With the Growth of Industries Comes an Increased Demand for Electricians

How does one become an electrician? The requirements vary by jurisdiction, of course, but generally, one is required to undergo an apprenticeship program where instruction is combined with practical work experience and training in the field. These usually last for an average of four years, and the work can include both electrical maintenance and construction work. Of course, the theoretical aspect is just as substantial: math, electrical code requirements, and a good working knowledge of blueprints and electrical systems and theory. Safety programs, communications systems, even specified equipment training are sometimes included as an integral part of an electrician’s training period.

Once qualified in terms of the hours of apprenticeship required, and after passing an examination, one becomes qualified to be licensed as an electrician. Overall, the working scenario for an electrician is pretty comprehensive: they would need to be savvy enough to make calculations, operate technical equipment, work within safety limits, and conform to a jurisdiction’s laws regarding electrical systems, while at the same time being physically fit to handle the often rigorous and exacting physical aspect of an electrician’s job.

Such demanding complexity is why electrical work is licensed by the state.  Because the work is so specialized, and so potentially dangerous, this is not a field in which unlicensed novices are encouraged to experiment. When working with electrical systems, wiring, or in setting up a building’s power usage, it is always advisable to call a professional and licensed electrician to do the work he had been trained and educated to do.

Same as roofing, electrical field is also growing in demand worldwide, with the growth of industries and the steady and ongoing construction of various infrastructure. From residential homes, commercial units like buildings and warehouses, to transport terminals, whether new construction needing electrical systems put in place, or old buildings and infrastructure needing electrical maintenance or modern electrical system upgrades, there is a steady stream of work available for licensed and qualified electricians. The demand for, and consumption of electricity is directly proportional to the need we have for qualified individuals to provide us with electrical services.

It is a promising field to enter, career-wise, and in fact there has been a steady increase in the number of individuals who enter apprenticeship programs in order to become licensed electricians.  And because older electricians are also retiring, the increasing need for electrical services in light of infrastructure development has created a great demand in the market. Commanding top prices are electricians with enough years of practical experience, and who also manage to stay updated with recent developments and improvements in the field.

Experience comes with time, but knowledge is the result of ongoing learning and education. It’s pretty obvious that the working environment in which the electricians of today operate are completely different from the kind of work that their predecessors did. While there may be a lot of work available out there for electricians, the competition can also be tough. One is expected to know the tried and true methods of old-fashioned electrical work, but one is also expected to stay updated with the ongoing developments in the field. There is always something new – whether it is new software, new equipment, new methods, or even changes or developments in electrical code regulations. Electricians are expected to be online and tech-savvy just as they are expected to be proficient in the work that they do out in the field. It is a rapidly growing, rapidly evolving area, and qualified electricians are promised plenty of work and good pay, but who are also expected to stay …

Why Being an Electrician is a Good Career Move

If you are thinking about changing careers, or are just embarking into the working world and are wondering what career would be a good choice, you might want to consider becoming an electrician.

There are a number of reasons why being an electrician is a good career move at this time:

  • Electrical work is currently considered a “hot job,” with the demand for qualified electricians rising in the next couple of years. This is due to the expected rise in infrastructure projects, the growing need for alternative energy sources, and the expected retirement of the electricians from the previous generations. If you train as, and become qualified to work as an electrician, you are almost guaranteed never to be at a loss for work
  • Being an electrician is rewarding and fulfilling, with you providing service that everybody needs. Modern society is now almost completely dependent on electricity in practically every aspect of their lives. Electricity is considered a public utility precisely because it is such a necessity. If you work as an electrician, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you are doing work that people need, and delivering service that improves the lives of people.
  • Being an electrician provides options for career advancement. Unlike in some jobs where you can do the same thing at a desk for years and never move up or down the ladder, electricians face the prospect of growth in their career as long as they deliver consistently good work. From being an apprentice to being a licensed electrician or a journeyman, you can still move up to being a master electrician. And then as a master electrician, you can still specialize, or you can teach and have the satisfaction of providing training and education to younger electricians or apprentices.

Why Physical Fitness is Important for Electricians

Electrical work can be quite demanding, and part of the work of electricians may involve lifting heavy objects, climbing to the top of utility poles or tall ladders, or working in a small and cramped space. Most electrical work involves working out in the field, sometimes in harsh weather conditions, all the while dealing with dangerous work and the possibility of being injured, shocked, burned or electrocuted.

This is why physical fitness is important for electricians and should be one of the things a good electrician invests in. It is not simply about diet and exercise; it is also about physical conditioning that allows them to work efficiently at their job. The back is of particular concern to a lot of electricians, as well as having enough leg and arm strength to enable them to lift heavy objects with ease. Some flexibility through stretching may also be helpful to help prevent muscle cramps after a long day’s work.

Physical fitness through physical conditioning should, therefore, be part of an electrician’s routine to help keep them in top condition.

But just as important, and to sustain them through difficult electrical projects and backbreaking work, a bit of downtime is just as essential. Taking substantial periods of rest after particularly demanding jobs, and getting enough sleep, should be a priority, especially for electricians faced with the prospect of a stressful project. Getting enough rest and enough sleep allows an electrician’s batteries to recharge, and keeps them sharp and alert to handle even more work. The importance of this cannot be underscored enough, as a lapse in one’s mental or physical condition could quite possibly lead to accidents and dangerous electrical injuries.

Columbus Ohio Electrician
1550 Old Henderson Rd, Suite 45
Columbus, OH 43220
(614) 340-2458

https://goo.gl/maps/jYnu5wTZHQrUqB6Z7

What Skills Do Electricians Need?

If you’re considering joining the electrician career path, you may wonder whether you have what it takes to become a successful electrician.

There are different requirements for becoming an electrician, which includes at least 144 hours of formal training and around 2,000 hours of apprenticeship rendered under an approved apprenticeship program. These formal requirements are designed to prepare an electrician for every aspect of electrical work, from reading blueprints to code standards under the NEC, and actual hands-on electrical work under the supervision of a master electrician. All in all, it is comprehensive training geared to preparing an aspiring electrician for the work ahead of him, and it does so by helping him develop some necessary skills:

  • Problem-solving skills

Many times, an electrician’s work will consist of identifying the cause of an electrical issue and then resolving it. Starting from something as seemingly innocuous as flickering lights, for instance, an electrician needs to be able to trace the problem back to its source. Even the seemingly simple electrical issues may be a symptom of larger electrical issues that need to be addressed as quickly as possible.

  • Mechanical skills

All electricians are required to have some manual dexterity and mechanical aptitude, whether it be installing a simple socket, repairing faulty wiring, or replacing defective circuit breakers.

  • Mathematical aptitude

An electrician’s work often requires mathematical computations, such as determining the type of electrical installations needed to support specific wattage of electrical equipment. There would also be computations to figure out weight measurements such as in the installation of heavy wall or ceiling fixtures such as lights or fans, as well as measurements of distances, lengths, and heights, and other similar precision work that requires the juggling of numbers.…