To observe layout workers in action or to talk with them about their jobs, field trips to a metalworking industrial plant may be arranged by a school counselor. Also, you may be able to work part time as a general laborer in a machine shop to observe the jobs of both machinists and layout workers. Take shop classes in school to learn how to use hand and power tools and build and repair things.
Consider joining SkillsUSA, a national membership organization for middle school, high school, and college students who are interested in pursuing careers in technical, trade, and skilled service occupations. It offers competitions that will allow you to test your skills against others, win scholarship funds and other prizes (for some contests), and meet people with shared interests.
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineers
- Advanced Manufacturing Technicians
- Apparel Industry Workers
- Automation Engineers
- Automotive Industry Workers
- Bindery Workers
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Build Reliability Engineers
- Ceramics Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Color Scientists
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Coremakers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Cost Estimators
- Diesel Mechanics
- Drafters
- Drone Manufacturing Workers
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electroplating Workers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Fluid Power Technicians
- Forge Shop Workers
- Furniture Designers
- Furniture Manufacturing Workers
- Futurists
- Glass Manufacturing Workers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Heat Treaters
- Industrial Chemicals Workers
- Industrial Designers
- Industrial Ecologists
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Industrial Radiographers
- Industrial Safety and Health Technicians
- Industrial Traffic Managers
- Instrumentation Technicians
- Internet of Things Developers
- Job and Die Setters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Laser Technicians
- Leather Tanning and Finishing Workers
- Logging Industry Workers
- Logistics Analysts
- Logistics Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Metallurgical Engineers
- Metallurgical Technicians
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Millwrights
- Molders
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Numerical Control Tool Programmers
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Optical Engineers
- Optics Technicians
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Paper Processing Workers
- Pharmaceutical Industry Workers
- Plastics Products Manufacturing Workers
- Precision Machinists
- Precision Metalworkers
- Prepress Workers
- Product Designers
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radio Frequency Engineers
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Integrators
- Robotics Technicians
- Rubber Goods Production Workers
- Sales Representatives
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Silverware Artisans and Workers
- Sporting Goods Production Workers
- Stationary Engineers
- Steel Industry Workers
- Supply Chain Managers
- Textile Manufacturing Workers
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toy Industry Workers
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wood Science and Technology Workers