Electrician

About my work
I’ve been working as an electrician for quite a few years and I still really enjoy it. It’s good because I’m not stuck in an office – I travel around a lot… it all depends on where the job’s situated. They’ve given me a company van, which is a bonus as well. It’s my responsibility to pick up the other electrician and take them with me on the job.

The type of electrical work we all do depends on our specialist training and experience.
As part of my job I inspect, test and install wiring systems and equipment. That’s because I’m an installation electricians . This involves stripping out the old systems and replacing them with new wiring or sometimes installing a new system. In new buildings I’ll follow architects' drawings showing where the electrical equipment has to be installed. I also have to lift floorboards, bend and cut conduit (metal and PVC piping) and fix equipment to walls.

Other electricians I’ve worked alongside include maintenance electricians. They’re responsible for repairing and maintaining electrical equipment used in factories and large manufacturing or engineering companies.

I’ve also worked with p roduction electricians. They put together electrical and electronic appliances such as electric motors. They work from wiring diagrams, which show how to build the products.

Environment
I normally work a 37- to 40-hour week, Monday to Friday. Sometimes I have to work overtime at weekends or work shifts to minimise disruption to our clients.

I work in a variety of different locations: offices, customer's houses, factories, workshop and outdoors on a building site depending on what jobs have come in.

Highs
Sorting out dodgy wiring – knowing that the customer will now be safe from harm.

Lows
Working in cramped conditions underground

Required Skills

If you want to be an electrician, you should be able to follow technical drawings/instructions, keep up to date with technological developments, be methodical and pay attention to detail, be safety-conscious, physically fit, have normal colour vision, able to work at heights, able to work on your own initiative and make decisions.

How to get there
You must have a relevant NVQ/SVQ qualification at level 3 as a qualified electrician and you will be required to undertake practical work-based experience, most are obtained via an Apprenticeship scheme. These usually take four years to complete and must be finished before the age of 25.

GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) in English, maths, design and technology and science subjects may be requested, although there are no formal entry requirements for an Apprenticeship. An aptitude test and colour vision assessment must also be passed.

You can undertake the technical certificate - City & Guilds Electrotechnical Technology (2330) at levels 2 and 3 - at college if you are not eligible for the Apprenticeship scheme and not working within the industry.

To become fully qualified for NVQ level 3 you will need to gain further work-based experience and part-time training as the certificates cover the theoretical knowledge for the NVQs together with some practical skills, they don’t demonstrate competence within the job itself. As soon as possible after beginning the technical certificates, it is advisable to gain employment with an electrical firm to complete the NVQ.



Home Business & Legal Caring Communication Creative Education Entertainment IT Leisure Public Services Research & Analysis Trades & Industry	Electrician About my work I’ve been working as an electrician for quite a few years and I still really enjoy it. It’s good because I’m not stuck in an office – I travel around a lot… it all depends on where the job’s situated. They’ve given me a company van, which is a bonus as well. It’s my responsibility to pick up the other electrician and take them with me on the job. The type of electrical work we all do depends on our specialist training and experience. As part of my job I inspect, test and install wiring systems and equipment. That’s because I’m an installation electricians . This involves stripping out the old systems and replacing them with new wiring or sometimes installing a new system. In new buildings I’ll follow architects' drawings showing where the electrical equipment has to be installed. I also have to lift floorboards, bend and cut conduit (metal and PVC piping) and fix equipment to walls. Other electricians I’ve worked alongside include maintenance electricians. They’re responsible for repairing and maintaining electrical equipment used in factories and large manufacturing or engineering companies. I’ve also worked with p roduction electricians. They put together electrical and electronic appliances such as electric motors. They work from wiring diagrams, which show how to build the products. Environment I normally work a 37- to 40-hour week, Monday to Friday. Sometimes I have to work overtime at weekends or work shifts to minimise disruption to our clients. I work in a variety of different locations: offices, customer's houses, factories, workshop and outdoors on a building site depending on what jobs have come in. Highs Sorting out dodgy wiring – knowing that the customer will now be safe from harm. Lows Working in cramped conditions underground Required Skills If you want to be an electrician, you should be able to follow technical drawings/instructions, keep up to date with technological developments, be methodical and pay attention to detail, be safety-conscious, physically fit, have normal colour vision, able to work at heights, able to work on your own initiative and make decisions. How to get there You must have a relevant NVQ/SVQ qualification at level 3 as a qualified electrician and you will be required to undertake practical work-based experience, most are obtained via an Apprenticeship scheme. These usually take four years to complete and must be finished before the age of 25. GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) in English, maths, design and technology and science subjects may be requested, although there are no formal entry requirements for an Apprenticeship. An aptitude test and colour vision assessment must also be passed. You can undertake the technical certificate - City & Guilds Electrotechnical Technology (2330) at levels 2 and 3 - at college if you are not eligible for the Apprenticeship scheme and not working within the industry. To become fully qualified for NVQ level 3 you will need to gain further work-based experience and part-time training as the certificates cover the theoretical knowledge for the NVQs together with some practical skills, they don’t demonstrate competence within the job itself. As soon as possible after beginning the technical certificates, it is advisable to gain employment with an electrical firm to complete the NVQ.
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