subject: How To Land Your First Electrical Job [print this page] As the election campaign intensifies, all three of the main political parties claim that science, technology and engineering should be key drivers of the economy. With each party committing itself to supporting these industries, it looks like working in engineering or electrical jobs could be the career paths most likely to boom in the coming years.
If you want to consider a career that is potentially future-proof, why not look into getting your first electrical job.
Qualifications and experience will certainly set you ahead of the pack, however there are some transferable skills you can work on to further improve your chances of landing your first job in the electrical industry.
Working as an electrician requires practical skills; you must be good with your hands and able to use a variety of tools effectively. You should be methodical; it's important that you can follow safety guidelines and procedures. You should be independent; many electricians are self employed and are often required to work unaccompanied and use their own initiative. Being personable is vitally important; electricians must deal with customers regularly. You should be a good problem solver; electricians must use their technical knowledge in applying proven techniques to install and repair electrical systems and equipment. Finally, it's helpful if you are physically fit; some of the work may be strenuous and involve working at heights or require physical strength.
With those skills in place, there are two career paths open to you; you could consider an electrical apprenticeship. Alternatively you could gain an electrical qualification such as an NVQ.
There are various opportunities open to those seeking to work in electrical jobs. Electricians are in high demand across a range of organisations, including electrical and building firms, electrical manufacturers, hospitals, power generating and supply companies and engineering firms. There are opportunities for promotion too in a range of supervisory and management positions in all areas of electrical work.
This can be considered a future-proof career path because as long as there is electricity, there will be a demand for electricians.
