How exactly does one become a card grader

And I thought I was the only one that dislikes PSA.

To answer the OP question I would think IMO that you would have to know your cards and issues. Know the correct grading scale(not PSA's), be able to identify alterations. If applying to PSA just forget all that and only know your cards. If you can't identify them I am sure they have SGC's # on speed dial for help

[Exhibitman]

I suspect the interview process goes something like this:

Joe Orlando: Okay, before we get started, I have one question, has anyone here graded cards before?

Man: (raises his hand) I have experience grading cards.

Joe: Good for you. You can get up too.

Man: What? Why?

Joe: We don't hire graders here, we train new ones. That's it Skippy - pack your $***, let's go. (the man leaves)

Okay, here's the deal, I'm not here to waste your time. Okay, I certainly hope you're not here to waste mine, so I'm gonna keep this short. Become an employee of this grading firm, you will misgrade your first million cards within 3 years. Okay, I'm gonna repeat that, you will misgrade a million cards, within three years of your first day of employment at PSA.

Now you all look sloppyand out of shape, and that's good. Anybody who tells you that third party grading is the root of all evil, doesn't f***ing have any good cards. They say slabbed cards can't buy happiness. Look at the f***ng smile on my face! Ear to ear baby! You want details, fine. I drive a Hyundai. What's up? (he slides his keys across the long boardroom table) I have a ridiculous studio apartment in Anaheim. I have every G.I. Joe toy you could possibly imagine. And best of all, I am liquid to five figures.

So now you know what's possible, let me tell you what's required. You are required to work your F****** A** off at this firm. We want graders here, not pikers. A piker worries about getting every grade right. A piker asks how come there's so much variance between the same grades depending on who is looking at them. Concerns? People come to work at this firm for one reason, to grade cards as fast as we can, that's it. We're not here to get the grades right the first time, we're not saving the f***ing manatees here guys. You want to be consistent graders who care about every grade, go teach third grade at a public school.

Okay, first three months at the firm are as a trainee, you'll make 150 dollars a week. After you've done training, you misgrade some cards, you become a junior misgrader and you're misgrading cards for your team leader. You misgrade forty dozen cards you start working for yourself, the sky's the limit. A word or two about being a trainee, your friends, parents, other graders, they're gonna give you $*** about it, it's true, a 150 a week, that's not a lot of money. Pay them no mind. You need to learn this business and this is the time to to do it.

Once you misgrade enough cards, none of that's gonna matter. Your friends are sh** You tell em you misgraded 25,000 cards last month they're not gonna believe you. F*** them! F** 'em! Parents don't like the life you lead. F** your mom and dad.

Now go home and think about it. Think about whether or not this is really for you. If you decide that it isn't, listen, it's nothing to be embarrassed about. Misgrading cards the PSA way is not for everyone. But if you really want this, you call me on Monday and we'll talk. Just don't waste my f***ing time......Okay, that's it.

[drc]

Much of grading involves authenticating, so I would think quality experience as a dealer, auctioneer or working for an auction house will be relevant. Being a quality card seller on eBay might help.

[Fred]

Adam,

I won't even ask you the process for hiring someone that does the order entry...

The interviewer holds up a picture of a very desirable T206 (won't mention which one) and asks the applicant if they know what it is....of course the interviewee knows what it is, but they deny it anyhow....


In all honesty, I wish there was a board member that is a current grader or former grader so that we could ask them quesitons about their job... I'd really be interested in hearing from people that graded 10+ years ago and within the past 2 years.