High school is a good time to begin exploring the occupation of printing press operator. Some schools offer print shop classes, which provide the most direct exposure to this work. Working on the high school newspaper or yearbook is another way to gain a familiarity with the printing process. A delivery job with a print shop or a visit to a local printing plant will offer you the chance to see presses in action and get a feel for the environment in which press operators work. You also might consider a part-time, temporary, or summer job as a cleanup worker or press feeder in a printing plant.
Participate in information interviews with printing press operators and assistants. During such an interview, you will get the opportunity to ask printing professionals about their job duties, work environment, likes and dislikes about their careers, educational training, and other topics that will help you to learn more about the field. Information interviews can be conducted in-person, on the phone, or through video-conferencing technology. Ask your school counselor or a shop teacher to help you set up information interviews. Perhaps you could even job-shadow a printing professional to learn even more about the field.