A yard worker is responsible for landscaping and using the necessary equipment to ensure the surroundings of a building are safe and visually appealing. Duties can range from mowing the lawn, trimming topiaries, or designing outdoor landscape layouts. Skills include staying in peak physical condition as you may be using heavy equipment and doing manual labor daily. Many employers look for years of experience in landscaping, or an associate degree as a landscape architect. Basic qualifications you need include knowledge of plant life, experience in trimming, watering, and irrigation system installation, and laying concrete.