Is It For You? Electrician is a broad term that covers a diverse range of jobs. The particular work undertaken by an electrician will depend upon his or her own specialist training and experience, although it will involve the installation, maintenance and/or testing of electrical systems, equipment or appliances.
Electricians operate in areas including: telecommunications, health and safety, domestic and industrial electrical installation and maintenance, IT, security, fire and safety systems, portable appliance testing, process control and building management systems.
Many electricians are self-employed or work as contractors, while others are employed by building firms, local authorities, engineering companies, electrical manufacturers and power suppliers. They can work both indoors and outdoors, in residential areas as well as building sites and commercial buildings. Hours of work vary widely, although they are usually around 37-40 hours per week with the possibility of overtime and weekend work. Some electricians are involved in shift work.
Salaries are dependent upon experience and specialisms. The Industry Training Board recommends a rate of around £10 000 for apprentices with £17 000 the average basic starting salary rising to £23 000 + for experienced professionals with 'approved' status.
A career as an electrician may be for you if you:
- Possess Good People Skills(important given that many electricians deal directly with the public)
- Are Confident Working Independently (many electricians are self-employed, and often work unaccompanied. Can you work on your own initiative?)
- Are Practical (electricians should be good with their hands and able to use a variety of tools effectively)
- Are Methodical (with the ability to follow safety guidelines and procedures)
- Are Good at Solving Problems (and able to apply technical knowledge to identify and repair problems)
- Are Physically fit and in Good Health (some work may be strenuous and demand a head for heights and a degree of physical strength. All electricians are required to have normal colour vision.)