Upholsterers can be found in industrial settings as well as in small businesses. They typically work with the interior of automotive vehicles, airplanes and household furniture. Working with a variety of fabrics and materials, they make, assemble or repair upholstery. This position involves on-the-job training to become proficient.
When you concentrate on the skills section of your upholsterer job description, you should stress the knowledge that goes beyond the physical aspects of the work. Include specific skills, such as mathematics, reading comprehension, design and blueprint skills, problem-solving and other abilities that can be useful.
Upholsterers may work as part of a team doing piece work or manage each project independently. They should be able to communicate well with peers and supervisors to complete assignments. Take a look at the below upholsterer job description template for other ideas that can help you describe your opening.
Upholsterer Job Summary
Are you interested in learning more about the art of furniture making? Our company is a leader in furniture production, and we are hiring an experienced upholsterer for our home furnishings division. You can have the opportunity to learn more about the craft of upholstery in this full-time position. We offer a comprehensive benefits package to all full-time employees who complete our four-month apprenticeship program. You can also gain knowledge of the latest technology and software used in furniture production. If you are a hard worker who is committed to quality craftsmanship, we encourage you to apply for this exciting position for a chance to join our work family.
Job Responsibilities
- Using power and hand tools, apply and install batting, foam, poly-filler and cut fabric to wooden framework in the assembly of hand-crafted furniture
- Attach finishes, including buttons, trim, tassels and other decorative accessories, to complete orders according to specifications
- Measure and cut fabric or leather pieces with the aid of patterns or stencils and industrial cutting tools to precise sizes and dimensions
- Read work orders and maintain database of production status for communication with outside clients as well as in-house sales managers
- Inspect wooden frame work for defects and make repairs as needed prior to upholstery application and other finish work
- Operate portable hand-sewing equipment, nail guns, hobnail and tack hammers, hot-knife cutters and other industrial equipment
- Determine fabric inventory and place orders with textile partner; provide status updates about fabric availability to clients and managers
- Discuss complications or assembly line slow-downs with supervisors and brainstorm solutions for increased productivity
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- The ability to stand, walk and move for up to eight hours per day
- Previous experience with upholstery or furniture manufacturing
- Must pass criminal background check and drug testing
Preferred:
- Attention to detail
- Must be able to rotate shifts
Upholsterer Job Responsibilities
Upholsterers are responsible for a range of activities, including the repair and replacement of specific types of upholstery, making upholstery for household furnishings or making upholstery for transportation vehicles. These talented professionals may have many of the same skills, but with vastly different experiences. When you write your upholsterer job description, it’s important that your listing clearly describes the type of work employees will perform. Otherwise, you may end up interviewing workers skilled at public transportation upholstery when you really need someone with the talents necessary to repair fine work on antique furnishings.
The job responsibilities section of your upholsterer job description contains most of the meat, but you should limit your content to between six and eight bullet points. This motivates you to stick to the most important of the day-to-day tasks. Begin each point with a strong action verb so that jobseekers can clearly identify the type of work you offer. Your efforts in creating an informative responsibilities section should lead to a higher quality of applicants, as those workers without the right experience will naturally move on to other job postings.
Here are some examples of upholsterer job responsibilities:
- Work with interior designers to coordinate fabrics, furnishings, patterns and colors
- Repair frames, refinish exposed wood and mend fabrics
- Adjust, stretch or replace webbing; replace padding or springs; secure furniture elements
- Attach fasteners, buckles, trim and accessories to vehicle furnishings
- Repair carpets, curtains and window shades of railroad coaches and sleeping cars
Upholsterer Job Specifications
Just as the springs and cushions of a couch work together to provide a comfortable seat, the responsibilities section and the qualifications and skills section of the upholsterer job description work together to improve your choice of applicants. Jobseekers review the responsibilities section to understand the type of work you’re offering, and they use the job qualifications and skills section to determine whether their level of qualification is adequate. The combination of these two segments can provide a filter that reduces the number of unqualified candidates you see.
When writing the credentials section, discuss the most important skills that employees should have with the hiring committee or the supervisor who will be responsible for the employee. Gather examples of the skills that are crucial to the success of the job, and get a list of any qualifications that will boost the applicant’s chance to secure the position. Be sure to distinguish between required qualifications and preferred. Just as unseen details influence the stability and comfort of a couch, your hard work in crafting an effective upholsterer job description affects the success of hiring personnel.
Use the following as examples of effective upholsterer job specifications:
- Working familiarity with tools, such as tack pullers, chisels, mallets and stretchers
- Ability to estimate costs of materials, products and services
- Demonstrable understanding of templates and patterns
- Training in a vocational school or apprenticeship as an upholsterer
- Creativity and communication skills are a must