Working as an electrician provides adventure, fulfillment, and the opportunity to meet all kinds of people. But it's not an easy career, and it's not for everyone. You'll need a mix of technical and soft skills and a willingness to learn. Below are some of the most important qualities in any successful electrician.
1. Knowledge of The National Electric Code
You'll can't be a successful electrician if you're not familiar with the National Electric Code. It's updated every three years to outline the best practices for electrical installation. Knowing and applying the NEC to work will keep your installations safe and legal. The NEC is not federal law, but all 50 states have integrated it into their local laws.
2. Collaboration With a Team
It's rare that electricians will handle projects alone. Most of the time, you'll be working with contractors, plumbers, and carpenters to complete a project. Even when you're just working on an electrical task, you and other electricians may handle different parts of the project. The ability to collaborate with a team is critical if you are a trade school electrician who wants to establish credibility in the industry.
3. Ability to Solve Problems Independently
That being said, you're still responsible for the majority of your tasks on your own. Your role as the electrician is the problem-solver. You'll need to identify existing issues within the circuitry, overcome obstacles and limitations to install everything correctly, and consider future problems that could arise. You will need to hone your observation and critical-thinking skills so you can determine what's going on and stay on schedule.
4. Self-Awareness
As an electrician, you will be assigned tasks to complete within a certain amount of time. To be successful, you'll need to have self-awareness about your ability to complete certain tasks on time. First, you will need to be honest with yourself about your time management skills. Are you unable to complete a project because you are not creating a timeline and sticking to it, or it is truly too much work for the allocated schedule?
Once you master self-discipline and understand how much work you can complete in a given period, you will be able to give accurate estimations about the cost and labor required for a project. Your bosses and customers will be happy when you deliver exactly what you promised.
5. Patience
Sometimes even the best-laid plans don't come to fruition. When your projects don't go as planned, you'll need a large dose of patience to stay focused and keep working to mitigate the problem, especially when these problems are the result of poor communication from other people working on the project. Patience will help you stay calm and maintain self-control when you are working with difficult people.
6. Organization Skills
Often, electricians will go to a job site for a few weeks or even a few months at a time. Maintaining progress and recording what gets done requires strong organizational skills. The electrician may need to adjust how certain parts of the project fit onto the overall schedule to keep everything on track.
7. Commitment to Safety Above All
Here's a rule that every trustworthy electrician lives by: safety always comes before profits. It's important to remember that even the most experienced electrican is facing a risk on every project. Treat your work seriously and remember that anyone could get hurt. Successful electricians would rather carry around a heavier, 8-foot ladder all day than stand on top of a lighter 6-foot one. It's inconvenient, but it keeps everyone safe.
One of the most important elements of safety is honesty. As an electrician, there will be many opportunities to be dishonest in order to save face and complete a project on time by cutting corners. This only results in added risks for your customers and any future workers on the property. While it may not be pleasant to admit an error in the short-run, successful electricians remember that safety always comes first.
8. Clear Communication With Customers
Your customers will want to know what you're doing on their property and what they're paying for. A great electrician will know how to actively listen to customers and show that they are prioritizing their concerns. It's common for customers to have questions or want updates throughout the project. Electricians will need the ability to deliver information in a way that a layperson can understand and feel in the know.
9. Mastery of Electrician's Math
You don't need to be a mathematical expert to be an electrician. However, you need to be able to make simple arithmetic calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) accurately. You also need to have a strong command of trigonometry to determine the angles you will connect a conduit to a circuit. The most important equation you'll use is Ohm's Law: With the formula E = I X R, you can calculate voltage, current, and resistance.
10. Desire to Learn Even After a Trade School Electrician Program
Completing your time in school as a trade school electrician is only the beginning of your learning process. To be the best electrician, it's important to keep learning over the length of your career. On the most basic level, you should stay up to date with changes in the industry and updates in local code. But there are many other courses that will enhance your work, from electrical skills and safety to best business practices.
Success as an electrician requires more than technical ability. It's a job cut out for someone who knows how to work with people and deliver the best service possible without ever compromising on quality. New and experienced electricians alike can transform the way they manage their workflow with software that's customized for their needs. Contact our team at ServiceBox to see how we can help your electrical contracting business run more efficiently.
