New to the Field? How to Market Your Electrician Abilities

How can you become an in-demand electrician? Armed with information they’ve gathered online, your would-be customers often have lengthy lists of requirements and expectations for an electrical professional. Take a look at what you can do right now to increase your future marketability and get the top reviews every electrician needs to succeed in this field.

What Can You Say About Your Experience?

Customers want an electrician with extensive experience. But you’re new to the industry and don’t have years of employment to highlight. How can you overcome the gap between your hands-on experience and what the customer expects?

Even though you haven’t worked in the industry for decades, you still have experience to draw from. Whether you need to write a resume for a job interview or you already have a job and a new customer asks you about your background:

• Highlight your education. Time spent in the classroom is time spent in the electrical field. Whether you took courses at a trade school, four-year college, or community college, highlight your educational experiences on a resume or for customers.
• Explain your apprenticeship. An electrical apprenticeship is hands-on training. You’ll get years of on-the-job experience, learning the trade and developing basic skills. While you might not have the title of electrician or employee yet, you can count an apprenticeship as experience.
• Connect other relevant experiences. Does your old job have a connection to the electrical field or the work you’ll do as an electrician? Whether you worked in another skilled trade, interior design, technology, or another related sector, highlight all relevant jobs or training.

While employers and customers will look for an electrician with experience, this isn’t the only factor that can impact your next potential job. Like experience, expertise can make you a marketable and trusted electrician.

What Can You Say About Your Expertise?

Knowledge is power — especially in the electrical field. You need the right knowledge before you start your first job as an entry-level electrician. This includes expertise in areas such as:

• Safety practices. Keep yourself, co-workers, and customers safe with extensive expertise in electrical safety practices. Most basic training courses or technical schools provide this type of training for future electricians.
• Basic electrical information. Along with safety practices, trade and technical schools teach future electricians basic information. This includes the workings of electrical systems, wiring, types of electrical systems, and calculations.
• Specialty practices. Do you want to work in a specialty field? Get specialty training in school, through an apprenticeship, or from a qualified mentor.

Your electrical education doesn’t stop when you complete a technical school certificate or complete an apprenticeship period. Professional development or additional courses can help you to learn more about the most current techniques and build industry expertise. Highlight all courses, training, and learning activities in your resume or when talking to customers.

What Do Your References Have to Say?

Employers and potential customers may not take your words to heart. You may know you’re a truthful person — but that doesn’t mean other people will too. References are a must-have for any new electrician. Not only do references back up your resume, but they also give employers or customers real-world views of your work.

If you’re not sure who should write your references, consider:

• Your mentor. A professional mentor who is a master electrician or your apprenticeship supervisor can provide a reference that speaks to your technical knowledge, experience, and work ethic.
• Your instructors. Electrical training instructors can write about your expertise or knowledge base, work ethic, and ability to reach goals.
• Your former employer. If you have related experience, a former employer can provide a reference.

Discuss what you need or want in a reference to your mentor, instructor, or employer before they get to work. Make sure they know what you’re looking for in this all-important document.

Are you ready to begin a new career as an electrician? Contact the Independent Electrical Contractors of Greater Cincinnati for more information.