Locksmiths incorporate the skills of a carpenter, mechanic, machinist and safety expert during the course of their work. There is a subset of locksmith skills that has always generated a great deal of interest from the general public: beating locks! Locksmiths study how various locking devices work, and through that study, they learn to overcome those locking mechanisms. These are the best kept trade secrets among locksmiths. The knowledge that even apprentice locksmiths possess is sufficient to overcome the most common security measures. For this reason, locksmiths are often rigorously selected by their mentors before they are offered an apprenticeship.
Locksmiths are somewhat defined by the customers for whom they work. Your specific skills, depending on your market, can vary greatly. Locksmiths who specialize in residential services often spend much of their time equipping new construction with locks and repairing and replacing old and broken systems. Most residential locksmiths also offer at least some light automotive locksmith services like cutting new keys and opening locked slotenmaker deventer.
Commercial locksmiths provide their skills primarily to corporate and government customers. Today's commercial locksmiths are often trained and experienced in handling sophisticated electronic equipment. Those who specialize in electronic security often work to maintain large facilities where security is a major concern.

Among the most respected locksmiths are those who work in safes. The locksmith skills required to work with safes and vaults require many years of study to master. These locksmiths are often called when a safe, for some reason, cannot be opened. These skilled trades people, with enough time, can open almost any device without damaging the content. Sometimes they can also "break" a safe without damaging the locking mechanism. This ability is nothing like the way it is portrayed in movies. Mastering the art of secure cracking requires knowledge of many different safes, metallurgy, the operation of very powerful and complex drilling equipment, electronic devices, and much more.
Many locksmiths are self-employed and have a very independent existence. Because the skill is so specialized, there are few opportunities for "personal" locksmiths. These independent locksmiths often work odd hours, opening doors in the middle of the night for stranded owners and drivers, and installing security systems during off-peak hours.
Locksmiths are required to obtain different types of licenses, depending on where they work. Locksmiths are also traditionally "bonded", which is a legal means of ensuring their reliability to their customers. Traditionally, locksmiths undergo an apprenticeship, although many have received training through an employer or attending a trade-specific school.