3 answers
Macario
Student
1
Question
Asked
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Career questions for electricians
1. Can you tell me about the types of tasks you are responsible for on a day-to-day basis?
2. What do you enjoy most about your career?
3. What is most challenging about your career?
4. What are some skills and personality traits necessary to perform your job?
5. What are some misconceptions about your career?
6. What is your pay like
7. What are most environment you deal with
8. What is the easiest part of your job
9. Was being an electrician what you wanted to do, if so why
10. What are 3 things you find difficult when working as a electrician
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3 answers
Robert Reese
Electrician
1
Answer
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Updated
Robert’s Answer
Hi! Great questions.
1. Over my 30 year career as an electrician, my daily responsibilities varied.
Working on construction, daily responsibilities include bending and installing raceway (conduit, cable-tray, cable support), identifying conductors, etc.
Working as an electrician during manufacturing production includes correcting issues that hinder production, such as touching up points on robot programs, fixing photo-eyes, proximity switches, motors, identifying issues and fixing them.
The daily responsibilities change.
2. The change in daily responsibilities is what I like most about the job.
3. It's a lot of physical labor on a daily basis to be a good electrician. Injuries must be avoided, because there is not time to heal while working. It's unlikely that you can work 30 years without being injured, which is the most challenging part of the career.
4. Personality traits that make an effective electrician include: curiosity, self motivation, attention to detail.
5. I think the biggest misconception people have about electrical careers is that people might think... I honestly don't know what other people think about electrical careers.
6. My pay as an electrician is an exchange of time for money. Early in the career, more time is needed for the money. After a couple decades, when you are a licensed master electrician, you have knowledge that makes you more valuable per hour of time. But, you will always have to trade hours of your labor for the money. It's always difficult to earn a healthy living early in your career, but after you're a master electrician, you can earn a healthy living. Keep in mind, that you will always be knowledgeable and useful regardless of your income.
7. The environment that I am usually working in is either where things are broken or being built. Many electrical systems are in basements, or where there are low quality environmental controls. It's often noisy during production, and hearing protection can be required for years while working. It's often hot or freezing cold. Personal protective equipment includes the clothes that you wear. Safety glasses are a requirement in every facility I've ever worked in. If it's dark, you have to supply your own light. I've always carried a flashlight.
8. The easiest part of my job is being received. There is always opportunity for work.
9. I have always wanted to be an electrician since I was a kid. I didn't realize until I was an adult that I could literally pursue the career. I guess, because I didn't have a definition of what an electrician was. I just wanted to poke big machines with probes and stuff, like Scotty on Star Trek.
10. Three (3) things I find difficult as an electrician...
01. Solving the puzzle. The word "difficult" can be replaced with "challenging". It's important to put words into perspective. Some troubleshooting can be challenging, but that's the job.
02. Communicating effectively. Dealing with people and dealing with the nomenclature of the electrical code and engineering drawings requires a diverse vocabulary. Some people that you may deal with during your career are simple and like small words. Lamacoid labels over display screens that you have to create or over push buttons that you have to install should be simple and easy to understand and consistent with the engineering drawings, schematic diagrams, ladder logic descriptions, and electrical code requirements, which may have different descriptions for the same thing. It's important and challenging to understand everything that you can about an electrical system.
03. I'd say the most challenging part of being an electrician being strict. It's an important aspect of the career. The stricter you are, the more successful you will be.
Thank you for the great questions!
Read as much as you can.
Identify the legislation in your state that specifies your licensing requirements to do electrical work.
Read that actual legislation in your state.
1. Over my 30 year career as an electrician, my daily responsibilities varied.
Working on construction, daily responsibilities include bending and installing raceway (conduit, cable-tray, cable support), identifying conductors, etc.
Working as an electrician during manufacturing production includes correcting issues that hinder production, such as touching up points on robot programs, fixing photo-eyes, proximity switches, motors, identifying issues and fixing them.
The daily responsibilities change.
2. The change in daily responsibilities is what I like most about the job.
3. It's a lot of physical labor on a daily basis to be a good electrician. Injuries must be avoided, because there is not time to heal while working. It's unlikely that you can work 30 years without being injured, which is the most challenging part of the career.
4. Personality traits that make an effective electrician include: curiosity, self motivation, attention to detail.
5. I think the biggest misconception people have about electrical careers is that people might think... I honestly don't know what other people think about electrical careers.
6. My pay as an electrician is an exchange of time for money. Early in the career, more time is needed for the money. After a couple decades, when you are a licensed master electrician, you have knowledge that makes you more valuable per hour of time. But, you will always have to trade hours of your labor for the money. It's always difficult to earn a healthy living early in your career, but after you're a master electrician, you can earn a healthy living. Keep in mind, that you will always be knowledgeable and useful regardless of your income.
