How to become an electrician
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A career as an electrician promises regular work and an attractive salary for those willing to develop their technical skills and meet the demands of regular assessment to keep on top of regulations...
Electricians are one of the most technically skilled trades on site because of the work they carry out; they have to have a lot of knowledge and must pass strict assessments to work.
Being technically skilled has its advantages - in return for constant learning you’ll be in high demand, so the earning potential is significant.
电工工作即使是最勇敢的DIY者也应该敬而远之，因为出错可能会造成灾难性的后果;毕竟，更换一个消费单元和更换楼下厕所里的油布是不一样的。对于外行来说，这是一件可怕的事情，大多数工作都需要证书来签署，以满足所需的标准。
With a serious shortage of qualified electricians now could be the perfect time to consider this particular trade.
A day in the life of a electrician
There are lots of different areas of electrical work. Domestic work in houses involves installing lights and sockets, carrying our rewires or meeting the growing demand for internet connectivity and power points for charging vehicles.
This offers variety and is a great way to meet different people every day - you could be heading to lots of jobs, so organisation is crucial. The job also tends to involve moving furniture and getting into dusty spaces to chase in cables, though it’s not as messy as some trades.
Alternatively, you could specialise in commercial work in shops, cinemas, supermarkets, schools and so on. Again, there is high demand and due to the nature of the work, you may find yourself working unsociable hours to coincide with closing times.
There are also industrial electricians who work in factories and on rail and power plants dealing with higher voltages.
Electrician training and experience
Like any trade, one of the best ways to learn is by doing anapprenticeship. Most apprenticeships take four years and involve plenty of classroom theory as well as practical training. The beauty of apprenticeships is you work alongside time-served electricians and gain a lot of working experience before you’re let loose on your own.
If an apprenticeship isn’t open to you, you can take a Level 2 and 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation which could lead to a trainee position with a company where you would work with electricians on-site too. For this you’ll usually need 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for the level 2 course and 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for level 3.
Another option is to take anintensive training course. They cost around £4,000 and can be achieved over a matter of weeks. Whilst this option will give you the qualifications required, it won’t give you the important experience on the job.
Electricians must keep their qualifications up to date which means going back to college every few years. Also, if you work for yourself, you’ll need to be accredited to an organisation like the NICEIC who will inspect your work once a year to ensure it’s up to standard.
Electrician salaries
一名第一年的电气学徒每小时赚4.83英镑，成年实习生每小时赚10- 12英镑，合格电工每小时赚15- 17英镑。这些是就业岗位的费率，伦敦略高。根据你的技能和工作地点的不同，为自己工作每小时可以赚25- 60英镑。
总而言之，如果你准备好投入工作并掌握最新的法规，电工是一个很好的职业选择。这是一个认识很多人的好方法，而且还能获得生活中急需的技能，还有机会赚大钱。
