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Career Guide: 6 Tips for Aspiring Electricians

Electricity plays a big part in all of our lives. We are constantly surrounded by it in our homes, at work and school, and even out in public. It has never been more integral to everyday life, as it powers our televisions, appliances, devices, and smart homes and provides us with light and comfortable air. Unfortunately, when electricity isn’t reliable or something isn’t working, it can cause a massive disruption to daily life. 

That’s why reliable electricians are so in demand. We need good electricians to make repairs and ensure that the power flows consistently. However, not all electricians are the same. If you are considering becoming one, then you need to be the best you can be. This will not only be appreciated by your clients but will help you make more money. Successful electricians have built sterling reputations based on excellent quality and customer service. You can do that too, and here are some tips to help you get there. 

Study Hard

You will need to go to school to become a licensed electrician. Graduating will give you an excellent chance at a job, but that should not be your only goal. Your goal should be to get as much knowledge out of your education as possible. Go to all of your classes, pay attention, and do your reading and assignments. If you treat passing and graduating as your only goals, you will be less prepared when you start in the field than you should be. The best electricians soaked up their education and used it as a base for continuous learning throughout their careers. 

Keep In Shape

Being an electrician involves a lot more than just knowledge of how electrical systems work. You need to be prepared to do a lot of physical work in the field. You may have to go into crawl spaces, climb ladders, crouch down, and do heavy lifting. Make sure that your body is in shape so that you won’t struggle with the physical demands. This will also keep you safe since you never know when you might need your strength to protect yourself from a dangerous situation like a fall or falling objects on a job site. 

Work On Your Customer Service Skills

You’ll need electrical and physical skills, and you’ll also need customer service skills. An electrician is a specialized professional, which means that the general public doesn’t know a lot about what you do. Always understand that your clients will have questions and concerns that you will need to answer in a friendly and patient manner. One of the best ways to grow your business is by keeping the customers you have already gained. It’s cheaper than acquiring new customers since all you need to do is be friendly and provide excellent service. Plus, since you’ll be working for someone else when you first start out, they could fire you if you aren’t good with people. 

Focus On Safety

Safety should be the top priority in everything you do as an electrician. It would be best if you keep yourself, your clients, the general public, and property safe as well. One mistake could lead to disaster. You could be injured or killed, or someone else can be. It only takes a second of carelessness. Ensure that you follow all safety recommendations and standards and go above and beyond when you can. Check and recheck your work to be sure that it has been done up to a rigorous safety standard. 

Another aspect of safety is insurance. While having insurance in place will not prevent dangerous situations, it can help you lay your head at night with the confidence that you are protected. If you open your own electrical services company, you will be required to have insurance. You will need commercial property insurance, general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and commercial automobile insurance. The price will vary, so check electrician insurance costs online by inputting your details and finding coverage that works for you. 

Keep Learning

As an electrician, there is never a time when there isn’t something new to learn. There are always new developments, techniques, theories, and safety recommendations being published. There are also different certifications you can get, such as to work on commercial projects. If you ever hope to own your own company, you will need to have done all of the educational groundwork before even thinking about launching. You will need to be up to date on your local authority’s safety standards and codes and new innovations from around the world. This will help you provide the absolute best electrical services to your clients. 

Make Connections

Being an electrician is a blue-collar job. It’s hands-on, and you work to complete projects and move on to the next one. It is a job that will challenge you every day. You might be surprised that while at a job like this, you should still work on networking. Networking means making connections with others in your field or who you encounter over time. That could be other electricians, other subcontractors, contractors, and clients. Building these connections will help you as your career goes on. Contractors will be more likely to hire you for work, clients will recommend you to friends and family, and you will have an easier time finding good people to work for you. 

Being an electrician is a fantastic career choice. However, our reliance on electricity is not going to end any time soon. If anything, it will only become more pronounced in the coming years. There are many different types of electricians, and you can make great money doing it as well. However, not all electricians are the same. Some are better than others, and if you want to further your career and perhaps strike out on your own one day, you need to have the right mindset and do the right things. Follow these tips, and you will find success as a great electrician.

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