Of all the tradesman out there, the electrician stands out. Wiring homes, buildings and automobiles is just the tip of the iceberg. New electrical components are crucial to keep our world running smoothly. When power goes down even momentarily, it can feel like the dark ages have descended upon us. The electrical infrastructure of modern humans is vast, detailed and extremely impressive. Just imagine what a famous inventor or innovator would think. Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo DaVinci, Michaelangelo, Nikola Tesla. They could only imagine the proper execution of the interconnected network world we have built today.
Did you know that a master electrician trains nearly as long as a doctor? It makes sense because there is no room for error! Electricity can be a matter of life or death. What a fragile line we have to walk between utility and hazard. An electrician must work in the field for three years after becoming an apprentice and a licensed electrician. Once these three years are over after all the vital training and on the job experience, then and only then can they apply to become a master electrician. Our domiciles have become not unlike the human body, problems must be diagnosed, proper organs must be replace, blood flow must continue, brain activity restored and heart rate stabilized.
There is to a degree a large swath of specialization within the electrical industry. You can focus on power lines, industrial set-ups, maintenance, engineering, and projects within residential and commercial areas. Carrying out safety checks and electrical essentials, are a big part of the job. Adhering to building and state and local codes will keep consistency and safety in top order. An electrician must also be good at math. They need to understand technical schematics and be able to decipher blueprints.
You can’t be a one-trick-pony though. You must have skill and proficiency in many areas. Customer service comes into play while dealing with clients. You have to be able to look them in the eye and communicate and establish trust. Hand-eye coordination is an obvious one, your brain can’t operate in a vacuum. There are a large number of essential and specialized tools that come into play while in the field. Not only do you need to have them on your belt, you better believe you better know the proper way to utilize them. Organizational skills are also a must, you need to know how big the project is, what parts you’ll need, and in what order you need to perform them. You have to map the entire project out to let your team know where to head and to let the client be prepared to take some time away from their area.
Electrical power and test tools help make sure no one gets electrocuted and no live fires break out. Wearing the correct safety electrical essentials garments while at work goes without saying as well. There is no room for error for baggy clothes to get caught. A large portion of work performed takes place outside so weather conditions need to be anticipated as well. Steel toed boots are essential to protect your bottom digits and to avoid taking nasty spills.
Despite all of this, if you are dedicated and focused, you can learn and acquire and withhold the skills necessary to be on of the top electrical minds, whether you start working on the job or not. A number of famous people that may have shaped your life were at one point electricians or students of the craft. George Harrison from the Beatles gave it his best, but in his words, he “kept blowing (too many) things up.” The lovable Mr. Bean a.k.a Rowan Atkinson actually has a Masters degree in electrical engineering! Brilliant! Alfred Hitchcock as a teenager put some of his focus into engineering. Finally, the King himself Elvis Presley trained in the field become becoming an electric live performer.