Apprenticeship as fitter (m/f/d)

The plumber’s job description – his skills are irreplaceable in all companies. For example, he installs electrical systems, supplies the house with water, takes care of ventilation and reduces the need for heating oil. If one of the devices used in the process does not work, he is on hand to repair it.

Tasks of a fitter

Pipe systems, electrical cables, water pipes – all these accessories accompany the daily work of the plumber. Most of the time, he is already involved in the process of building the house. He plans all the necessary installations, organises the materials needed for them and delegates the individual tasks to his employees – if he does not do them himself. The plumber’s organisational talent is considered outstanding: only if he coordinates his schedule with the other construction workers and craftsmen in the house can he carry out his work without restrictions. As a rule, the installer is therefore already in close contact with the architect during the planning of the house.

But the plumber is not only irreplaceable when building a house.He can shine with his expertise in all kinds of pipelines, installations and equipment.Whether laying sewage systems underground, working on an oil rig or irrigating agricultural fields – all these areas of work would hardly be conceivable without the fitter.He welds and screws where different materials have to be joined together to form a large whole.His daily work is therefore comparatively noisy and dirty. Those who work here need physical and mental strength. Not infrequently, the assemblers brave wind and weather. But without their performance, modern society would hardly be conceivable.

But it is not only the ability to work under pressure that is important in this job. Where there is heavy work to be done, you often have to be very careful and cautious.The locksmith is a true master of calculation.He measures the amount of material needed, prepares a cost estimate on this basis and always makes sure in his work that pipes, cables and lines are often aligned with millimetre precision.The plumber’s overall work is hardly comprehensible to many eyes – but in many cases it resembles pure perfection.Only when the water pipe breaks or the toilet does not drain do many people remember the high value of the plumber’s profession.

What training does a fitter need?

It is already possible – and makes sense – to choose a plumbing profession during training. Electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation installers acquire a level of expertise that is not comparable to other trades. It is true that craftsmen trained in other areas can make a lateral entry into the occupational field of plumber or continue their training in this field. However, it is advisable to gain a comprehensive insight into the day-to-day work of an installer as early as possible. Above all, the knowledge of materials imparted cannot be compared to other areas of work in the construction industry – it is more similar to the knowledge of an architect or a physicist. The profession should therefore not be underestimated.

This credo also applies above all to the physical and mental resilience of the installer. He is usually deployed where light, water and heat are not yet present – their installation is rather his task. Working in a team and often under considerable time pressure, he drills holes, lays cables and makes connections, even where no functions were apparent. The modern profession of plumber is also heavily dependent on technical progress. So here, too, it is necessary to always be up to date – to save time and money.

Where do the fitters work?

Apart from the building trade, fitters are mainly employed in industry, in plant and mechanical engineering as well as in automobile and aircraft production. However, a high degree of professional experience is often required in addition to pure technical knowledge, especially for the completion of complex tasks. Those who want to apply for jobs that are not quite commonplace – for example, on an oil rig or laying pipelines under water – should therefore already have the relevant prior knowledge in the desired professional environment. It is therefore worthwhile for fitters to change industries at regular or irregular intervals and to keep learning something new.

Future prospects for fitters

The know-how of fitters can hardly be replaced in construction and industry despite technical progress. Although further development is also making its way into these areas of activity – it simplifies the work of the fitter but cannot take it over completely. For the future, it can therefore be assumed that the fitter – like various other occupational profiles in the craft sector – will continue to have a secure existence in the coming decades. However, it is always important to recognise technical progress as an aid – and to learn the handling of modern tools and equipment as well as the new findings of materials research in a disciplined manner.