Overview
All Other Building and Engineering Technicians
-
$2,812 Weekly Pay
-
Very strong Future Growth
Metallurgical and Materials Technicians
-
3,600 workers Employment Size
-
High skill Skill level rating
-
88% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
50 hours Average full-time
-
38 years Average age
-
25% female Gender Share
Metallurgical or Materials Technicians test materials as part of mineral and metal processing and refining, or for research into metals, ceramics, polymers and other materials in support of Metallurgists and Materials Engineers.
Specialisations: Dye Penetrant Testing Technician, Heat Treatment Technician, Magnetic Testing Technician, Metallurgy Laboratory Technician, Non-destructive Testing Technician, Petroleum Products Laboratory Technician, Petroleum Refinery Laboratory Technician, Pressure Testing Technician, Ultrasound Technician.
You need extensive experience, or a certificate IV in manufacturing technology or another related field to work as a Metallurgical or Materials Technician.
Tasks
- Studies the properties of metals and other materials.
- Develops and improves existing materials.
- Develops new combinations of metals (alloy development) and creates products that combine metals with other materials.
- Develops techniques to repair metal damage.
- Advises engineers and manufacturers on industrial processes that use metals and the correct selection of metals for specific uses.
- Checks the quality of metals or other materials used in new products.
- Conducts quality tests and other tests to detect defects.
- Uses ultrasonic, radiographic and other non-destructive testing methods.
- Interprets results from radiographs, meters and other indicators.
- Write evidence briefs for litigation cases and appear as an expert witness in court.
Prospects
The number of Metallurgical and Materials Technicians fell over 5 years:
from 3,800 in 2011 to 3,600 in 2016.
Caution: These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Many Metallurgical and Materials Technicians work in Western Australia.
- Industries: Most work in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Mining; and Manufacturing.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (88%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 50 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 38 years (compared to the average of 40 years).
- Gender: 25% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Pathways
You need extensive experience, or a certificate IV in manufacturing technology or another related field to work as a Metallurgical or Materials Technician.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Metal and Engineering and Resources and Infrastructure Industry VET training pathways.
Skills & Knowledge
Employers look for Building and Engineering Technicians who are hardworking, motivated and can multitask under pressure.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
Biology
Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
-
Economics and accounting
Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Operations analysis
Understanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
-
Mathematics
Using maths to solve problems.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Systems analysis
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
Systems evaluation
Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Management of personnel resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Written comprehension
Read and understand written information.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Written expression
Write in a way that people can understand.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
-
Mathematics
Choose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Working with numbers
Add, subtract, multiply, or divide.
-
Originality
Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Visualization
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Speech clarity
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
-
Brainstorming
Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Flexibility of closure
See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Making sense of information and ideas
Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Explaining things to people
Helping people to understand and use information.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
Giving expert advice
Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
-
Assessing and evaluating things
Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Coming up with systems and processes
Deciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
-
Working with computers
Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 17-2131.00 - Materials Engineers.
Work Environment
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Electronic mail
Use electronic mail.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Indoors, heat controlled
Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Letters and memos
Write letters and memos.
-
Spend time sitting
Spend time sitting at work.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
Lead or coordinate a team
Lead others to do work activities.
-
Responsible for outcomes
Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.
-
Competition
Compete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
-
Consequence of error
Work where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 17-2131.00 - Materials Engineers.
All Other Building and Engineering Technicians
-
$2,812 Weekly Pay
-
Very strong Future Growth
Metallurgical and Materials Technicians
-
3,600 workers Employment Size
-
High skill Skill level rating
-
88% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
50 hours Average full-time
-
38 years Average age
-
25% female Gender Share
Metallurgical or Materials Technicians test materials as part of mineral and metal processing and refining, or for research into metals, ceramics, polymers and other materials in support of Metallurgists and Materials Engineers.
Specialisations: Dye Penetrant Testing Technician, Heat Treatment Technician, Magnetic Testing Technician, Metallurgy Laboratory Technician, Non-destructive Testing Technician, Petroleum Products Laboratory Technician, Petroleum Refinery Laboratory Technician, Pressure Testing Technician, Ultrasound Technician.
You need extensive experience, or a certificate IV in manufacturing technology or another related field to work as a Metallurgical or Materials Technician.
Tasks
- Studies the properties of metals and other materials.
- Develops and improves existing materials.
- Develops new combinations of metals (alloy development) and creates products that combine metals with other materials.
- Develops techniques to repair metal damage.
- Advises engineers and manufacturers on industrial processes that use metals and the correct selection of metals for specific uses.
- Checks the quality of metals or other materials used in new products.
- Conducts quality tests and other tests to detect defects.
- Uses ultrasonic, radiographic and other non-destructive testing methods.
- Interprets results from radiographs, meters and other indicators.
- Write evidence briefs for litigation cases and appear as an expert witness in court.
The number of Metallurgical and Materials Technicians fell over 5 years:
from 3,800 in 2011 to 3,600 in 2016.
Caution: These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Many Metallurgical and Materials Technicians work in Western Australia.
- Industries: Most work in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Mining; and Manufacturing.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (88%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 50 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 38 years (compared to the average of 40 years).
- Gender: 25% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
You need extensive experience, or a certificate IV in manufacturing technology or another related field to work as a Metallurgical or Materials Technician.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Metal and Engineering and Resources and Infrastructure Industry VET training pathways.
Employers look for Building and Engineering Technicians who are hardworking, motivated and can multitask under pressure.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
Biology
Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
-
Economics and accounting
Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Operations analysis
Understanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
-
Mathematics
Using maths to solve problems.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Systems analysis
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
Systems evaluation
Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Management of personnel resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Written comprehension
Read and understand written information.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Written expression
Write in a way that people can understand.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
-
Mathematics
Choose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Working with numbers
Add, subtract, multiply, or divide.
-
Originality
Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Visualization
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Speech clarity
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
-
Brainstorming
Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Flexibility of closure
See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Making sense of information and ideas
Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Explaining things to people
Helping people to understand and use information.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
Giving expert advice
Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
-
Assessing and evaluating things
Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Coming up with systems and processes
Deciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
-
Working with computers
Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 17-2131.00 - Materials Engineers.
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Electronic mail
Use electronic mail.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Indoors, heat controlled
Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Letters and memos
Write letters and memos.
-
Spend time sitting
Spend time sitting at work.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
Lead or coordinate a team
Lead others to do work activities.
-
Responsible for outcomes
Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.
-
Competition
Compete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
-
Consequence of error
Work where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 17-2131.00 - Materials Engineers.