Almost 2 out of 3 salaried repairers worked in retail establishments such as department stores, household appliance stores, and fuel dealers. Others worked for gas and electric utility companies, electrical repair shops, and wholesalers. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement Employers generally require a high school diploma for home appliance and power tool repairer jobs. Many repairers learn the trade primarily on the job, while some receive their training in a formal trade school or community college. Mechanical aptitude is desirable, and those who work in customers' homes must be courteous and tactful.
Employers prefer to hire people with formal training in appliance repair and electronics.
Courses in basic electricity and electronics are becoming increasingly necessary as more manufacturers install circuit boards and other electronic control systems in home appliances. Regardless of whether their basic skills are developed through formal training or on the job, trainees usually receive additional training from their employer and manufacturers. In shops that fix portable appliances, they work on a single type of appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, until they master its repair. Then they move on to others, until they can repair all those handled by the shop. They learn to read schematic drawings, analyze problems, determine whether to repair or replace parts, and follow proper safety procedures.