7. The environment that I am usually working in is either where things are broken or being built. Many electrical systems are in basements, or where there are low quality environmental controls. It's often noisy during production, and hearing protection can be required for years while working. It's often hot or freezing cold. Personal protective equipment includes the clothes that you wear. Safety glasses are a requirement in every facility I've ever worked in. If it's dark, you have to supply your own light. I've always carried a flashlight.
8. The easiest part of my job is being received. There is always opportunity for work.
9. I have always wanted to be an electrician since I was a kid. I didn't realize until I was an adult that I could literally pursue the career. I guess, because I didn't have a definition of what an electrician was. I just wanted to poke big machines with probes and stuff, like Scotty on Star Trek.
10. Three (3) things I find difficult as an electrician...
01. Solving the puzzle. The word "difficult" can be replaced with "challenging". It's important to put words into perspective. Some troubleshooting can be challenging, but that's the job.
02. Communicating effectively. Dealing with people and dealing with the nomenclature of the electrical code and engineering drawings requires a diverse vocabulary. Some people that you may deal with during your career are simple and like small words. Lamacoid labels over display screens that you have to create or over push buttons that you have to install should be simple and easy to understand and consistent with the engineering drawings, schematic diagrams, ladder logic descriptions, and electrical code requirements, which may have different descriptions for the same thing. It's important and challenging to understand everything that you can about an electrical system.
03. I'd say the most challenging part of being an electrician being strict. It's an important aspect of the career. The stricter you are, the more successful you will be.
Thank you for the great questions!
Robert recommends the following next steps:
Uran James
Electrician and architecture engineering
7
Answers
Mexico City, Mexico
Updated
Uran’s Answer
1. **Daily Tasks:** My day-to-day tasks involve installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical systems in industrial settings. This includes wiring panels, troubleshooting machinery, and ensuring everything meets safety codes. Some days, I’m working with high-voltage systems; other days, it’s small but critical repairs to keep operations running.
2. **Most Enjoyable Aspect:** What I love most is the problem-solving aspect. There’s a sense of accomplishment when I troubleshoot an issue that’s shutting down production, fix it, and see everything running smoothly again.
3. **Most Challenging Part:** The physical demands and working in tough environments can be challenging. Climbing ladders, crawling through tight spaces, and working in extreme temperatures are all part of the job.
4. **Necessary Skills & Traits:** Strong analytical skills, patience, and attention to detail are crucial. You also need physical endurance and confidence when handling electrical components under pressure.
5. **Common Misconceptions:** Many assume electricians only deal with wiring and light fixtures, but it’s much more complex. We work with advanced systems, automation, and even programming logic controllers in industrial settings.
6. **Pay:** Compensation varies based on experience, certifications, and specialization. Industrial electricians generally earn well, especially with overtime and specialized training.
7. **Work Environments:** I work in factories and plants, often dealing with loud, fast-paced environments where electrical failures can cause major downtime. Safety is always a priority.
8. **Easiest Part:** Once you have experience, routine maintenance and minor repairs become second nature. You learn to anticipate issues before they escalate.
9. **Career Choice:** I didn’t always see myself as an electrician, but once I got into the field, I realized how rewarding it is. The hands-on work, problem-solving, and stability made it the right choice for me.
10. **Three Difficult Aspects:**
- Navigating a male-dominated field and proving my skills.
- Working with live electrical systems, which requires absolute focus.
- Handling emergency calls at odd hours.
**A Lesson on Safety:** Early in my career, I had a close call. I was working on a panel that was supposed to be de-energized. A coworker hadn’t properly locked it out, and when I went to work on it, I felt a surge of electricity travel through my hand. Luckily, I reacted quickly and let go, but it was a terrifying moment that reinforced why double-checking safety procedures is non-negotiable. From that day forward, I never assumed a system was safe until I tested it myself.
Being an electrician is tough, but it’s also one of the most fulfilling careers out there. Every day brings a new challenge, and every solution brings a sense of accomplishment.
2. **Most Enjoyable Aspect:** What I love most is the problem-solving aspect. There’s a sense of accomplishment when I troubleshoot an issue that’s shutting down production, fix it, and see everything running smoothly again.
3. **Most Challenging Part:** The physical demands and working in tough environments can be challenging. Climbing ladders, crawling through tight spaces, and working in extreme temperatures are all part of the job.
4. **Necessary Skills & Traits:** Strong analytical skills, patience, and attention to detail are crucial. You also need physical endurance and confidence when handling electrical components under pressure.
