Working as an electrician in the UK is an exciting career with a great deal of potential for progression. It can be an incredibly rewarding career and also very enjoyable.
Being an electrician is a fantastic way to have a job that is different every day and that allows you the freedom to work in a number of different settings and industries.
What Does an Electrician Do?
Electricians will encounter a wide range of tasks within a professional capacity. If you are going to become an electrician, you may decide to specialize in different areas of expertise. Those might include becoming a maintenance electrician, becoming an installation electrician, or training as a machine repair electrician.
These different roles involve a range of tasks that may see you working in homes, within businesses, or in various industrial settings.
Qualifications for Electricians
In order to begin working as an electrician, you will first need to obtain an industry-recognised level 3 qualification.
Some people decide to do this by first embarking upon a course of study, whereas others will enter the profession through an apprenticeship. Regardless of the route into the industry, it is to be expected that it will take between two and four years to qualify fully.
Students will be expected to attend an inspection & testing course during the process of becoming an electrician, and it is imperative that a pass mark is achieved.
It is not uncommon that a student will enroll in an introductory electrical installation course before moving ahead with their level 3 qualification journey. This is simply a good way to develop a foundation of knowledge that will later be improved and enhanced.
Desirable Skills and Abilities
Working as an electrician is not all about technical skills and understanding. It is also helpful if a person naturally possesses certain abilities.
Being able to pay close attention to detail and being able to organise well are valuable skills for any electrician to have. The job will often involve complex issues that need to be fully understood in order to resolve them successfully. Only by paying close attention and processing this information will an electrician be able to fully resolve a problem.
It is also incredibly beneficial to be a strong communicator with good people management skills.
Depending on the area you wish to work in, you might find that you have to interact with customers daily. Being able to communicate well with these people will help you diagnose issues and manage expectations as you undertake your work.
Furthermore, it can be helpful if you are physically fit and able. This is due to the physical aspects of the job.
Working as an Electrician
Once you are a fully qualified electrician, you can then set about working in the industry. The majority of electricians will work independently or as a part of a small team. However, jobs in larger corporate settings certainly do exist.
You will soon discover for yourself that this is a fantastic choice of career and one you will enjoy for many decades to come.
