Photonics Technicians

Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.

On the job, you would:

Maintain clean working environments, according to clean room standards.
Compute or record photonic test data.
Adjust or maintain equipment, such as lasers, laser systems, microscopes, oscilloscopes, pulse generators, power meters, beam analyzers, or energy measurement devices.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		89%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		81%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		75%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		72%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		71%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		71%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		71%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		70%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		70%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		66%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		64%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		62%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		60%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		52%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
		72%	Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		61%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		61%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
		56%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
		56%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		56%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		56%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		66%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		63%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		63%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		63%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		63%	Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
		63%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		63%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		60%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		56%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		56%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		56%	Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
		56%	Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
		56%	Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
		53%	Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
		53%	Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
		53%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		52%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		52%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.

Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.

Maintain clean work areas.

Conduct quantitative failure analyses of operational data.

Assist engineers or scientists with research.

Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.

Prepare materials for processing.

Design electronic or computer equipment or instrumentation.

Assemble equipment or components.

Create schematic drawings for electronics.

Design electronic or computer equipment or instrumentation.

Develop technical methods or processes.

Assemble precision electronics or optical equipment.

Install instrumentation or electronic equipment or systems.

Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.

Operate industrial equipment.

Assemble precision electronics or optical equipment.

Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.

Maintain electronic equipment.

Fabricate devices or components.

Create physical models or prototypes.

Assemble precision electronics or optical equipment.

Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.

Maintain electronic equipment.

Assemble precision electronics or optical equipment.

Design alternative energy systems.

Fabricate devices or components.

Monitor the productivity or efficiency of industrial operations.

Analyze test or validation data.

Document design or operational test results.

Prepare procedural documents.

Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.

Create physical models or prototypes.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		93%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		88%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		87%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		86%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		84%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		80%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		74%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		71%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		70%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		68%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		66%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		65%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		64%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		64%	Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
		61%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		56%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		55%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		54%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		54%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		53%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		52%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		70%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		80%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		78%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		77%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		74%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		73%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		70%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		70%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		68%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
		68%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		67%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		65%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		64%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		61%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		60%	Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
		58%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		58%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		55%	Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment - Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
		55%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		54%	Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
		54%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		53%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		53%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		53%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		52%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Getting Started

Education:

32%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

16%

Some College Courses

Photonics Technicians

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

Getting Started