Electricians

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Also known as:
Chief Electrician, Control Electrician, Electrical Maintenance Worker, Electrical Sign Wirer, House Wirer, Licensed Electrician, Lighting Fixture Installer, Marine Electrician, Master Electrician, Solar Photovoltaic Electrician

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ABOUT ELECTRICIAN CAREERS

Video transcript

For years after Edison invented the light bulb, people wouldn't buy a lamp unless it could use both electricity and gas. Most assumed electricity in the home was just a fad, and they wanted to be prepared for the return to gaslight.

Today, of course, civilization depends on electricity and on the men and women who splice the wires and install the switches to make the electricity flow.

The work of electricians is as varied as the uses for electricity itself. Some work for electrical contractors and specialize in new construction. Others work for public utilities and highway departments. Still others work in assembly, industrial, and manufacturing plants, and many are self employed.

Wherever they work, electricians must be extremely safety-conscious. And they need excellent color vision to properly connect color-coded wires. They must be able to follow a blueprint and most important of all - be able to perform their work according to national, state, and local building codes.

Far from being a passing fad, electricity now runs the world. That's why there will always be jobs for trained electricians, regardless of where they want to work.

SNAPSHOT

Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

Leadership	HIGH
Critical decision making	HIGH
Level of responsibilities	HIGH
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines	HIGH
Dealing and handling conflict	LOW

Competition for this position	HIGH
Communication with others	HIGH
Work closely with team members, clients etc.	HIGH
Comfort of the work setting	HIGH
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions	MED
Exposure to job hazards	LOW
Physical demands	HIGH

Daily tasks

Maintain current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations.

Advise management on whether continued operation of equipment could be hazardous.

Fasten small metal or plastic boxes to walls to house electrical switches or outlets.

Construct or fabricate parts, using hand tools, according to specifications.

Perform business management duties, such as maintaining records or files, preparing reports, or ordering supplies or equipment.

Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.

Perform physically demanding tasks, such as digging trenches to lay conduit or moving or lifting heavy objects.

Direct or train workers to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.

Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.

Repair or replace wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.

Install ground leads and connect power cables to equipment, such as motors.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Getting Information	Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material	Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Handling and Moving Objects	Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

Building and Construction	Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Mechanical	Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics	Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

English Language	Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Design	Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Public Safety and Security	Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Customer and Personal Service	Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Administration and Management	Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

TOP SKILLS

Troubleshooting	Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing	Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Active Listening	Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Judgment and Decision Making	Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Critical Thinking	Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Installation	Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

Monitoring	Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Speaking	Talking to others to convey information effectively.