Reprographic assistant

In your day-to-day duties you may:

• take customer orders
•  help prepare designs and layouts for print runs
•  work out timescales, costs and the number of copies required
•  programme instructions into copying, scanning and printing equipment
•  make sure machines have suitable levels of inks, chemicals and toners
•  mount printing plates, if working on a press, and line them up correctly
•  monitor the progress of the copying run and quality check samples
•  finish copied items by trimming, binding or laminating
•  perform basic equipment maintenance and cleaning
•  record job details and order supplies

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
• design skills and knowledge
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• analytical thinking skills
• observation and recording skills
• the ability to work well with your hands
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

With experience, you could become a departmental supervisor or production controller.

In a print shop, you could become a shop manager.