Electricians are in demand, with a growing shortage in the UK – so it is a great time to consider a fruitful electrician career path. Electrician’s play an important role in society, helping maintain all the forms of electrical equipment that we use and rely on every day.
From working in a school, home, factory or commercial building, an electrician has a diverse job with no two days being the same, and can expect to travel to many different properties on a daily basis to such tasks as maintain systems and equipment, create circuitry and repair faults.
Duties may include:
- Equipment testing and analysis
- Repairing/replacing wiring
- Writing reports
- Dealing with emergency power outages
- Following architects drawings
- Constructing electrical and electronic appliances from wiring diagrams
- Performing effective troubleshooting to identify hazards or malfunctions and repairing or substituting damaged units
- Preventing breakdown of systems with routine inspections
- Installing safety and distribution components
Desirable skills and attributes:
- Critical thinking and problem solving ability
- Excellent physical condition
- Practical
- Good at following instructions and details
- Adaptable
- Good with heights and combined spaces
- Great customer service skills
- Analytical and mathematical mind
- Dedicated and enthusiastic
Qualifications and experience needed:
There are no minimum requirements to train as an electrician, but becoming a qualified electrician involves taking the City & Guilds diploma in electro technology.
Good GCSE’s will stand you in a good stead, and English, Maths, Physics and ITC are seen as advantageous. Without these, you will be required to take an aptitude test and all applicants will also need to pass a colour vision assessment.
A common route into this profession is via an apprenticeship. Over four years, you will work and study simultaneously, with theory based learning and practical demonstrations of your skills.
Further opportunities:
Once you become a qualified electrician, there will be opportunities to work for a construction company, go into engineering, training, and even setting up your own business. You may also choose to look into gaining a specialism, such as renewable energy sources, which will improve your salary and expertise.
Does this sound like you? For a confidential chat with one of our friendly Construction Consultants at Integra People, please call 01925 875 900 today.
