How to become an Electrician.
Job Description of an Electrician
Electricians are persons who are responsible for the provision and maintenance of Electricals and lighting systems. They act as installers and repairers, for fitting appliances and wiring, to finding faults. You may begin your career as an apprentice or trainee, and will learn on the job skills alongside classroom based education. Electricians are generally expected to be helpful, and willing to work at short notice in sometimes dark or cold conditions, and capable of remaining calm in stressful situations. The hours depend on the duration of the job. Being an Electrician is a good job for many people, but the key traits to have are to be calm under pressure, honest, analytical and willing to work until a solution is found. A head for heights is usually desirable.
Entry Requirements
Many Electricians start life as trainees or apprentices, or gain qualifications and then find employment. If you study for a City and Guilds level 3 NVQ, you will learn both the text based and hands on skills required of an Electrician. You can then apply this in real life in the workplace, or become an Electricians apprentice for further experience, or to excel in a specific field such as lighting or PAT testing. Starting out as an apprentice is usually low paid, however it will give you more experience alongside your studies.
Responsibilities and duties
Standard duties include safe, swift and accurate diagnosis of problems in electrical systems or circuits, installing or removal of components such as ovens, lighting circuits and sockets. Drawing plans and schematics to show how a system will be installed and work. Repairing issues such as faulty wiring, resetting surge protectors and replacing fuses. You may also be responsible for fitting whole new wiring systems.
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Working hours
These may vary depending on the duties and job you are doing. Some firms may employ you on a set shift answering calls or going to pre booked appointments. However others may require you to be available as and when required, and if an emergency situation arises you may find yourself responsible for a job during the night or on weekends. Most Electricians work 8 hour shifts, regardless of the type of call out. If you are a self-employed Electrician then you have the option to take emergency calls or just carry out routine tasks.
Skills and Training Development
Electricians can expect to progress through their careers by improving skills and knowledge. You could study towards additional qualifications in any vocational area to improve prospects, although a pay rise often correlates with time service. Gaining certification to carry out additional duties such as PAT testing can help you increase your salary. Studying about energy saving and efficiency advice could assist you in getting a promotion or offering you further opportunities for employment.
How to Become an Electrician
Once you have acquired all of the relevant qualifications you can start out as a self-employed Electrician on your own, although until you have had some good experience on the job it is more straightforward to work for a company alongside others who can assist you. As this is a very popular career, many electrical companies do not advertise apprenticeships and you may therefore need to approach them directly by talking to electrical companies and following up by submitting a CV and impressive covering letter.
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Average Electrician Salary
The average salary for an apprentice Electrician is £8,000 PA.
The average salary for a qualified Electrician is £17,000 PA.
The average salary for an Experienced Electrician is £30,000 PA.