5. **Common Misconceptions:** Many assume electricians only deal with wiring and light fixtures, but it’s much more complex. We work with advanced systems, automation, and even programming logic controllers in industrial settings.
6. **Pay:** Compensation varies based on experience, certifications, and specialization. Industrial electricians generally earn well, especially with overtime and specialized training.
7. **Work Environments:** I work in factories and plants, often dealing with loud, fast-paced environments where electrical failures can cause major downtime. Safety is always a priority.
8. **Easiest Part:** Once you have experience, routine maintenance and minor repairs become second nature. You learn to anticipate issues before they escalate.
9. **Career Choice:** I didn’t always see myself as an electrician, but once I got into the field, I realized how rewarding it is. The hands-on work, problem-solving, and stability made it the right choice for me.
10. **Three Difficult Aspects:**
- Navigating a male-dominated field and proving my skills.
- Working with live electrical systems, which requires absolute focus.
- Handling emergency calls at odd hours.
**A Lesson on Safety:** Early in my career, I had a close call. I was working on a panel that was supposed to be de-energized. A coworker hadn’t properly locked it out, and when I went to work on it, I felt a surge of electricity travel through my hand. Luckily, I reacted quickly and let go, but it was a terrifying moment that reinforced why double-checking safety procedures is non-negotiable. From that day forward, I never assumed a system was safe until I tested it myself.
Being an electrician is tough, but it’s also one of the most fulfilling careers out there. Every day brings a new challenge, and every solution brings a sense of accomplishment.
Wilson Bailey
Electrician
9
Answers
Salt Lake City, Utah
Updated
Wilson’s Answer
1. Most electrical construction work is about installing or maintaining power and lighting circuits. Then you can get into alarms and control circuits for more technical work. Or service work installing something in a finished building. Very hands on tasks include running conduit, pulling wire, terminating lights and switches, installing transformers, panels, breakers, etc.
2. I like troubleshooting controls, it's more technical and involves problem solving and critical thinking skills. I also like the craftsmanship part and making it all look good.
3. It can get monotonous on big jobs where you have to run miles of conduit. The work environment can be pretty rough too if you're outside in the heat running underground pipe.
4. Be flexible. You may start something then a HVAC crew has priority and you have to tear out your pipe and start over. Be able to deal with idiots and not take things personally.
5. It's not a job anyone can do. There's a lot of math and code knowledge needed to be a good electrician. There's a lot of "apprentice-saurus" guys who can't pass the journeyman exams and don't move up because they lack the mind for it.
6. I've been at it for 12 years and don't accept less than 45/hr now. It varies by job and location though. Travel jobs with per diem pay the highest. IBEW Union pay rates are good in the big cities and are publicly available with a google search.
7. I've worked residential in finished homes, new commercial construction in million square foot buildings, heavy industrial in refineries, it can vary. I prefer anything indoors. If you are afraid of heights this is not a good line of work.
8. Maintenance roles are easiest. It's mostly inspections and paperwork until something breaks. Gets dull after a while.
9. No I have a degree in architecture but it didn't pay well and finding work as an electrician is incredibly easy and allows me to travel so I like it.
10. Some of the people are rude/racist/liars and become supervisor because they're someone's cousin. Working in poor weather/heat can be rough. The job site might be a long commute and it's the only one available so you have to do it.
hope that helps!
2. I like troubleshooting controls, it's more technical and involves problem solving and critical thinking skills. I also like the craftsmanship part and making it all look good.
3. It can get monotonous on big jobs where you have to run miles of conduit. The work environment can be pretty rough too if you're outside in the heat running underground pipe.
4. Be flexible. You may start something then a HVAC crew has priority and you have to tear out your pipe and start over. Be able to deal with idiots and not take things personally.
5. It's not a job anyone can do. There's a lot of math and code knowledge needed to be a good electrician. There's a lot of "apprentice-saurus" guys who can't pass the journeyman exams and don't move up because they lack the mind for it.
6. I've been at it for 12 years and don't accept less than 45/hr now. It varies by job and location though. Travel jobs with per diem pay the highest. IBEW Union pay rates are good in the big cities and are publicly available with a google search.
7. I've worked residential in finished homes, new commercial construction in million square foot buildings, heavy industrial in refineries, it can vary. I prefer anything indoors. If you are afraid of heights this is not a good line of work.
8. Maintenance roles are easiest. It's mostly inspections and paperwork until something breaks. Gets dull after a while.
9. No I have a degree in architecture but it didn't pay well and finding work as an electrician is incredibly easy and allows me to travel so I like it.
10. Some of the people are rude/racist/liars and become supervisor because they're someone's cousin. Working in poor weather/heat can be rough. The job site might be a long commute and it's the only one available so you have to do it.
hope that helps!
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Macario