special equipment, knowledge of the clever use of dyes and chemicals, and sewing skills.

Full training in all the necessary skills in a factory often takes no more than a year. Many tanneries prefer to hire someone as an apprentice to work in production under the responsive guidance of other artisans learning all the details of interaction with the material. In this way, companies create for themselves ideal performers who can rise from the lowest position to the head of the department and more.

A few companies also prefer to hire employees with many years of experience in the area as they know the peculiarities and how to interact with the machines.

How to get a job

The ideal candidate for a job in a tannery is a specialist with experience. Many take a job as an apprentice to a real professional to gain experience and learn all the process nuances.

Prospects for employment and career development in the tannery

If a professional manages tanning and leather dressing, he can first get a job in a raw material processing factory. The primary job responsibility is that the employee will create products in large quantities, which will be sent to manufacturers of shoes, accessories, and jackets for sewing.

After the employee learns the whole way of its transformation from a piece of skin into a full-fledged cloth, he can begin to build a career in the factory. Many businesses need workers who know how to interact with leather: stretch it, cut it, stitch it, put it on blanks to create custom pieces. Workers must also practice stamping leather for products using special equipment and extruding logos and letters on it, preserving the integrity of the material.

Some professionals may develop enough skill and knowledge to open their own leather goods store. Others may also open their own leatherworking business, which they will supply to factories that make shoes, clothing, and accessories. This industry provides many career and professional opportunities for true craftsmen who love their job.

The need for these workers has not diminished over time. Although some companies that sell leather goods are looking for alternatives to materials made from animals. This only leads to companies contracting with tanneries to develop a product that looks and feels the same as the natural material but does not suffer animals in its creation.

Working conditions

Artisans in a tannery often have to deal with raw materials, working in an environment with heavy machinery that allows complete preparation of the leather for sewing products. These professionals must clearly know how to work on each machine to carry out quality dressing of the material without any defects. We often have to deal with chemicals in the process, so we should know how to work with them to protect ourselves from dangerous fumes and direct contact with the substances.

Due to the rather dangerous working conditions, masters must wear special protective goggles and gloves at work in certain shops. However, if the employee is engaged in sewing, hardware, and gluing, he works in a quieter and safer environment. He does not come into contact with machinery and complex mechanisms that require high precision and agility.

How much do workers in tannery earn?

On average, tanning and leather craftsmen in tanneries make $50,000 a year. The amount of salary varies depending on the employee's job duties. For example, an employee engaged in the rawhide processing receives less than one who sews shoes and other products from already dressed leather. An employee who designs leather goods is paid even more highly.

Conclusion

The profession of a craftsman in a tannery is quite a promising assignment with decent wages. If you make an effort, get an excellent specialized education, and have other requirements of employers, finding the desired position should not be a problem.