Summary. We reviewed real candidate profiles to learn the best path to become an operator. We'll guide you through the education, experiences, and skills hiring managers look for in an operator.
Common job titles before becoming an operator include cashier, customer service representative, and sales associate.
Hiring managers expect an operator to have soft skills such as communication skills, visual ability, and mechanical skills.
Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of less than 1 month of job training to become an operator.
Getting a certification as a OSHA Safety Certificate will help you to earn more as an operator.
To become an operator, you typically do not need formal education.
We found that 22.4% of operators have graduated with a bachelor's degree and 1.9% of people in this position have earned their master's degrees. While some operators have a college degree, you may find it's also true that generally it's possible to be successful in this career with only a high school degree. In fact, our research shows that one out of every two operators were not college graduates.
The operators who went onto college to earn a more in-depth education generally studied business and general studies, while a small population of operators studied criminal justice and computer science.
If you're interested in becoming an operator, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 22.4% of operators have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 1.9% of operators have master's degrees. Even though some operators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
It'll be a good idea to develop operator skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in operator job descriptions:
Skills | Percentages |
---|---|
Safety Procedures | 15.28% |
CDL | 6.49% |
Emergency Calls | 6.05% |
Preventative Maintenance | 4.36% |
Quality Checks | 4.23% |
Operators spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new operators learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as an operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real operator resumes.
Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a certification, having one may help you stand out in an application. Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. We determined the most common certifications for operators. The most common certification is OSHA Safety Certificate , but Forklift Safety and Inspector is also frequently seen in operators resumes.
When you decide to become an operator, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most operator jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:
Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.