Electricians hold extremely technical jobs. Their skills enable them to work in hazardous situations, as working around electricity and devices that have high voltage can be quite dangerous. A lot of tasks are at the hands of an electrician. This individual may work for a particular business, where they maintain and repair equipment and electrical systems for that employer. They also conduct overhauls according to changing codes and regulations.
Residential electricians are the ones you call on during home renovations and other needs. They can serve the electrical demands of new construction or visit to troubleshoot and resolve any power and wiring problems in the home. Telecommunications electricians are responsible for laying out the cable and other equipment for communications systems, including phone and computer wiring. The skills any of these professionals possess include:
Mechanical Aptitude
Many electricians find their passion at a young age, by taking stuff apart just to see how it works. They can also put things back together. If these skills come naturally, one may have what it takes to understand the mechanical nature of electrical systems. Mechanical aptitude is a major skill that is needed to be a successful electrician.
Problem Solving
Electricians are often responsible for figuring out the nature of a problem themselves, with no outside help. Most complete an apprenticeship. After that, they’re independent and have the skills to understand an electrical problem. It’s not only the primary solution they need to be familiar with; one must also weight the pros and cons of alternative solutions to the problems at hand.
Reading Comprehension
This may seem like a basic grade-school skill, but electricians do a lot of their work through written communications. Work orders may come through paper or email. One not only has to interpret these orders, but also write summaries of their own work and explain all details of the job. Explaining one’s methods is important if they work with other electricians on a project.
Customer Service
The ability to interact with customers and other people is important. An electrician can hold a variety of different positions. If they work for a company, they have to communicate with managers and other individuals. An electrician who conducts repairs and helps with home renovations must be able to discuss the specifics of a project with a customer, in a way that they can understand.
Business Skills
Many electricians are independent contractors and must acquire business skills to get by. They must be able to plan ahead and master tasks such as invoicing, tracking inventory, and even supervising other electrical technicians, apprentices, and employees.
Electrical training in South Africa is overseen by the Electrical Contractors’ Association. The standard governing education for running a successful electrical contracting business is SANS 10142-1. If you’re looking for a top electrician to fix a problem or be part of your home renovations, look for adherence to this standard and search our diverse directory of local contractors.