Description:
Electrical artisan working with low and medium voltage electricity, single and three phase.
Responsibilities:
- Installing and commissioning of electrical equipment. Equipment can include machinery, infrastructure like cables and transformers, or control panels and motors to name a few.
- Maintaining machinery and infrastructure by means of servicing and repairing faults. Faultfinding is a critical component in ensuring breakdowns are repaired in time.
- Keeping track of work by means of emails, reports and supervisor feedback meetings.
Pros:
- Great for people that love to work with their hands.
- You can get paid by the hour and working over time or over weekends can earn you much more money.
- If you are a technical person, the job satisfaction will be great.
- You can easily start your own business with this qualification.
Cons:
- Working over time can have negative consequences for your family life.
- As you get older, people want to do “softer” jobs and if you are still in this trade, hard work is guaranteed.
- If you do not follow correct safety precautions, you can be seriously injured or even die.
Education:
Red-Seal trade certificate.
This consists of 18 months theory with another 18 months practical training which is usually paid training.
Professional Body:
ECA (Electrical Contractors Association).
Advice to someone interested in pursuing a similar career:
When starting the practical training, you might be given unreasonable tasks like trenching or mopping floors which might feel like it has nothing to do with your job. All of this builds character and teaches you to respect fellow workers. Once you start progressing and developing your abilities, respect will be earned. This phase does not last forever and everyone goes through this. Your working environments might not always be what you expect. You might work in a multi-national manufacturing plant where everything is high-tech and runs according to procedure or you might find a job at a small local factory that just wants to get the job done. What matters is that you always follow strict safety precautions to ensure will be doing your job for many years to come.
Willing to participate in virtual one on one contact sessions with readers:
Yes. (Click here to request a contact session)
Post ID: #200005