Being a licensed electrician, your job is essential. The modern-day lifestyle relies on continuous access to electricity and without knowledgeable electricians, this would not be possible. The average electrician salary in Chicago, IL is $57,776 annually. The average hourly rate for an electrician is $27.78/hr. This compares to the national average electrician salary of $48,850.
No two days are the same when you are an electrician and your role is vast. You may be called to fix any faults in the electrical wiring of somebody’s home or insert circuits into a newly constructed block of flats.
The competition is fierce when you are an electrician. To exceed succeed in your role and stand out above the crowd, you need to be professional, knowledgeable, and great at marketing yourself!
Here are some top things that every electrician needs to know to complete every job to a high standard and exceed in a saturated industry:
- Brush Up On Your Electrical Health And Safety Knowledge
As an electrician, your main role is to install and repair electrical circuits in a safe manner. Health and safety are central to everything you do, whether you are working on an electrical power plant, in people’s homes, or in commercial buildings.
You will already have the technical skills to complete your work to a high safety standard. However, health and safety regulations are constantly being updated and adjusted.
You must stay on top of the latest regulations by undertaking regular training. As an electrician, you will need to understand all of the rules around electrical safety, and how to properly install and repair electrical wiring in a safe and secure way.
- Keep Your Toolkit Stocked Up
Electricians require a wide range of equipment and tools to complete a variety of tasks.
A great electrician always comes fully prepared for every potential problem. The last thing you want is to arrive at a client’s house and forget to bring the tools that you need for the job!
You can grab all of the supplies that you need from https://www.bigelectricsupply.com/. When one of your tools breaks or gets worn out, make sure to replace it as quickly as possible.
- Be Prepared to Problem Solve
Problem-solving skills are essential for electricians. Every day brings a new challenge and you should be prepared to use trial and error to solve different problems.
For example, a client might call you because their fuse box has blown. You’ll need to use your problem-solving skills to determine why this has occurred and how you can safely resolve the issue.
- Stay Physically Fit
When you think of being an electrician, physical fitness isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Unlike construction workers, you are not moving heavy bricks and materials around.
Although electricians do not need to be athletes or bodybuilders, your role is far from a desk-based 9-5 job. You will need to have a decent level of physical fitness to avoid getting tired on the job.
As an electrician, you will constantly be walking up and down people’s stairs, squeezing into tight areas, and constantly moving around to fix hard-to-reach electrical wiring. Perfecting your fine motor skills is also important because you’ll be working a lot with your hands.
