Overview
All Motor Mechanics
-
$1,436 Weekly Pay
-
Stable Future Growth
Small Engine Mechanics
-
1,700 workers Employment Size
-
Medium skill Skill level rating
-
82% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
43 hours Average full-time
-
41 years Average age
-
1% female Gender Share
Small Engine Mechanics maintain, test and repair engines of chainsaws, lawn mowers, garden tractors and other equipment with small engines.
Specialisations: Chainsaw Mechanic, Lawnmower Mechanic, Outboard Motor Mechanic.
You can work as a Small Engine Mechanic without formal qualifications if you are able to demonstrate your technical competency to employers. However, a certificate III in mobile plant technology, outdoor power equipment technology or marine mechanical technology is usually required.
Tasks
- Detects and diagnoses faults in engines and parts.
- Dismantles and removes engine assemblies, transmissions, steering mechanisms and other components, and checks parts.
- Repairs and replaces worn and defective parts and reassembles mechanical components, and refers to service manuals as needed.
- Performs scheduled maintenance services such as oil changes, lubrications and engine tune-ups to achieve smoother running of vehicles and ensure compliance with pollution regulations.
- Reassembles engines and parts after being repaired.
Prospects
The number of Small Engine Mechanics fell over 5 years:
from 2,000 in 2011 to 1,700 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: Small Engine Mechanics work in many parts of Australia. Queensland has a large share of workers.
- Industries: Most work in Other Services; Retail Trade; and Manufacturing.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (82%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 43 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 41 years (compared to the average of 40 years).
- Gender: 1% 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 can work as a Small Engine Mechanic without formal qualifications if you are able to demonstrate your technical competency to employers. However, a certificate III in mobile plant technology, outdoor power equipment technology or marine mechanical technology is usually required.
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 Automotive Retail, Service and Repair and Automotive Manufacturing Sector VET training pathways.
Skills & Knowledge
Employers look for Motor Mechanics who are hardworking with a good work ethic, reliable and provide good customer service.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
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.
-
Economics and accounting
Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Repairing
Fixing machines or systems.
-
Equipment maintenance
Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
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.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Equipment selection
Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Visualization
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Extent flexibility
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
-
Reaction time
Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Depth perception
Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
-
Flexibility of closure
See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
Hearing sensitivity
Tell the difference between sounds.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Working with mechanical equipment
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Working with the public
Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Scheduling work and activities
Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
Providing office support
Doing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Making sense of information and ideas
Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
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, 49-3053.00 - Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics.
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.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Dangerous equipment
Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
-
Indoors, heat controlled
Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Contact with the public
Work with customers or the public.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
Bending or twisting your body
Spend time bending or twisting your body.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Making repetitive motions
Spend time making repetitive motions.
-
Dangerous conditions
Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

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, 49-3053.00 - Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics.
All Motor Mechanics
-
$1,436 Weekly Pay
-
Stable Future Growth
Small Engine Mechanics
-
1,700 workers Employment Size
-
Medium skill Skill level rating
-
82% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
43 hours Average full-time
-
41 years Average age
-
1% female Gender Share
Small Engine Mechanics maintain, test and repair engines of chainsaws, lawn mowers, garden tractors and other equipment with small engines.
Specialisations: Chainsaw Mechanic, Lawnmower Mechanic, Outboard Motor Mechanic.
You can work as a Small Engine Mechanic without formal qualifications if you are able to demonstrate your technical competency to employers. However, a certificate III in mobile plant technology, outdoor power equipment technology or marine mechanical technology is usually required.
Tasks
- Detects and diagnoses faults in engines and parts.
- Dismantles and removes engine assemblies, transmissions, steering mechanisms and other components, and checks parts.
- Repairs and replaces worn and defective parts and reassembles mechanical components, and refers to service manuals as needed.
- Performs scheduled maintenance services such as oil changes, lubrications and engine tune-ups to achieve smoother running of vehicles and ensure compliance with pollution regulations.
- Reassembles engines and parts after being repaired.
The number of Small Engine Mechanics fell over 5 years:
from 2,000 in 2011 to 1,700 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: Small Engine Mechanics work in many parts of Australia. Queensland has a large share of workers.
- Industries: Most work in Other Services; Retail Trade; and Manufacturing.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (82%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 43 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 41 years (compared to the average of 40 years).
- Gender: 1% 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 can work as a Small Engine Mechanic without formal qualifications if you are able to demonstrate your technical competency to employers. However, a certificate III in mobile plant technology, outdoor power equipment technology or marine mechanical technology is usually required.
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 Automotive Retail, Service and Repair and Automotive Manufacturing Sector VET training pathways.
Employers look for Motor Mechanics who are hardworking with a good work ethic, reliable and provide good customer service.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
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.
-
Economics and accounting
Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Repairing
Fixing machines or systems.
-
Equipment maintenance
Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
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.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Equipment selection
Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Visualization
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Extent flexibility
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
-
Reaction time
Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Depth perception
Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
-
Flexibility of closure
See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
Hearing sensitivity
Tell the difference between sounds.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Working with mechanical equipment
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Working with the public
Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Scheduling work and activities
Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
Providing office support
Doing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Making sense of information and ideas
Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
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, 49-3053.00 - Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics.
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.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Dangerous equipment
Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
-
Indoors, heat controlled
Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Contact with the public
Work with customers or the public.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
Bending or twisting your body
Spend time bending or twisting your body.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Making repetitive motions
Spend time making repetitive motions.
-
Dangerous conditions
Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

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, 49-3053.00 - Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics.