Exploring the Career Field of an Electrician?

Answer 1

Electricians are responsible for connecting, assessing and repairing systems that use electronics in both residential and commercial building structures. This can include minor repairs of small electronic components such as appliance plugs to major electrical systems used for the entire electricity throughout a building. In today's world electricians are important for insuring the functions people depend on such as lights, climate-control, heat, security systems, and many other electronic components within the home and commercial businesses.

Working Conditions

Depending on whether an electrician chooses to work within the construction industry or in a maintenance and repair industry will determine the working conditions in which they are subjected to. For example, a construction electrician will need to have the ability of lifting heavy materials such as large rolls of conduit wiring. They may also need to have the ability to work at high levels and over their head for extended periods of time. This is especially true for people who work for utility companies and vertical construction businesses.

Maintenance and repair electricians will need to have the ability to troubleshoot problems without a great deal of supervision or assistance available to them. Most of these electricians work in areas such as rental properties, factories and hospitals.

All electricians need to have the ability to stand on their feet for extended lengths of time. Practical thinking is another great skill that one must possess when quick thinking is needed. All electricians must also have the competency and training to operate testing equipment such as oscilloscopes, ohmmeters and voltmeters.

Educational Requirements

Most workers enter the field by first working through an apprenticeship program designed to give them the training and experience for various electrical tasks. These programs are designed to allow the worker the ability of gaining these skills which will make them successful when they venture into career positions on their own.

It is also possible to earn the education necessary for working as an electrician through a traditional college or university as well. These courses focus more on using book studies combined with volunteer work experience on projects in which the college participates in within the community. Both educational opportunities prepare the student for completion of their licensing exams and are beneficial to the future electrician's career.

Career Opportunities

Electricians tend to work in either the construction industry or in maintenance and repair. This accounts for approximately seventy-five percent of licensed electricians who are currently working according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The remaining 25 percent of licensed electricians work in a variety of areas including small electronic repair and computer electronic services.