With so much uncertainty in the UK jobs market at the moment, it can be difficult for young people to know which path to take when entering the world of work.
Learning a trade will always be a good idea. Becoming a qualified electrician could provide young people with a prosperous career path and relatively secure work throughout their lives.
Becoming an electrician involves a lot of training and qualification assessment, but with so much hands-on learning involved, it can be really enjoyable to train.
If you’re considering your future career, or looking to make a career change, here’s what you need to know about becoming a qualified electrician.
Apprenticeships
For school leavers, apprenticeships offer the perfect way to enter a trade and get first-hand experience. There a numerous apprenticeship schemes that pupils can apply to before they finish secondary school.
Work experience
For career changers, stepping in to get work experience at entry level might be the way forward. This could be before or after getting your qualifications, but it’s essential to get this kind of hands-on experience within a trade.
Qualifications
Once you have undergone your apprenticeship or work experience, you will need to sit your qualification assessment. It could be BTEC, City & Guilds or an official regulatory board assessment, but you will need it to trade independently.
Essential kit
You will need to get your essential kit compiled when you become a qualified electrician. Stocking your tool bags with all the things you need to do a good job every time. You will have learned and picked up a lot of what you need during your training.
Going it alone
You might want to branch out as a sole trader when you qualify as an electrician. Many electricians work as sole traders, doing domestic or commercial electrician work. Running a business as a sole trader can be tough; getting experience of running a business could be helpful before going it alone.
Running a business
From accounting and tax to operational costs such as your kit and van, there are many facets to running a business. You might outsource some stuff such as your accounting, but it’s important to know how to do the things that affect your business.
Daily life
Daily life as an electrician can be extremely rewarding and varied. Electricians enjoy a high level of career satisfaction due to the potential for prosperity and social aspect of their jobs.
For school leavers and career changers, becoming an electrician and learning a trade could be the perfect route forward.
