For high school students and entry level workers that are considering a career in the skilled trades, learning about the daily job responsibilities, experiences and challenges of tradesmen in the different trades is an important step in trying to determine which skilled trade career is best for you. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the daily job responsibilities of a commercial and industrial electrician, exploring the different job duties, challenges and rewards of this important skilled trade career.
Starting the day as a commercial and industrial electrician
A commercial electrician typically begins the day early in the morning, often with a meeting or phone call with a supervisor or an office dispatcher to discuss the day’s schedule, assignments and work orders. After getting instructions or work assignments from their office, electricians will get any parts, materials, tools or equipment and then drive a company work truck to their first job site, such as a residential home, commercial building or an industrial facility. For this reason, many commercial electricians that work for an electrical contractor get a company work truck that they get drive home everyday!
An overview of daily job duties of the commercial and industrial electrician skilled trade career
The work of a commercial electrician is diverse and requires technical skills, problem solving skills and the ability to communicate with customers, management and other tradesmen. Electricians that work in commercial and industrial facilities are involved in the operation, maintenance and installation of various electrical systems and large equipment. Furthermore, they are frequently communicating and interacting with customers, inspectors and other tradesmen. Finally, each day brings new challenges that an electrician must learn with training, experience and education to adapt to complex challenges in order to safely and efficiently complete their daily work activities.
Operation and Maintenance
Commercial and industrial electricians ensure that the electrical systems that power commercial and industrial facilities are operating safely and efficiently. These electricians frequently test, inspect and diagnosis various electrical equipment to ensure reliability and compliance with industry and safety regulations.
Installation and Service
Installing, repairing and servicing electrical systems are an important daily job duty of a commercial electrician. These task typically include interacting with customers, engineers, inspectors, other tradesmen, reading blueprints, working on lighting systems, installing electrical panels or other large industrial equipment. In addition, electricians frequently update older electrical systems to improve reliability, energy efficiency or expand a facilities capacity.
Communicating with customers, engineers, inspectors and other trades
Communication skills are very important for an electrician as they frequently interact with customers, engineers, inspectors and other skilled trades personnel. Electricians may have to coordinate with inspectors to review a new installation, provide details of an electrical project to customers or communicate with an HVAC Technician about a new installation. The ability to clearly and effectively communicate is an important daily job responsibility of a commercial electrician.
Adapting to changes and challenges
Electricians encounter many unexpected challenges each day that require the ability to adapt to various situations. For this reason, electricians need to be prepared for project delays, design modifications, and shortages of materials or workers. Problem solving skills and the ability to quickly adjust to various situations is an important and frequently encounter challenge. Therefore, having the ability to adapt ensures that an electrician can be productive and safe in constantly changing environments.
Training and continuing education
Staying up to date with the latest technologies, regulations, electrical codes and best practices is important for the success and safety of a commercial electrician working in commercial or industrial facilities. For this reason, a commercial and industrial electrician will often engage in training programs, apprenticeship programs, workshops or professional development classes to improve their knowledge and skills in the electrical industry.
It’s a great time to consider a career as a commercial electrician
As we’ve explored a typical day working as a commercial and industrial electrician, it’s clear that this skilled trade job offers an interesting and rewarding career path for individuals with a interest in troubleshooting, applying technical skills and solving challenging problems for various customers. From conducting equipment maintenance on electrical systems to performing service calls, repairs and installations, commercial electricians play an important role in keeping commercial and industrial facilities operating throughout the year. Therefore, high school students and entry level workers that are considering a career in the skilled trades should consider a career as a commercial and industrial electrician. This interesting, challenging and rewarding skilled trade job is in demand today and doesn’t require an expensive college degree to get started. To learn how to become a commercial electrician and to get started in an interesting and rewarding skilled trade job, explore our Electrician Career Guide. Also, our website goskilledtrades.com has many resources to help you learn more about the many different skilled trade careers that are in demand today! Today’s a great day to Go Skilled Trades!
