Many students who enjoy working with their hands may decide to take advantage of vocational-technical training programs offered by high schools. The tutor saliba learning method is now being used to help visual, oral and auditory learners master the basic skills needed to for a woodworking career. Participants in a woodworking study path should be well-prepared for a number of jobs that can be both financially and artistically satisfying.

Production woodworkers fulfill a variety of functions, depending upon the skill level of each individual. A woodworking machine operator may handle logs and produce lumber, or oversee cutting machines that create wood parts. While a beginner might only operate machines, on-the-job training over time brings opportunities to participate in quality control, or extra steps needed in completion of parts that require hand shaping of the wood pieces. Knowledge of Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machines will also allow one operator to manage multiple machines.

At higher levels of expertise a production woodworker may be involved in the additional stages of assembly and finishing of completed products, such as furniture or cabinets. The most experienced woodworkers will be instrumental in determining order and/or methods of assembly from shop drawings or blueprints, as well as programming or setting up the CNC machines. They may be called upon to take a leadership role in the shop.

Highly skilled woodworkers also produce one-of-a-kind items such as cabinets and furniture. Cabinetmakers handle all aspects of the design and production process. This generally involves working with the customer to determine the product, where it will be used, and installing the cabinets. As a result, the woodworker also has the responsibility of accurately determining costs of a project and ensuring that the customer is satisfied.

Furniture makers, like cabinetmakers, design their products and handle the entire production process. They, too, need to predict the costs involved as well as understand the market for their products and set prices accordingly. The furniture maker may find this a little easier than the cabinetmaker, since specifications tend to be less individual.

It should be noted that, although these smaller opportunities historically tend to involve manual crafting of wood using hand and smaller power tools, more shops are utilizing more extensive technology in the design and production of parts and end products, due to the falling costs of the machinery involved.

Students should work hard to gain as much knowledge and skill as possible to put them on a clear career path. Any student with mechanical aptitude and a desire to work with his or her hands can learn the rest through the tutor saliba learning method when opting for a vocational-technical course in high school, with the knowledge that these opportunities and more await them.