What You'll Do

  • Fit and study garments on customers to determine required alterations.
  • Sew garments, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
  • Measure parts, such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines.
  • Take up or let down hems to shorten or lengthen garment parts, such as sleeves.
  • Let out or take in seams in suits and other garments to improve fit.
  • Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
  • Remove stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or razor blades.
  • Record required alterations and instructions on tags, and attach them to garments.
  • Examine tags on garments to determine alterations that are needed.
  • Fit, alter, repair, and make made-to-measure clothing, according to customers' and clothing manufacturers' specifications and fit, and applying principles of garment design, construction, and styling.

Essential Skills

Time Management 3.12/5
Active Listening 3.0/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.88/5
Monitoring 2.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.75/5
Reading Comprehension 2.62/5
Active Learning 2.62/5
Coordination 2.62/5
Service Orientation 2.62/5
Complex Problem Solving 2.62/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cautiousness, Perseverance, Innovation

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Visualization 3.88/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.88/5
Finger Dexterity 3.88/5
Near Vision 3.75/5
Oral Comprehension 3.62/5
Control Precision 3.5/5
Manual Dexterity 3.12/5
Oral Expression 3.0/5

Technologies & Tools

ArbelSoft TailorMax Bookkeeping software Garment design software Google Docs Inventory tracking software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Word Tailor Master

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.75/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.44/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.04/5)
  • Perseverance (High importance: 3.79/5)
  • Innovation (High importance: 3.75/5)

Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

Similar Careers to Explore

Sewers, Hand

98.5% similar profile

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

98.4% similar profile

Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

98.1% similar profile

Photographers

98.0% similar profile

Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

97.9% similar profile

Paperhangers

97.8% similar profile

Patternmakers, Wood

97.8% similar profile

Model Makers, Wood

97.6% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Alteration Tailor Alterations and Tailor Shop Fitter Alterations and Tailor Shop Sewer Alterations Associate Alterations Expert Alterations Sewer Alterations Specialist Alterations Tailor Appliquer Bridal Designer Bridal Gown Fitter Cloth Cutter Clothing Busheler Clothing Cutter Clothing Pattern Designer Coat Baster Coat Cutter Coat Maker Coat Tailor Collar Cutter Collar Setter Collar Tailor Collar Turner Corset Fitter Couture Dressmaker Crocheter Custom Dressmaker Custom Garment Tailor Custom Sewer Custom Tailor Drapery Maker Drapery Seamstress Dress Cutter Dress Fitter Dressmaker Dressmaker Garment Fitter Embroiderer Embroidery Machine Operator Embroidery Specialist Embroidery Worker Fancy Needleworker Fitter Fur Finisher Seamstress Fur Tailor Furrier Garment Cutter Garment Fitter Garment Sample Stitcher Hand Alterations Seamstress Hand Alterations Tailor Hand Loom Weaver Hat Trimmer Industrial Seamstress Lacemaker Laceworker Merchant Tailor Pants Cutter Pants Maker Purse Maker Quilt Maker Quilter Retail Alterations Tailor Sample Stitcher Seamstress Seamstress Fitter Sewing Specialist Shop and Alteration Tailor Shop Tailor Slip Cover Maker Slip Cover Seamstress Slip Cover Sewer Suit Maker Surgical Garment Fitter Tailor Tailor Fitter Tailor Garment Fitter Top Collar Baster Top Collar Maker Try On Baster Under Baster Undercollar Maker Underliner Underwear Cutter Vest Maker Waist Cutter

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.