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How to become an Electrician

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Career progression and salary expectations for an Electrician

Electrician

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The role of an Electrician

What does an Electrician do?

Hate the thought of being stuck in an office all day? Looking to take your DIY skills beyond your living room and on to the next level? If the answer’s yes, becoming an Electrician could be a perfect career move for you.The main role of an Electrician is to install, test, and maintain electrical wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, and fixtures in a range of different properties and businesses. This could be for lighting, power, security or for many other forms of electrical apparatus.The role of an Electrician will also usually include the following:

Assessing plans and planning layout of wiring, equipment and fittings
Installing initial wires (known as ‘first fix’) and connecting them to sockets, light fittings, power supplies and other fittings (known as ‘second fix’)
Fitting fuse boxes and circuit breakers
Testing wiring and other electrical equipment, and fixing any faults found or malfunctioning systems
Laying cables, and connecting computers and other telecommunication networks to power supplies

Is a career as an Electrician right for me?

To be successful as an Electrician, it’s vital that you are a practical person. It is a skilled trade, and you will need highly developed technical skills and a strong attention to detail. Additionally, you will need to be hardworking, dedicated, and able to work well under pressure.It is also important to note that normal colour vision is crucial, as the job will involve distinguishing between a variety of different coloured wires.Other key skills include:

A friendly and approachable manner
Manual dexterity
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
Problem solving, and being able to adopt a methodical approach to working
An ability to analyse technical drawings, and administrative skills (to fill out any necessary paperwork)

What's it like to be an Electrician?

"I started working as an Electrician for a friends business around 10 years ago, and haven’t regretted it for a second. It isn’t your typical 9-5 job, but that’s what I like so much about it. Every day is different, every day is a different challenge, and every day I’m meeting new people. Also, if you put the hours in, and work hard, the money can be great."

Get qualified as an Electrician

To become a fully qualified Electrician, Electrotechnical NVQs Levels 2-3 (2356) will be necessary. This is a work based assessment, and therefore there are no written examinations. However, there are a number of other professional qualifications to help get you started, such as a Domestic Electrician course or Professional Electrician course - which are perfect for any candidates completely new to the industry.

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